Careers in Counseling

Definition of Counseling

counsel (koun'-sәl) n. Advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) defines professional counseling as "the application of mental health, psychological, or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systematic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology."

A career in counseling psychology is more than listening to people's problems. Counseling involves:

• Objectively and accurately assessing needs
• Determining causes of behavioral disorders
• Planning a course of action to address them

In this capacity, a degree in counseling can be put to use anywhere that people are involved:

• Social work
• Community involvement
• Policy making
• Human resources

People who become counselors are genuinely interested in human behavior and have a strong desire to help others, individually or in groups, improve their mental well-being. They are also skilled at interacting with people on a personal level, while maintaining a professional relationship.

Explore the various types of counseling:

• Guidance and career counseling
• Rehabilitation counseling
• Mental health counseling
• Substance abuse counseling
• Marriage and family counseling

Why Choose a Career in Counseling

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that:

• One in four Americans ages 18 and up suffers from a mental disorder
• One in seventeen suffers from a serious mental illness
• Mental illness is the leading cause disability for people ages 15-44 in the US and Canada
• Many sufferers can be diagnosed with more than one mental disorder at a given time

Counselors work for government agencies, social service organizations, private clinics and in their own private practices.

Approximately two-thirds of all psychologists are self-employed. Counselors who are not in private practice are often found in the following areas:

• Clinics
• Detention facilities
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Rehabilitation centers
• Schools
• Universities

Counseling Jobs in the Private Sector

In the private sector, counselors and mental health professionals practice in businesses where people are the primary focus, such as management consulting firms and marketing research companies.

By understanding the needs of people and organizations, professional counselors can help employers hire and keep the best employees. Human resources are the backbone of any organization, so establishing a strong foundation is crucial.

Counselors may take on consulting roles for corporations in order to improve the corporate culture, hire the right candidates and maintain human resource quality standards. By assessing the needs of the employees, creating career-oriented employment, and determining what is most important to the company, a consultant with a degree in counseling can advise a company how to set goals and create an atmosphere that encourages productivity and positive growth.

Community Counseling Jobs

Community counselors play a similar type of role, only instead of counseling a company, they work within the community. They assess the needs of a community in areas such as crime reduction, better food sources, housing needs, etc.

Then they can determine a plan of action or intervention to improve resources and allow a community to grow beyond its current state. For example, community counseling may result in the creation of a community center to keep kids off the streets at night and create a positive atmosphere for them to learn and grow.