Career Webquest Research

Mental Health Counselor

NATURE OF WORK

• Counsels with emphasis on prevention
• Work with individuals and groups to promote optimal mental health
• May help individuals deal with:
• Addictions & substance abuse
• Family, parenting & marital problems
• Suicide
• Stress management
• Problems with self-esteem
• Issues related to aging, and mental and emotional health
• May be involved in community outreach, advocacy, and mediation activities.
• Often work closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Private practice
• Community Health Organizations
• Day Treatment Programs
• Hospitals
• Many work in an office where they see clients throughout the day
• May be required to provide service out in the community

TRAINING

• Varies by state and specialty
• Master’s Degree is often required to obtain certification
• Many hours of supervised clinical experience
• Complete 100 Continuing Education hours OR retake board exam every 5 years

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong desire to help others
• Ability to inspire respect, trust and confidence
• Ability to work independently or in a team
• Must follow a code of ethics associated with their certifications and licenses.
• Must possess highly physical and emotional energy

POTENTIAL FOR ADVANCEMENT

• Prospects for advancement vary by counseling field
• Some counselors move into private practices, research, teaching, or consulting
• Pursuing a Doctoral Degree will further enhance opportunities for advancement.

EMPLOYMENT

United States: 113,300 (2008)
Utah: 560 (2006)

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

United States: 140,500 (2018)

Utah: 880 (2016)

TYPICAL EARNINGS

United States: $17.70 or $36,800

Utah: $22.04 or $45,800

RELATED OCCUPATIONS

• Child, Family & School Social Worker
• Social and Human Service Assistant
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Recreational Therapist
• Residential Advisor

SKILLS: active listening, social perceptiveness, critical thinking, service orientation, active learning, learning strategies, speaking, reading comprehension, time management, monitoring

INTERESTS: Working with, communicating and teaching others. Enjoys helping others. Working with ideas, extensive amount of thinking, searching for facts, figuring out problems mentally. Working with forms, designs, and patterns. Self-expression, work can be done with out following set of rules.

WORK STYLES: Self control, concern for others, dependability, stress tolerance, social orientation, adaptability/flexibility, integrity, cooperation, attention to detail, achievement/effort.

VALUES: Relationships, achievement, independence

MBTI TYPE: Social Investigative Artistic