Psychology & Neuroscience

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Ph.D. Program COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY

The Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT), was the first doctoral program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) under a scientist-practitioner-advocate training model1. We believe rigorous science and competent practice are central to the roles of counseling psychologists and our training emphasizes developing students as competent and ethical researchers and clinicians. We also believe counseling psychologists need the skills to intervene (and empower their research participants and clients to intervene) directly to address social problems and inequities at organizational, systems, and policy levels (Mallinckrodt, Miles, & Levy, 2014). In 2012, the UT Counseling Psychology Program received the Innovation in Graduate Education Award from APA for our scientist-practitioner-advocate training model. 

Fall 2026 Virtual Information Sessions

The Counseling Psychology PhD Program at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, invites prospective graduate students to join us for 3 virtual information sessions! These sessions will provide applicants with information about the program and answers to your questions!

  1. Wednesday, September 16 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. — Register for Virtual Information Session #1
  2. Monday, October 19 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. — Register for Virtual Information Session #2
  3. Wednesday, November 11 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Register for Virtual Information Session #3

Our students are immersed in coursework and practicum experiences designed to develop a broad base of knowledge, skills, and awareness to prepare them to be culturally competent and ethical researchers, clinicians, and social justice advocates. Students also learn that these roles are not mutually exclusive, but that our research can be used for and informed by our advocacy and clinical practice and vice versa.

We typically admit 5 students per year (based on our ability to fully fund our admitted students), therefore 25-30 students are usually enrolled at any time. We strive to admit a diverse student body. Some admitted students have an undergraduate degree and some have a master’s degree. Some have also been out of school and working prior to being admitted. If you are interested in applying to our program, please review the links to the right to learn more about our program, our faculty, our students, and the application process. Additional program data can be found here.

1The UT Counseling Psychology Program was first accredited under the scientist-practitioner-advocate training model in 2009, but it has been continuously accredited by the APA since 1980, previously under a scientist-practitioner training model.

For more information about applying and admissions, click here.

Directors

Program Director
Kirsten A. Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Program Administrative Assistant
Tracy Limper
tlimper@utk.edu

APA Accreditation

The Counseling Psychology program has been accredited by APA since 1980. Our next accreditation site visit is scheduled for 2025.

For more information about accreditation, please contact:
APA Commission on Accreditation
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Phone: 202-336-5979
TDD/TTY: 203-336-6123
Email: apaaccred@apa.org

Graduate Admission

Please contact Lexi Rice at arice36@utk.edu for graduate programs application information.