Mental health counselors can work with individuals experiencing a range of mental health challenges, such as substance use, grief and loss, depression or relationship problems. They are responsible for evaluating clients, developing treatment plans and documenting clients’ progress. If you decide to pursue a career in counseling and mental health, you may help your clients by:
- Teaching coping skills
- Modifying problematic behaviors and thought patterns
- Referring clients to additional resources, such as support groups
There are many different careers in mental health counseling to consider, such as the following:
Marriage and Family Counselors
The need for nurturing familial relationships is one of the defining characteristics of humanity; however, relationships are not always easy to maintain. Marriage and family counselors may offer support to parents and children experiencing strained relationships, couples facing hardships and individuals navigating the challenges of divorce, aiding them in moving forward.
Relationship problems can sometimes be exacerbated by personal problems, such as substance use disorder, depression or low self-esteem. A marriage and family counselor may help individuals work toward overcoming these types of obstacles while simultaneously improving the health of their relationships and the overall family dynamic.
Addiction Counselor
Addiction counselors help clients who suffer from addictions such as substance use or compulsive gambling. In this counseling career, you might work with individuals one-on-one or in groups — or both. You may also work with clients who have co-occurring disorders (multiple mental health problems), such as depression or anxiety disorders.
As an addiction counselor, you may perform the following tasks:
- Teach clients coping strategies
- Assist in crisis intervention
- Help clients avoid relapse
- Direct individual and group therapy with friends and family
- Refer clients to a medical professional when needed
Individuals struggling with substance use disorder often experience significant consequences due to their behaviors, such as job loss, financial problems and relationship problems ranging from divorce to family estrangement. An addiction counselor may also support individuals who are trying to get their lives back on track due to these types of consequences.
To be an effective addiction counselor, you should be a good listener who is compassionate and empathetic. You’ll also need plenty of patience and interpersonal skills, as forging a strong rapport with clients is important.1
Career Counselor
Career counselors evaluate clients’ work history, education level, interests, personality and skills to suggest careers that could best match them. They help people who are entering the workplace, unemployed, between jobs or dissatisfied with their current job.
As a career counselor, you may perform the following tasks:
- Assess client records
- Conduct interviews
- Oversee aptitude tests
- Gather information about surrounding schools and businesses
- Show clients how to properly search for a job
- Educate clients about the current labor market
If you have strong interpersonal and communication skills, this career may be a good fit for you. You should also have strong analytical skills in order to match clients to job opportunities that best fit them.2
