Careers in counseling

Counseling is the act of helping someone work through a personal, social, psychological, or professional problem or difficulty. In this career, you assist and guide individuals, couples, or families through challenging times. A counselor listens to clients and helps them identify thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  The counselor then guides clients to make adjustments and changes to improve the underlying circumstances behind them seeking help.

Since tribal times, humans have engaged in counseling. Early counseling sessions involved humans sharing their experiences, stories, and dreams in group settings. As civilization developed, religious leaders offered counseling to individuals. In the 1890s, Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis, a field in which one person listens to another and interprets how the person’s subconscious psyche influences behavior. The field of counseling as we know it today gained popularity in the 1950s with the development of additional schools of thought, including psychoanalytical, behaviorist, and humanistic. These approaches help us understand why we think and act in certain ways, allowing us to connect to ourselves and others in more balanced and healthy ways.

Main tasks and responsibilities of a counselor

As a counselor, you play an important role in the lives of clients. Your responsibilities as a counselor include helping clients work through personal, emotional, social, relationship, and academic challenges. To succeed, you will need a variety of skills as you complete your tasks and responsibilities.

First, you need to exercise compassion, empathy and understanding as you employ active listening skills. As a counselor you will need to use critical thinking skills as you ask thoughtful questions to understand your clients and their thoughts, feelings and needs. You may need to have a wide array of knowledge about various people groups, situations, and challenges. It is also helpful if you know how to defuse tension, manage conflict, and handle crises. If you want to lead group therapy or discussions, obtain facilitation skills. Finally, maintain control of your emotions so that you can remain calm, controlled, stable, and confident in all types of high-stress situations.

First, you need to exercise compassion, empathy and understanding as you employ active listening skills.

Your tasks will include meeting with clients regularly – although not necessarily face to face. In this capacity, you develop treatment goals and teach clients how to put their new skills into practice and track progress. As you meet with clients for individual or group sessions, you may prepare homework assignments and provide resource materials, including crisis intervention numbers or additional referrals. Prepare to coordinate care with community agencies, healthcare providers, other service agencies and providers.

After each session, a counselor typically records the details about the topics discussed. You may be responsible to complete insurance paperwork, mail invoices, and manage payments. If you work in an agency, expect to report to a supervisor and collaborate with coworkers.

To complete these tasks, you need organizational skills and the ability to think creatively. Depending on your job, you may also need a willingness to work on short notice or be on-call.

Many counselors complete advanced training by going back to school to earn an advanced degree or qualify for a different licensure. Earning continuing education (CE) credits may be required to maintain your National Certified Counselor certification, and to stay current on the latest practices in the counseling field.

Careers in counseling

The major approaches of counseling

Counselors can address a client’s problem with a variety of styles and approaches. The type of approach counselors use depends on their education, training, and preferences. A counselor may also utilize several approaches, depending on the needs to the client.

Popular therapeutic approaches include:

1. Psychodynamic — Address a client’s behavioral challenges by discerning how their past experiences affect their unconscious beliefs, attitudes, and actions.
2. Humanistic — Ask clients to explore their current thoughts, feelings, and actions, and offer support as they work out solutions to their challenges.
3. Behavioral — Correct learned behavior by embracing new and helpful strategies, behaviors, and tools.
4. Interpersonal — Offer compassion and support as you help clients reduce environmental stressors, practice self-efficacy, and involve others as they address disorders.
5. Mindfulness — Prompt clients to become aware of their feelings and thoughts in a non-judgmental way and use tools like breathing, meditation, yoga, and body scan to reduce stress.
6. Existential — Explore your clients’ needs as you question what it means to be alive and guide them to make rational choices as they grow, change, and develop.

Qualifications to become a counselor

The path to becoming a counselor includes several steps. Expect to earn an accredited degree, complete fieldwork, take an exam, and earn a license as you train to work as a counselor.

Earn a degree

Start by earning an undergraduate or graduate degree. Choose a school that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This independent agency is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, the organization that accredits master’s degree mental health and other counseling specialty programs. With a degree from an accredited school, you can go on to earn a license.

Complete supervised counseling

Next, complete a supervised, hands-on internship, practicum, and other fieldwork under the supervision of a qualified clinician. The CACREP requires 700 hours of supervised experience, but you may need as many as 4,000 hours depending on your chosen counseling specialization and your state’s licensing requirements. By working as a counselor in various settings, you practice what you have learned in school and hone your skills. This opportunity also helps you choose a specialization.

Take an examination

All states require professional counselors to pass a comprehensive examination before they can apply for a license to practice. The exam shows that you know the counseling theory, can practice successfully with clients, and follow ethics and safe practices. Commonly recognized examinations include:

National Counselor Examination (NCE) — The most common credentialing exam is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). It includes 200 multiple choice questions that reflect real-world counseling practice situations.

National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) — Also administered by NBCC, the NCMHCE focuses specifically on mental health practice. Through 12 to 14 case studies, you show that you know how to assess clients, create a treatment plan, and practice intervention skills.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRCE) — Administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), the CRCE is accepted in some states. With 175 multiple choice questions, this exam tests your knowledge over 12 domains, including rehabilitation counseling.

Apply for a license

Complete the paperwork for your official license and pay any associated fees. Many states also require criminal background checks and professional references. You may need to prove citizenship and English language proficiency.

Schedule continuing education

To maintain your licensure, you will need to take additional classes throughout your career. Examples of continuing education include workshops, webinars, and graduate-level college courses. You may also complete home study classes. Refer to your specialization requirements and state guidelines as you earn continuing education credits.

Education and career options

Earn an undergraduate or graduate degree before you pursue your counseling career. Here is a college degrees list and a few examples of careers you can do with each degree.

Associate degree

While many counseling licenses require a graduate degree, you could earn a 2-year associate degree and qualify for entry-level or support jobs.

The coursework to earn an associate degree in counseling includes psychological theories and models, human services, family studies, ethics, and case management. Other course requirements include general education classes in math, science, English, writing, and humanities.

You can earn 3 different associate degrees depending on the institution you attend.

You can earn 3 different associate degrees depending on the institution you attend. Generally, an associate of arts (A.A.) program includes classes in general study with a focus on arts and humanities, such as history, languages, and English. An associate of science (A.S.) features core classes in sciences, math, statistics, and social sciences. An associate of applied science (AAS) includes an applied learning experience, such as an internship or practicum.

With an associate degree in counseling, you may qualify to work in several roles. Some states allow you to work as a mental health technician, outreach specialist, human service assistant, counseling assistant, family mediator, or caseworker. You may also be able to work as an addictions or substance abuse counselor, particularly if you have extensive experience in the field.

Bachelor degrees

Earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree with a focus on arts, humanities, and foreign language classes or a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree, which includes classes in math, statistics and natural science.  For majors in counseling, students typically take courses in psychology, sociology, social work, behavioral health, human services, communication, case management, and ethics. They also complete an internship, practicum, or research project as part of their skill development. Note: to pursue a graduate degree and licensure, attending a CACREP-accredited college or university is strongly recommended.

Earn a 4-year bachelor’s degree in counseling to work in entry-level or supportive jobs in mental health, marriage and family, substance abuse, rehabilitation, or school industries at various community centers, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, or similar settings.

Master degrees

With a master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited school, you can obtain licensure and practice in various settings. Expect to spend 2 to 5 years earning this graduate degree.

Before you enroll in a master’s degree program, choose a specialization concentration from the list below (more niche options may be available at some schools):

1. clinical mental health
2. marriage, couple, and family counseling
3. addiction counseling
4. school counseling
5. career counseling
6. student affairs and college counseling
7. gerontological counseling
8. counselor education and supervision

Additionally, you can select a licensure or research track. The licensure track prepares you to work directly with clients. The research track may be a prerequisite for a doctorate in counseling program.

The courses you will study in a master’s degree program include

• professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
• human growth and development
• social and cultural diversity
• counseling and helping relationships
• assessment and testing
• career development
• group counseling and group work
• research and program evaluation

Supervised fieldwork is a requirement for a master’s degree. Use this experience to practice your counseling skills and prepare to work independently college. Generally, you will need a complete 40 hours of direct patient contact as part of the 100 required practicum hours. Also, plan to complete a 500-hour supervised counseling internship in your specialization, with 240 hours of direct patient service experience.

With your master’s degree, you may work in numerous settings.

With your master’s degree, you may work in numerous settings. In addition to working directly with clients, consider a career in geriatric, recreational, behavioral health, genetic, or pastoral counseling. You could work in a community mental health center, correctional facility, homeless shelter, inpatient or outpatient facility, or wellness center.

Your specialization may also determine the careers you can choose. For example, if you earn an M.S. in clinical mental health counseling, you can work as an addiction, trauma or marriage and family counselor. Or, earn an M.A. in marriage, couple, and family counseling to work as a family therapist. Other open careers include forensic counseling or military families and culture.

Doctorate degree

Doctoral degrees in counseling are primarily for roles in academia. The CACREP is pushing for all counseling courses to be taught by people holding a doctorate degree in counseling (previously this was also done by psychologists with Ph.D.s). Outside of academia, this advanced degree can be beneficial to those seeking roles in program design, research, management roles, and private practice. It is worthy noting that earning a doctorate degree does not improve insurance reimbursement rates because a master’s degree is the terminal degree to practice.

Completion of this degree typically requires 4 years, and you can earn a:

• Ph.D. in mental health counseling
• Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy
• Ph.D. in substance abuse counseling
• Ph.D. in school counseling
• Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling

Before you apply to a doctorate program, complete the prerequisites. In most cases, you will need a license in a major counseling specialization, such as mental health (professional or clinical) counseling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, school counseling, or rehabilitation counseling.

In your doctorate program, you will complete at least 48 credits in courses that cover counseling, leadership and advocacy, supervision, teaching, and research and scholarship. Also, complete a 100-hour practicum, a 600-hour clinical internship and research, plus an independent dissertation or a portfolio or published articles.

Types of counselors

You can choose from dozens of counseling careers. In addition to the 3 careers discussed previously, here are 6 common careers you can review as you choose a specialization. Note that most of these careers require a master’s degree if you plan to provide direct clinical care to clients.

Types of counseling licenses

To work as a professional counselor, you may need a license. Different counseling jobs require practitioners to earn a license. Also, licensing requirements vary by state. Before you pursue a specific specialization, verify the type of license you need and ensure you obtain adequate training, certification, and experience for that licensure.

In general, you can obtain the following counseling licenses.

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor of Mental Health (LPCC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor (LRC)

Keep in mind that some states refer to the same license by different names. For example, Licensed Professional Counselor is the same as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors or Licensed Mental Health Counselors depending on which state you practice in.

You also may be able to obtain an associate license. In this case, you have met the education and exam requirements but must still complete the supervised experience requirement.  Examples of associate licenses include:

• Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
• Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA)
• Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC)

Different specialties include different types of licenses, too. For example, if you want to work as an addiction counselor, you could earn one or more of the following licenses.

• Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC)
• Certified Addictions Practitioner (CAP)
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC)
• Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LDAC)
• Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor (LSAC)

Salary and job market

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, counselors can earn an average of $50,800. Salaries range from $29,120 to $79,030. Your specific job, specialization and degree affect how much money you can make. The career is growing by 14%.

Counseling and psychology – similarities and differences

The fields of counseling and psychology overlap. Professionals in both careers may diagnose and treat mental health disorders and help clients work through challenges. But there are a few differences in education, clients, and limitations. Let us briefly review the similarities and differences as we compare the 2 careers.

Counseling

Counseling careers typically require a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). To work directly with clients, counselors must also pass licensure requirements, including a comprehensive examination, and complete supervised work in the field.

A counselor’s clients can include a variety of individuals in numerous settings. They may work with children or adults in a rehab, prison, school, hospital, clinics, or private practice. With clients, counselors focus on fixing problems, meeting needs, discovering practical and pragmatic solutions.

Counseling limitations involve the type of psychotherapy provided. A counselor’s main role is to both talk about how an individual feels and what they think about their problems, and to facilitate skill development. Counselors cannot prescribe medications, a job that typically belongs solely to a psychiatrist.

Psychology

Psychologists who work as counseling psychologist have typically earned a doctorate degree in a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Psychologists complete supervised fieldwork, research projects and a dissertation, plus gain licensure. With this degree, psychologists can work in research, as a professor or with clients who have serious mental health conditions.

Psychology clients include individuals in dozens of settings. Psychologists may work in private practice or a rehab, school, hospital, clinic, government setting, and other locations. With clients, psychologists focus on the origin of behaviors, attitudes, and problems as they help individuals understand themselves and their perception of the world.

Psychology limitations involve addressing current feelings and situations. Typically, these professionals will encourage individuals to explore how their early experiences influence their current actions. The majority of psychologists cannot prescribe medications (this is only possible in 5 U.S. states with extra certification), a role generally reserved for psychiatrists.