Introduction
Mental health counselors are professionals that make use of psycho education to guide people to cure their mental health problems. Due to the rise in the number of people who need counseling, there has been a marked rise in the number of mental health counseling jobs. A mental health counselor unlike a psychiatrist does not prescribe drug therapy in order to cure individuals. Their job entails them to provide short-term therapy sessions and provide guidance to people to tackle their mental problems. Mental health counselors are appointed at colleges, universities, schools and also drug rehabilitation centers. Some of them even have private practices and they charge patients on an hourly basis.
Educational Qualifications and Scope
A person needs to have a Master’s degree in psychology, mental health counseling or community counseling with at least two years of mandatory clinical training. Some mental health counselors even go on to earn their PHDs in mental health related fields. After this, you need to take a licensing exam that will earn you the license to start your own mental health counseling practice. You can also look for mental health counseling jobs that are available aplenty. They usually earn a decent salary of about $50,000 per annum. Counselors with private practices are also known to make a considerably large income.
Types of Mental Health Counseling Jobs
There are various types of mental health counseling jobs in various fields. There are various specialties in the mental health counseling career. You can opt to become a marriage or relationship counselor who specializes in providing counsel to couples who are on the verge of separating. They also help to sort out various problems that may have ruined relationships between family members. A substance abuse counselor specializes in providing counsel to people who have become addicted to drugs. A behavioral counselor helps troubled individuals get rid of unusual behavior. A vocational or career counselor is charged with helping clients choose a proper career path according to their skill-sets. A rehabilitation counselor provides counsel to mentally or physically disabled people who want to find a job and lead an independent and normal life. Schools usually hire educational guidance counselors to help students choose a correct educational path that will help them to achieve their respective goals.
Impact of Mental Health Counselors
Mental health counselors have been seen to have a considerable impact on the general mental health of people. There has been a marked rise in the number of people seeking professional help to tackle their mental problems in this increasingly stressful world. Thus far, there seems to have been an overall positive effect on the general public from mental health counseling. This is a sure sign that there is going to be a marked rise in the number of mental health counseling jobs in the country.
Mental health counseling has become a very lucrative career choice. The number of mental health counseling jobs available is steadily climbing. If you have the right skill-set and are considering a career in the department of mental health, the time is right to jump on the bandwagon. You do not need to think twice before becoming a mental health counselor.
