Counseling Schools

Which types of jobs are available for those interested in counseling?

Counselors help their patients cope with issues, overcome challenges and achieve objectives. The American Counseling Association's (ACA) official definition of counseling states: "Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals."

Because of the diversity of issues and goals that people have, there are many different areas of specialization within counseling. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides employment information about several different types of counselors:

• educational/vocational counselors
• rehabilitation counselors
• mental health counselors
• substance abuse/behavioral disorder counselors
• marriage/family counselors
• other counselors

The "other counselors" category includes specialists, such as gerontological counselors. While these job titles imply specific areas of focus, counselors often work with patients who have multiple and often times related issues. For example, an educational counselor might work with a troubled student who is struggling to reach academic goals because of a substance abuse problem.

The day-to-day routines of counselors varies depending on the type of patients they see and their work environment. For instance, an educational counselor will likely see students privately in an office at a school and may also visit classrooms to lead group sessions or lessons. The BLS also reports that more and more counselors are entering into private practice. The ACA publication Counseling Today published an article highlighting how this can improve counselors' daily routines by giving them more control over their schedule and workload.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network reports that counseling careers are very rewarding for people who value building relationships and serving others and who like to work with a high level of independence and responsibility. Helping people can lead to a sense of achievement. But it can also be draining to deal with difficult patients and to think about emotionally difficult problems on a regular basis.

Formal training required to work in a career related to counseling

According to the BLS, a master's degree is usually a prerequisite to becoming a licensed counselor. Accredited master's-level counseling degree programs usually take 48 to 60 semester hours to complete. Programs that award counseling degrees will include classes in clinical/practical instruction in counseling techniques and also academic classes focusing on relevant topics like abnormal psychology or health and human development.

Specific licensing requirements vary by state and specialty, but in addition to earning a counseling degree, candidates are commonly required to take a test and undergo some supervised clinical experience before starting to practice. For some specialties, such as substance abuse counseling, it may be possible to become licensed with a high school diploma only. Other specialties might require significant education or training in addition to completion of a counseling degree program. School counselors, for example, might need to have a teaching certificate and teaching experience. Some counselors voluntarily seek certification from a national agency like the National Board for Certified Counselors. Earning this certification sometimes fulfills state licensing requirements.

The typical career path of someone interested in counseling

The U.S. Department of Labor classifies counseling as a social/artistic/investigative profession. This means that the typical successful counselor likes to interact with other people, does not need or look for a clear set of rules in a work environment, and is good at analyzing and working through problems mentally.

Counseling careers develop in different ways depending on specialization. If you are working at an institution, you might be promoted within the institutional hierarchy; school counselors might move into administration, for example. Other counselors leave institutional settings to build private practices. Further education also opens new avenues for advancement. Counselors might earn a Ph.D. and move into counseling research. In addition to getting doctorate degrees in counseling, counselors can also advance their careers by getting a doctor of psychology degree and becoming a clinical or other type of psychologist.

Job outlook and salary information for those interested in counseling

According to the BLS, educational counselors were on average the counselors earning the most money in 2009, with a mean annual wage of $55,030. Others in the profession earned the following:

• rehabilitation counselors $34,710
• substance abuse counselors $40,420
• mental health counselors $41,710
• marriage counselors $49,020

The BLS projects healthy 18 percent 2008-2018 growth in counseling jobs overall, and predicts especially robust growth of 21 percent for substance abuse counselors and 24 percent for mental health counselors. This growth is expected because more and more people are seeking out counseling or are being ordered by courts to attend counseling for problems such as addiction.