• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Counseling

    Counseling Courses Online

    Learn counseling techniques for providing support and guidance. Understand therapeutic approaches and counseling skills.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Counseling Course Catalog

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      J

      Johns Hopkins University

      Psychological First Aid

      Skills you'll gain: Triage, Crisis Intervention, Active Listening, Rapport Building, Emergency Response, Trauma Care, Psychiatric Assessments, Interpersonal Communications, Personal Care, Mental Health, Stress Management, Patient Referral

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      20K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      Y

      Yale University

      Introduction to Psychology

      Skills you'll gain: Psychology, Child Development, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Human Development, Human Learning, Social Sciences, Behavioral Health, Sociology, Neurology, Critical Thinking, Scientific Methods, Problem Solving

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      32K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      U

      University of Toronto

      Learn Interpersonal Psychotherapy

      Skills you'll gain: Patient Communication, Interpersonal Communications, Psychotherapy, Mental Health Therapies, Patient Treatment, Rapport Building, Conflict Management, Mental Health Diseases and Disorders, Case Studies, Stress Management, Mental Health, Clinical Practices

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      84 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      U

      University of Toronto

      The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs

      Skills you'll gain: Relationship Building, Social Skills, Active Listening, Interpersonal Communications, Communication, Empathy, Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Needs Assessment, Assertiveness, Psychology, Cultural Diversity

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.8K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Goodwill Industries International

      Goodwill® Career Coach and Navigator

      Skills you'll gain: Constructive Feedback, Interviewing Skills, Communication, Coaching, Accountability, Client Services, Virtual Teams, Professional Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Client Support, Workforce Development, Recruitment, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Active Listening, Telecommuting, Needs Assessment, Employee Onboarding, Empathy, Human Centered Design, Gap Analysis

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      422 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      T

      The University of Sydney

      Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health

      Skills you'll gain: Mental Health, Stress Management, Mindfulness, Psychiatry, Positivity, Optimism, Resilience, Behavioral Health, Mental Health Therapies, Psychotherapy, Personal Development, Mental and Behavioral Health, Creativity, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Substance Abuse, Empowerment, Relationship Building, Exercise Therapy

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.9K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    What brings you to Coursera today?

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      Y

      Yale University

      Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

      Skills you'll gain: Health Disparities, Motivational Interviewing, Substance Abuse, Patient-centered Care, Medication Therapy Management, Mental and Behavioral Health, Social Determinants Of Health, Patient Education And Counseling, Psychiatry, Pharmacotherapy, Psychotherapy, Treatment Planning, Health Policy, Care Coordination, Clinical Assessment

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

      Claves para la igualdad de género

      Skills you'll gain: Social Justice, Diversity Awareness, Culture, Socioeconomics, Cultural Diversity, Sociology, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, Cultural Responsiveness, Conflict Management, Advocacy, Cultural Sensitivity, Family Therapy, Community and Social Work, Safety and Security, Public Policies

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      894 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      Y

      Yale University

      Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress

      Skills you'll gain: Student Support and Services, Working With Children, School Counseling, Personal Development, Stress Management, Classroom Management, Cultural Responsiveness, Empathy, Self-Awareness, Resilience, Relationship Building, Active Listening

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Applying to U.S. Universities

      Skills you'll gain: Self-Awareness, Research, Higher Education, Planning, Student Services, Cultural Diversity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      518 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      L

      Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)

      Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy

      Skills you'll gain: Maternal Health, Prenatal Care, Child Health, Patient Education And Counseling, Nutrition Counseling, Preventative Care, Clinical Nutrition, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Nutrition and Diet, Food Safety and Sanitation, Medical Science and Research

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.2K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      U

      University of Michigan

      Understanding Psychosis

      Skills you'll gain: Health Disparities, Psychiatry, Patient Education And Counseling, Community Mental Health Services, Social Determinants Of Health, Patient Communication, Psychiatric Assessments, Mental Health Diseases and Disorders, Rehabilitation, Trauma Care, Mental and Behavioral Health, Pharmacology, Mental Health

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      20 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Counseling learners also search

    Mental Health
    Thinking
    Clinical Psychology
    Mental Disorder
    Therapy
    Addiction
    ADHD
    Autism
    1234…20

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular counseling courses

    • Psychological First Aid: Johns Hopkins University
    • Introduction to Psychology : Yale University
    • Learn Interpersonal Psychotherapy: University of Toronto
    • The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs: University of Toronto
    • Goodwill® Career Coach and Navigator: Goodwill Industries International
    • Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health : The University of Sydney
    • Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers: Yale University
    • Claves para la igualdad de género: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress: Yale University
    • Applying to U.S. Universities: University of Pennsylvania

    Frequently Asked Questions about Counseling

    Browse the counseling courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.

    • Introduction to Psychology: Yale University
    • Psychological First Aid: Johns Hopkins University
    • Learn Interpersonal Psychotherapy: University of Toronto
    • The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs: University of Toronto
    • Suicide Prevention:Wesleyan University
    • Mindfulness: An Approach to Stress Reduction: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)‎

    To become a successful counselor, you must learn communication, active listening, empathy, rapport-building, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Because counselors work with patients to resolve emotional issues, they need technical and human skills to build strong, trustworthy relationships. Counselors also need to learn psychological theories and techniques to be effective. ‎

    Coursera offers free courses related to counseling, such as Introduction to Psychology from Yale University, so you can understand if counseling is a good fit for you. Another helpful free course is The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs from the University of Toronto. For deeper understanding of specific techniques, consider Conflict Transformation from Emory University, Social Psychology from Wesleyan University, Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers from Yale University, and Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health from the University of Sydney, all offered for free.‎

    Those who want to become a counselor or therapist can earn a license by taking the necessary courses and passing the state exam. Most states require a master’s degree in relevant coursework, such as social work, counseling, or clinical psychology. To be qualified for such a master’s degree, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree.

    Read more about earning a master’s in psychology.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

    Other topics to explore

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Cybersecurity
    • Data Analytics
    • Digital Marketing
    • English Speaking
    • Generative AI (GenAI)
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • Project Management
    • Python

    Certificates & Programs

    • Google Cybersecurity Certificate
    • Google Data Analytics Certificate
    • Google IT Support Certificate
    • Google Project Management Certificate
    • Google UX Design Certificate
    • IBM Data Analyst Certificate
    • IBM Data Science Certificate
    • Machine Learning Certificate
    • Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Certificate
    • UI / UX Design Certificate

    Industries & Careers

    • Business
    • Computer Science
    • Data Science
    • Education & Teaching
    • Engineering
    • Finance
    • Healthcare
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Information Technology (IT)
    • Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How Does Cryptocurrency Work?
    • How to Highlight Duplicates in Google Sheets
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Preparing for the PMP Certification
    • Signs You Will Get the Job After an Interview
    • What Is Artificial Intelligence?

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • Share your Coursera learning story

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok