What will I do in this job?

If you choose to be a counselor, you will assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems. Your duties depend on the individuals you serve and the settings in which you work.

Mental Health Counselors:

• emphasize prevention
• work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health
• help individuals deal with addictions and substance abuse, suicide, stress management, problems with self-esteem
• help individuals with issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues of mental and emotional health, family, parenting, and marital problems

Mental health counselors work closely with other mental health specialists, including psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse, and school counselors.

Rehabilitation Counselors:

• help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities
• counsel people with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life
• evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals
• provide personal and vocational counseling
• arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement
• interview individuals with disabilities and their families
• evaluate school and medical reports, therapists, and employers to determine the capabilities and skills of the individual
  • work toward increasing the client’s capacity to live independent

To be a counselor you must have:

• a strong interest in helping others
• the ability to inspire respect, trust, and confidence
• the ambition to work independently or as part of a team

Counselors follow the code of ethics associated with their respective certifications and licenses.

Will I need a special license?

Yes, 45 States have some form of counselor credentialing, licensure, certification, or registration.

What type of education will I need?

A master’s degree is typically required to be licensed or certified as a counselor. A bachelor’s degree often qualifies a person to work as a counseling aide, rehabilitation aide, or social service worker.

Will I find a job?

Overall employment of counselors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, and job opportunities should be very good because there are usually more job openings than graduates of counseling programs.

How much will I make?

Median Salary: $44,100 (Ranges from $25,000- $70,000)
(2003-2004)