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Career Exploration

Mental Health Counselors

Also called: Clinician, Counselor, Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health Therapist

What they do:

Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

On the job, you would:
  • Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
  • Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
  • Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
On the job, you'll need:

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • sociology and anthropology

Health

  • therapy and counseling

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • looking for ways to help people

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Social

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

  • Concern for Others
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Social Orientation
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Oracle PeopleSoft

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Internet browser software

  • Netscape Navigator
  • Web browser software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $49,710

Education

Master's degree or bachelor's degree is usually needed.