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Mental Health Counselor

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What You Need to Know About Mental Health Counselor

Occupation Description Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging.

A Day in the Life of a Mental Health Counselor

  • Gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy.
  • Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
  • Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
  • Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
  • Supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, or graduate students.
  • Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.

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Qualities of a Mental Health Counselor

When polled, Mental Health Counselors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Types of Mental Health Counselor Jobs

  • Mental Health Therapist
  • Behavior Support Specialist (BSS)
  • Behavioral Health Therapist
  • Child Care Counselor
  • Mental Health Specialist

Mental Health Counselor Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 157,700 jobs for Mental Health Counselor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 23.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 36,500 new jobs for Mental Health Counselor by 2026. There will be an estimated 21,600 positions for Mental Health Counselor per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Mental Health Counselor are Utah, Arizona, and Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Kansas, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Tools & Technologies Used by Mental Health Counselors

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Mental Health Counselors may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Database software
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • Scheduling software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Statistical software
  • Patient electronic medical record EMR software
  • Netscape Navigator
  • Management information systems MIS
  • Office suite software

Becoming a Mental Health Counselor

Education needed to be a Mental Health Counselor:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Those who work as a Mental Health Counselor sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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