Counselor Careers Information Counselors use their special training to help people deal with a variety of issues. Whether these be interpersonal, behavioral, mental health, or substance abuse related problems, counselors talk with their patients and help them sort through the impediments that keep them unhappy.
Counselors also help students and people looking for a career change discover their talents and figure out what type of vocation they may wish to follow. No matter the specific case, counselors want their patients to figure out ways to live as healthy and productive members of society.
There are many different types of counselors working in diverse fields. Here is a look at some of the different career paths within the counseling field.
School counselors help young people in our schools deal with the issues they face so they might learn to the best of their abilities and grow into healthy adults. They are important because they are often the first line of defense for childhood victims of abuse as well as the beginnings of substance abuse.
Guidance counselors, also usually found in schools, help young people decide upon a career path. They prepare students for college entrance exams, help them decide upon a curriculum, and are generally available to explain different career options.
Rehabilitation counselors help those who must overcome disabilities that are the result of illness or injury. They may help patients relearn how to perform common activities in new ways and/or how to make the most of what they can do.
Substance abuse and behavioral health counselors help those who are addicted to drugs and/or have behavioral issues that prevent normal interactions with others.
Mental health counselors help those with conditions such as depression and anxiety, among others; they often involve their patients’ social networks in order to achieve the best results.
Marriage and family therapists work with multiple patients at a time. Because their work is less focused on the individual than the relationships between small groups of people, they help those involved in the therapy realize how to modify their behavioral patterns so they may build stronger relationships.
Counselor Careers Path
Though counselors will receive different training depending on their specific field, most counselors require at least a Master’s degree in order to practice. Common coursework is in human relationships, ethics, and counseling techniques.
Almost all states require their counselors to be licensed in order to practice. Licensure usually involves some combination of the following: a certain number of graduate credit hours, successful completion of an exam, a certain number of hours working under a more experienced counselor, and/or continuing education classes.
Some organizations offer their new hires additional training before they are given full responsibility.
Counselor Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Highly empathetic, very well organized, excellent oral and written communication skills, patient, able to deal with stressful situations and emotions, willing to work long and/or odd hours, trustworthy, works well with others, highly ethical.
Counselor Careers: Salary Expectations
The average salary for a counselor is dependent on specialization, but the median annual salary for the field is $53,380 per year.
Those who are self-employed or who work in private practices alongside other health care professionals tend to make the most money. Counselors who spend their time establishing a strong practice that earns them referrals are likely to fair the best.
Counselor Careers: Job Outlook
The job outlook for all types of counselor is good in the coming years. The BLS projects the field to grow by 19% by 2020, which is about as fast as the national average.
This means that in many areas, the number of open positions will outnumber qualified applicants. Rural areas are especially in need of counseling professionals. Those with the proper education and licensure and who are willing to relocate should have the best prospects.
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