Mental Health Counselors
Clinician, Counselor, Mental Health Counselor, 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.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
Knowledge
Health
- therapy and counseling
Math and Science
- psychology
- sociology and anthropology
Business
- customer service
- administrative services
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Skills
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
Abilities
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
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Sincerity
- Optimism
- Adaptability
- Empathy
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Oracle PeopleSoft
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Internet browser software
- Netscape Navigator
- Web browser software
Education
Education: (rated 5 of 5)
master's degree
usually needed
usually needed
Job Outlook
Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Explore More
- Clinical & Counseling Psychologists
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
You might like a career in one of these industries:
See more details at O*NET OnLine about Mental Health Counselors.