The word “counsel” is often associated with general advice and guidance, but many feel that is an oversimplification of the term. The American Counseling Association (ACA) looks at professional counseling as something more—a “professional relationship that empowers.” Those who stand to benefit from the guidance of counselors can be individuals, families or certain groups, such as those who deal with addictions and various aspects of mental health-related issues.
Counselors work with their clients to facilitate an “application of mental health, psychological or human development principles” to accomplish various goals, according to the ACA, which may include:
- Career
- Education
- Mental health
- Wellness
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What Does a Counselor Do?
On the Surface
Counseling psychology is a psychology subspecialty that facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning throughout a person’s lifespan. They may assist individuals, families or groups with issues as diverse as family problems, self-image issues and work-related stress. It is one of the most popular psychological subspecialties.
Counseling degrees are the gateway to a rewarding career helping others. Whether you choose to work with community involvement, the private sector or with the various aspects of mental health issues, a master’s degree is typically required (at minimum).
Each employer may have additional requirements for education and training and full certification is subject to state or national requirements. Whatever the level of education, it’s important to choose an area of specialty that will appeal to your personality and preferences.
Knowing your area of specialty is not a requirement before enrolling in an undergraduate program. Many students require a few years to find the specialty that best suits them.
Deep Dive
Listening to the problems of others is just the start of what counseling career professionals do. They also assess a patient’s needs, source behavioral problems or disorders, and develop plans of action to confront issues. A career counselor may be involved in social work and community involvement at the personal level. They may also be called upon to create policy and aid businesses in the hiring and management of potential or existing employees.
Counseling career professionals are able to assist others and usually possess an enthusiasm for doing so. However, these pros are careful to maintain a professional relationship when interacting with and aiding clients. This aspect of the job is perhaps the most important as counselors often work with deep-seated personal issues and behavioral disorders that can challenge the counselor-client relationship. It also helps to have a genuine affection for people and helping them overcome their problems. Counselors often specialize in guidance and career, marriage and family, mental health, rehabilitation or substance abuse counseling.
Counselors may also work within the context of the community to address areas of need such as housing and crime reduction. They can consult with community leaders to develop an action plan for enhanced resources and community growth. The Boys and Girls Club is one such agency that often employs career counselors in an effort to create programs that benefit children in the community and keep them away from criminal elements.
Human resource departments also often rely on the expertise of a counselor to identify the best candidates for a position or build a better corporate culture. By focusing on the needs of the employee — in much the same way community counselors focus on community—a business can improve morale and increase productivity among those in its employ.
Counseling Career Motivating Factors
Those who possess a counselor’s mindset are often motivated into their career choices by the need to help others. And according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), others desperately need the help. With 25% of American adults past the age of 18 suffering from a mental disorder of some kind and 1/17 of the general population diagnosed with a serious mental illness, the demand is great.
In addition to the demand, the freedom to set one’s own hours and work in a positive and uplifting environment help steer candidates toward the profession. A counseling career could mean:
- Working for government to develop policies that protect and assist the disabled
- Helping at-risk children or disabled adults through social service organizations
- Aiding private specialty clinics or building their own practice
With more than 60% of all psychologists working in their own practice, independence can be a rather large motivating factor. However, if you’re not interested in mixing the pressures of counseling with running your own business, you can always find work in hospitals and clinics, detention facilities, schools, universities, or rehab centers.
Finding the Best Counseling Program
Not every counseling degree will satisfy the prerequisites that will be required of you for a master’s degree program. If you are uncertain about your area of expertise, then you may wish to pursue undergraduate work in basic counseling or psychology. Remember, post-graduate work is generally required for a higher paying job in the profession. These two areas will generally translate to all 50 states when you get ready to pursue a higher degree of learning.
When considering a program for your counseling degree, develop a plan. Some things to take into consideration are…
2Hone in on an area of specialty, such as school counseling or marriage and family
3Enquire about internship programs to receive necessary hands-on training
4Determine how far your degree will reach – will it be recognized in all states?
Choosing a Counseling Speciality
Counseling degrees are generally pursued by people with a strong desire to help others, but certain candidates work best within specific areas of expertise. Below are some of the more popular specialities for counselors to pursue. Knowing who you want to help is the first step to determining a more specific counseling degree program.
If you are still having trouble finding the right area, you can always specialize in a general program for mental health and then use internships and hands-on training to find the path for you.
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