The PhD program in psychology is focused on training students to counsel patients. You will have the opportunity to take counseling-related courses which have a specific focus, such as career counseling, counseling methods, counseling children and persons with severe mental disorders, and ethics. Many programs also require an internship, which will give you more hands on experience with treating patients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
How the mind affects behavior and one's outlook is especially important to psychologists. You will take many classes dealing with the brain, including how the brain learns and remembers, how mental disorders affect the brain, foundations of cognition, affective neuroscience, and how language influences thought and emotion regulation.
Society and its influence on the individual is another important aspect of psychology. Many PhD programs will offer several classes in social psychology, how culture and society influence the mind and psychological processes, how public policy and social issues affect individual behavior and self-perception.
Research is a huge part of most doctoral programs. You will take classes that teach you how to design research experiments and gather and analyze data. In addition, you will receive training in writing clear and concise research and paper reports. Those who wish to become psychology teachers can take coursework to prepare for such a career. Classes that focus on how to teach psychology and actual training as assistant teachers are commonly offered.