What Is a Mental Health Counselor?
Question by Lulu: what is a mental health counselor?
what degrees do you need, what are some of the jobs you can get and how would you get them? is it a start your own practice kind of job or do you work at a school or a hospital?
Best answer:
Answer by Ellanora
Don’t make it your career choice, mental health industry does not pay well at all. You need a bachelor’s and positions start at $ 10!! I work at a drug treatment agency as a drug counselor and we have mental health counselors on staff. They work co-occurrent disorders (substance abuse+mental health). So that’s an option… Children’s homes always need mental health workers. Most of the places that need mental health clinicians are non-profit so the pay will always suck. Especially now with all the budget cuts. I would say LCSW’s and MFT’s would make a lot more and you can have your own practice but you need a master’s degree for that.
Answer by Gary M
A mental health counselor such as LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) , LPC (licensed professional counselor) or MFT (marriage family therapist) require a minimum of a masters degree and internship / residency. They are typically in hospitals or outpatient clinics. After residency and sufficient supervision, you can go into private practice. Some prefer to work for hospitals or clinics while others prefer the benefits and risk of private practice.
Like most other jobs, networking with others in the field is the major source of opportunities.
School counselors have different training and will typically work for school districts. They usually have good benefits but lack the therapy opportunities.
CMS To Add Mental Health Therapists To 37 More Schools
“It may be dealing with family issues, social relationships, interactions, or there may be diagnosed mental health illnesses,” says CMS Director of Student Services Karen Thomas. That's where therapists may be able to step in and help. Often times …
Read more on WFAE
Counselor gives seniors mental health attention they need
That's why Melinda Spohn, a licensed mental health counselor and executive director of the Senior Retirement Project, goes to them in their home or apartment at local care centers. She also counsels family caregivers who are stressed and often filled …
Read more on The Spokesman Review
Mental Health & Therapy : Becoming a Counselor — In order to become a counselor, a person should graduate from college and apply for a master’s degree. Do an internship to become a mental health or social w…
Find More Mental Health Counselors Information…