Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Build on clinical expertise and develop as a practitioner-scholar, educator, supervisor, and leader through Canada’s only professional doctorate in counselling and psychotherapy.
The DCP gave me the leadership knowledge and confidence to take my work beyond individual change and into systems change.
Danielle Bernard-St-Denis
Registered Psychotherapist and Social Worker
Redefine the Identity and Impact of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Build on your clinical expertise and take the next step in your professional evolution. Canada’s only professional doctorate in counselling and psychotherapy prepares experienced practitioners to expand their influence as clinician-scholars, educators, supervisors, and leaders. Develop advanced competencies in clinical practice, leadership, teaching, supervision, and applied scholarship. Through a practice-focused Professional Practice Dissertation, investigate real world professional challenges, generate new and innovate actionable knowledge, and translate research into improvements in practice, programs and systems. Graduate prepared to advance your own practice, mentor emerging professionals, and contribute to professional knowledge, influence policy, and help shape the future of counselling and psychotherapy.
Duration
As Few as 3.5 Years*
*With full course load, year-round study and/or approved transfer credits. Contact an Admissions Advisor for more information.
Tuition
$54,900
Cost per credit: $915
Total credits: 60
Application fee: $150
Campus
Online
With synchronous components.
Starts
January, May, September
Your Program. Your Advantage.
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Hear From Our Graduates
Career Outcomes
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Build on your clinical and industry expertise to expand your influence through leadership, policy development, systems change, teaching, supervision, and applied research. Potential career outcomes include, but are not limited to, the following:
Admission Requirements
To Apply You Will Need
- Completed online application and $150 application fee
- Official master’s transcript and proof of a master’s degree
- Two years of post-master’s-degree counselling experience
- Resume and letter of intent
- Two academic or professional references
- Detailed course descriptions if applying for transfer credits
- Proof of English language proficiency for degrees completed in a language other than English with a TOEFL score of at least 95, IELTS overall score of 7.0, or equivalent on other recognized tests
Minimum Academic Requirement
You will need a master’s program cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 or a 4.3 scale, or the equivalent on other grading scales.
Conditional Admission
Some applicants may be admitted on a probationary basis if their cumulative GPA is between 3.0 and 3.3.
Course Descriptions
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The Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy (DCP) is a professional doctoral program designed for experienced practitioners seeking to develop as practitioner-scholars and expand their contributions to education, supervision, and professional leadership. Building on advanced clinical expertise, the program prepares graduates to advance clinical practice, contribute to scholarship and education, and lead innovative (or meaningful?) change across communities, organizations and mental health systems.
Grounded in ethical practice, cultural humility, equity, and social justice, the DCP integrates these principles throughout the curriculum. Graduates are prepared to respond thoughtfully to diverse communities and professional contexts while advancing culturally and socially responsible professional practice.
Through applied inquiry and scholarship, students investigate real-world challenges, generate practice-relevant knowledge, and translate evidence into improvements in clinical practice, professional education, programs, and policy.
Delivered through facilitated online learning, the DCP is accessible to qualified counselling and psychotherapy professionals seeking doctoral-level education while continuing their professional careers.
3 Credits
This course introduces foundational concepts shaping doctoral-level professional practice within counselling, psychotherapy, and related helping professions. The course emphasizes professional identity formation, ethical practice, leadership perspectives, and the evolving responsibilities of advanced practitioners within complex and contemporary practice environments. Students critically examine professional roles, regulatory frameworks, and emerging issues shaping professional practice and leadership development.
3 Credits
This course introduces foundational research concepts and applied inquiry approaches relevant to advanced leadership within counselling and psychotherapy contexts. Emphasis is placed on critically engaging with research literature, evidence-informed practice, knowledge generation, and the relationship between scholarship, leadership, and professional decision-making. Students develop foundational competencies in research design, ethical inquiry, and scholarly writing to support doctoral scholarship and future dissertation work.
3 Credits
This course examines supervision, mentorship, and professional formation within counselling and psychotherapy education and practice contexts. It emphasizes supervisory relationships, feedback processes, developmental models, ethical responsibilities, and the facilitation of professional growth in learners and emerging practitioners. Students critically examine approaches to supervision and mentorship that support reflective, culturally competent, and ethically grounded professional practice.
3 Credits
This course examines approaches to clinical outcomes assessment and practice evaluation in counselling and psychotherapy. The course emphasizes outcome measurement, program evaluation, evidence-informed practice, and the use of data and emerging technologies to support clinical decision-making, culturally responsive treatment planning, and practice improvement. Students critically engage with evaluation frameworks and applied inquiry approaches to support accountability, reflective professional practice, leadership, doctoral scholarship, and dissertation development.
3 Credits
This course supports students in integrating advanced professional practice, ethical decision-making, and professional stewardship within counselling and psychotherapy contexts. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary practice, advocacy, consultation, and responsible professional contribution across diverse client, community, and practice settings. Through applied learning activities and critical inquiry, students examine how advanced practitioners support professional excellence, mentorship, and practice development.
3 Credits
This course examines organizational leadership and change processes within counselling, psychotherapy, and related service environments. Emphasis is placed on organizational culture, program development, implementation processes, conflict navigation, strategic collaboration, and leading practice innovation within complex systems. Students critically analyze approaches to sustainable organizational change that support responsive, effective, and ethically informed professional practice.
3 Credits
This course examines advanced approaches to clinical supervision within counselling and psychotherapy training contexts. Emphasis is placed on supervisory process, skills development, feedback practices, case consultation, ethical and culturally responsive supervision, and the integration of theory into applied supervisory practice. Drawing on experiential learning, students critically engage with supervision models and reflective practices that support professional formation, leadership development, and advanced competency in supervision and mentorship.
3 Credits
This course examines competency development, and assessment practices within counselling and psychotherapy education. Emphasis is placed on instructional alignment, learner assessment, feedback processes, and competency-informed approaches to clinical and professional training. Students critically examine educational strategies that support ethical, responsive, and developmentally informed learning environments in counselling and psychotherapy contexts.
3 Credits
This course examines advanced approaches to teaching and learning within counsellor education and psychotherapy training contexts. Emphasis is placed on instructional design, facilitation of experiential learning, learner engagement, feedback and assessment practices, competency development, ethical and culturally responsive teaching, and reflective educational practice. Through an applied teaching practicum in counselling skills education, students integrate educational theory with authentic teaching experiences while developing their identity as counsellor educators and educational leaders.
3 Credits
This course focuses on secondary research design and analysis in counselling and psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on selecting and evaluating appropriate methodologies, working systematically with existing evidence and data, and defining approaches to analysis and synthesis. Students examine methodological rigour, reflexivity, ethical considerations, and the application of research to professional practice in preparation for dissertation study.
3 Credits
This course examines qualitative inquiry relevant to counselling, psychotherapy, and related helping professions. Emphasis is placed on qualitative research design, analysis, interpretation, reflexivity, ethics, methodological rigour, and approaches to knowledge generation. Students critically engage with contemporary qualitative methodologies to support applied research, doctoral scholarship, and evidence informed professional practice. to inform applied scholarship, professional practice and doctoral research.
3 Credits
This course examines implementation science and systems innovation within counselling, psychotherapy, and related helping professions. Emphasis is placed on translating research into practice, implementation frameworks, evaluation strategies, and the mobilization of evidence-informed innovations across systems. Students engage with applied inquiry approaches that support doctoral scholarship, dissertation development, and the implementation and evaluation of sustainable practice improvements.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in developing a focused, feasible, and professionally relevant dissertation proposal using secondary research methodologies. Students refine their dissertation topic, research questions, and rationale while developing an appropriate approach to secondary research and scholarly inquiry. Emphasis is placed on aligning the dissertation purpose, methodological approach, evidence sources, and intended contribution to professional practice.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in conducting a comprehensive and critical review of the scholarly literature relevant to their dissertation topic. Students are guided in identifying, evaluating, synthesizing, and integrating evidence from diverse sources to establish the conceptual and empirical foundation of their work. Emphasis is placed on developing a scholarly argument, identifying knowledge gaps, and situating the dissertation within professional practice contexts.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in refining their secondary research methodology and preparing for proposal defence. Students critically examine approaches to evidence identification, selection, appraisal, analysis, and synthesis appropriate to their dissertation objectives. The course emphasizes methodological rigor, scholarly integrity, transparency, and the clear articulation of the dissertation’s contribution to professional practice. Through the proposal defence process, students demonstrate readiness to proceed to the implementation phase of the dissertation.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in implementing their approved secondary research methodology through systematic identification, organization, analysis, and synthesis. Students develop skills in applying appropriate analytic frameworks, documenting procedures, and critically evaluating the quality and trustworthiness of the literature. Emphasis is placed on producing rigorous and meaningful contributions to professional practice.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in interpreting synthesized evidence and developing meaningful connections between dissertation findings, existing scholarship, and professional practice. Students critically examine implications, limitations, and future directions arising from their work. The course emphasizes translating emerging findings into recommendations that support practice, policy, counselling supervision and education, or future research.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in integrating and refining all components of the dissertation into a coherent and scholarly final manuscript. Students strengthen the clarity, rigour, organization, and scholarly contribution of their work while preparing the dissertation for final supervisory review and examination. The course focuses on advanced scholarly writing, chapter integration, revision processes, and the development of a complete dissertation manuscript.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in preparing for and completing the dissertation defence process. Students refine their ability to articulate the purpose, methodology, evidence synthesis process, conclusions, and contributions of their dissertation through oral presentation and scholarly discussion. Emphasis is placed on responding to feedback, completing final revisions, and demonstrating readiness for doctoral-level professional scholarship.
3 Credits
This seminar supports students in transitioning from doctoral candidate to scholar-practitioner by translating their dissertation work into scholarly and professional contributions beyond the dissertation document. Students develop strategies for disseminating dissertation findings to academic, professional, and community audiences through appropriate scholarly and practice-oriented formats. Emphasis is placed on knowledge mobilization, professional scholarship, ethical and culturally responsive communication, and the integration of dissertation outcomes into ongoing professional practice, leadership, and lifelong scholarly contribution.
Note: Each term consists of two consecutive seven-week courses. Students must successfully complete both courses before progressing to the next term in the program sequence.
* Some courses include mandatory synchronous learning activities delivered through an online video platform, while others may offer optional opportunities for live engagement. Specific participation requirements and scheduling details will be communicated to students in advance of each course.
From Real-World Practice to Real-World Impact
Where Our Graduates Work
Meet the Dean
Dean, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences
Dr. Tamara Dalrymple serves as Dean, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences at Yorkville University, where she leads strategic initiatives that promote academic excellence, foster innovation, and strengthen the student and faculty experience. Since joining Yorkville University in 2023 as Associate Dean of Field Training, she has held progressive leadership roles, assuming responsibility for the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) program in 2024, before being appointed to her current role in 2026.
With more than 30 years of experience spanning clinical mental health, public service, and higher education, Dr. Dalrymple has dedicated her career to advancing excellence in counsellor education mental health practice. Her leadership experience includes graduate program administration, quality assurance, curriculum development, academic governance, faculty development, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Yorkville University, she held academic leadership positions in graduate counselling education and senior clinical and policy leadership roles within British Columbia’s public mental health system, where she contributed to the development and implementation of province-wide initiatives to strengthen child and youth mental health services and professional practice.
Meet the Program Chair
Dr. Danelle Kabush brings over 20 years of experience as an educator, researcher, practitioner, and consultant across clinical counselling and sport psychology. She has held roles including mental performance consultant, private practice clinician, and academic leader in higher education.
Dr. Kabush holds a PhD in Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), with a strong commitment to advancing graduate education and professional practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore answers to common questions. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, connect with an Admissions Advisor for personalized support.
About the Program
Why should I choose the DCP program?
As Canada’s only professional doctorate dedicated exclusively to counselling and psychotherapy, the DCP offers experienced practitioners a unique opportunity to advance their expertise and professional impact. The program integrates advanced clinical practice, leadership, supervision, teaching, and applied scholarship, preparing graduates to contribute to the evolution of the profession.
Is the Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy program fully online?
Yes. The Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy (DCP) is delivered 100% online through a combination of asynchronous learning activities, such as readings, discussions and assignments, and scheduled synchronous learning experiences. These include live doctoral learning sessions, supervision and teaching activities, and other opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
What career paths does the DCP prepare me for?
The DCP prepares experienced practitioners to expand their careers into clinical supervision, postsecondary teaching, professional education, program leadership, consultation, and other leadership roles within counselling, psychotherapy, and mental health services. Graduates may also contribute to applied research, policy development, professional advocacy, and organizational or systems-level change.
How many credits and courses are required to complete the DCP?
The program requires 60 credits in total, with most courses being 3 credits each. You also enrol in Dissertation Seminars in Years 3-4 for the Professional Practice Dissertation course that spans the last four terms of the program.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The program can be completed in as few as 3.5 years with full-time, year-round study.
When can I start the program?
The DCP offers multiple intakes throughout the year, typically in January, May, and September.
What if I enrolled in the program prior to May 2027?
Please click here for more information about the program offering prior for May 2027.
Professional Practice Dissertation
What is the Professional Practice Dissertation (PPD)?
The Professional Practice Dissertation is the culminating scholarly component of the program. It integrates doctoral-level inquiry with professional practice, enabling students to investigate real-world challenges in counselling and psychotherapy and develop evidence-informed recommendations, innovations, or solutions. The PPD emphasizes applied scholarship and knowledge mobilization, translating research into contributions to professional practice, education, policy, or mental health systems.
When do I start working on my Professional Practice Dissertation?
Students begin developing the foundations of scholarly inquiry through their earlier coursework. The formal PPD pathway begins in the latter part of the program and is supported by a sequence of eight structured dissertation seminars. These seminars guide students through proposal development, literature review, methodology, implementation, interpretation, dissertation writing, defence preparation, and knowledge mobilization.
Do I have a supervisor or mentor for my Professional Practice Dissertation?
Yes. Students receive faculty guidance and scholarly supervision throughout the PPD process. Structured dissertation seminars provide ongoing support, feedback, and opportunities for consultation as students develop their proposals, conduct their inquiry, prepare their dissertations, and complete the final defence.
What types of dissertation projects can I complete?
PPD projects address relevant challenges in counselling in psychotherapy and may focus on areas such as clinical practice, supervision, professional education, program development and evaluation, leadership or policy. Projects are grounded in appropriate scholarly methodologies and designed to generate knowledge that can inform professional practice.
Is the Professional Practice Dissertation research-based?
Yes. The PPD is a doctoral-level scholarly inquiry grounded in rigorous research methodologies and ethical research practices. Emphasizing applied inquiry, the PPD critically examines and synthesizes existing evidence to address real-world professional challenges and generate new and original practice level knowledge and recommendations
Do I need to have clients while I am in the DCP program?
Yes. Because the DCP includes advanced clinical training, mentorship and supervision experiences, you must be professionally active and have counselling or psychotherapy clients during key parts of the program. Typically, you’ll need to be seeing clients between terms 2 and 5, either in paid or qualifying volunteer roles.
Will I have opportunities to mentor or supervise master’s-level counselling students?
The DCP is designed for experienced counselling and psychotherapy professionals. While ongoing professional practice is encouraged and provides valuable opportunities to apply doctoral-level learning, students are not required to maintain an active caseload throughout the program.
Can I align my project with my current workplace?
Yes. Students are encouraged to explore dissertation topics relevant to their professional practice or workplace, with the goal of generating evidence-informed insights and recommendations that can contribute to improvements in practice, programs, or policy.
Program Structure & Learning Experience
Can I complete the DCP while working full time?
Yes. The DCP is designed for working professionals, with an online learning format that allows students to balance doctoral studies with their professional responsibilities. Students should be prepared for a substantial time commitment, including scheduled learning activities and independent study.
How much time will I need to dedicate to each course?
Students should expect to dedicate approximately 10–20 hours per week per course, depending on course requirements, learning activities, and individual study needs.
Are there live or synchronous components?
Yes. The program includes asynchronous learning with scheduled synchronous activities, which may include interactive seminars, faculty consultations, live presentations and collaborative learning activities.
How is this program different from a traditional PhD?
The DCP is a professional doctorate that integrates advanced clinical expertise, leadership, teaching, supervision, and applied scholarship. While a traditional PhD generally emphasizes preparation for independent academic research, the DCP focuses on applying doctoral-level inquiry to challenges in counselling and psychotherapy practice, education and professional systems.
Will I work with other experienced professionals?
Yes. Students learn alongside experienced counselling and psychotherapy practitioners from diverse professional backgrounds, creating opportunities for collaborative learning, professional dialogue, and networking.
Supervision, Mentorship & Practice Integration
Will I gain experience in supervision or mentorship?
Yes. The DCP integrates supervision and mentorship development through coursework, faculty-guided consultation, and applied learning experiences that strengthen supervisory feedback, evaluation, and professional formation.
Will I develop teaching and educational leadership skills?
Yes. The program develops competencies in teaching, curriculum design, facilitation, and learner assessment. Students explore evidence-informed and inclusive approaches to educating counselling and psychotherapy professionals across academic and professional settings.
Can I apply what I learn directly to my current role?
Yes. Coursework and applied scholarship encourage students to connect doctoral learning with their professional experiences and contexts. Students can apply relevant knowledge and skills to clinical practice, teaching, leadership and organizational challenges.
Admissions
What documents do I need to apply?
Standard requirements typically include:
• A completed online application
• Official master’s degree transcripts
• Statement of purpose
• Resume or CV
• Two academic or professional references
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
What type of master’s degree do I need for admission to the DCP?
Applicants typically hold a master’s degree in counselling, psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy, pastoral counselling, applied psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, social work, or an equivalent credential from a recognized university.
Do I need to be fully registered or licensed before starting the DCP?
Yes. Applicants are expected to hold full registration or certification in counselling, psychotherapy, or a closely related field, or to have equivalent authorization to provide counselling or psychotherapy services in their jurisdiction at the time they start the program.
Can I apply if my GPA is below 3.0?
Yes. Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 may be considered for conditional admission with an eligible GMAT or GRE score.
What are the English language requirements?
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of proficiency. Accepted tests typically include TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent.
Can I apply immediately after completing my master’s degree?
Applicants must have a minimum of two years of post-master’s experience, including at least 1,600 hours of clinical practice.
Do I need to be a registered practitioner to apply?
In most cases, applicants are expected to have relevant professional experience and credentials in counselling or psychotherapy.
Tuition & Financial Support
How much does the DCP program cost?
Tuition for the program is approximately $52,470, with costs calculated per credit.
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Yorkville University offers scholarships and bursaries. You can explore available options or speak with an Admissions Advisor.
Can I apply for student financial aid?
Domestic students may be eligible for provincial student loan programs depending on their location.
Professional Practice & Recognition
What will my title be? Can I use “Doctor”?
The title “Doctor” is regulated under provincial health legislation. In clinical settings, its use is typically restricted. Graduates may use the title in non-clinical settings and can always state their degree.
Is the DCP recognized across provinces and in other countries?
The DCP is offered by Yorkville University, which is designated by the Government of New Brunswick as a degree granting institution, and the program is recognized as an approved doctoral degree in Canada and throughout North America. Recognition by individual regulatory bodies or employers varies, so it is important to verify requirements in the province, territory, or country where you plan to practice.
Support
Who teaches the DCP program?
Courses are taught by doctorate-credentialed faculty with active clinical experience.
What are the technical requirements for the program?
Students need a reliable internet connection, a modern computer, webcam, and microphone for live sessions and skills practice.
What kind of academic and writing support will I have during the DCP?
DCP students have access to Yorkville’s online library, writing and research resources, and academic advising, as well as faculty mentorship throughout the program and during their Professional Practice Dissertation.
Will I be part of a cohort or learning community?
Yes. You progress through key parts of the program with a cohort of experienced counselling and psychotherapy professionals, participating in online discussions, live seminars, supervision groups, and mentorship activities that foster community and peer support.
What if I have more questions?
If you cannot find your question on this page, you can contact an Admissions Advisor, who will be happy to help.
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