*Job
Description:
The current demand
is on the rise for jobs in counseling. There are several different
direction's you can go in for a career in counseling. A master's degree
can give you different levels of counseling skills in a counseling
program.
Programs in counseling include:
Counselor's assist people
in evaluating their abilities and disabilities and help them cope with
the issues of social, personal, academic and career situations.
Mental health counselors are
trained in treating individuals and families with mental and emotional
problems and to aid in promoting better mental health. They are trained
in different areas of mental health including addiction and substance
abuse, depression, suicidal urges and other issues in connection with
mental and emotional health.
School
Counselors are needed in assisting students with problem's from
emotional development to academic development. They help students in
understanding and dealing with social and
personal difficulty from elementary students to high school students.
They work with parents and Teachers in helping students
be successful in academics. They also provide drug prevention programs
and identify domestic abuse and other family crisis. High School
Counselors advise students with job search skills or about college or
technical school planning for entrance exams.
Marriage Counselors are
trained in methods and therapeutic techniques for couples and families
in conflict with each other. They will enhance communication and
understanding among family members.
Rehabilitation
Counselors work with individuals in dealing with personal and social
effects of disabilities from stress, accidents, illnesses or disease,
birth defects, etc. They evaluate the individuals strengths and
weaknesses and provide rehabilitation counseling and arrange for medical assistance or job
placement. They develop a rehabilitation program and determine the
capabilities and skills of the individual to develop job skills. They
may also work with a person toward living independently.
*Education/Training:
To become a school counselor a
person is required to hold a State school counseling certification and
complete at least some graduate course work; most require the
completion of a master's degree. Some states require school counselors
to have both a certificate in counseling and teaching certificates and
some teaching experience before receiving certification in counseling.
To become a
licensed counselor (Mental Health, Marriage, etc) the requirements
usually require a master's degree and 2 years or 3,000 hours of
clinical experience in addition to a master's degree. Individuals
interested in a career in counseling should check with State and Local
governments to determine which counseling requirements apply. A person
interested in working as a social worker, counseling aide or
rehabilitation aide a bachelor's degree often qualifies for these
positions.
*Job
Outlook:
Jobs for
counselors should be very good with the number of openings expected to
exceed the number of graduates from programs in counseling. Counseling
employment is projected to grow between 18% to 26% through 2014.
*Working
Conditions:
School counselors usually work
9 to 10 months a year with 2 to 3 months off for summer vacation. They
generally work the same hours as Teachers. Those working in mental health such
as a drug abuse counselor and behavioral disorder counselors often work
evenings in order to counsel individuals who work during the day.
Mental Health counselors and Marriage Counselors frequently work
evenings or weekends to accommodate clients. Counselors dealing daily
with individual and family problems can cause stress. These counselors
need to have high physical and emotional energy to handle this.
*Average Annual
Earnings:
A counselors pay depends on location, area size, population, etc.
*Educational and School Counselors: $45,570.
*Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: $32,130.
*Rehabilitation Counselors: $32,960
*Marriage and Family Counselors: $38,980
Counselors who have their own
counseling practice usually earn the highest followed by drug abuse
counselors, mental health counselors and rehabilitation counselors then
on down to hospitals and social service agencies. Residential care
clinics generally pay the lowest wages.
Becoming a counselor should
be rewarding and provde you with job security for years to come.
