What is a counselor?
A counselor is a professional that assists people with many different aspects of life. This includes assisting with mental health and career issues. There are hundreds of types of counselors, each with their own specialty, and each serving a particular population. The environment of a counselor’s work usually depends on their specialty. For example, a guidance counselor at a school will most often work in a school. Many other counselors work with flexible work hours in order to accommodate their clients, and charge per session.
Different types of counselors
Among the hundreds of counselors are a number of more common types of counselors that one may encounter. These counselors range from school counselors to rehabilitation counselors, and each serve an important role in the counseling industry. For example:
Mental health counselors work to address mental and emotional disorders through therapeutic techniques used to address typical mental health issues such as stress, addiction, and grief. In addition, mental health counselors can help an individual with career issues, educational decisions, and relational problems.
Other types of counselors include substance abuse, marriage, and career counselors. Each of these different specialties have many sub-specialties that altogether make up the industry.
How to become a counselor
Becoming a counselor is often a very complicated process that depends on the specific specialty desired, as well as the State the prospective counselor will practice in. Most states require a master’s degree in order to obtain a license as a counselor. Other states, however, allow only a bachelor’s degree with counseling courses. In a typical master’s degree program, a student will have to finish 48 to 60 semester hours of post-grad study. Additionally, a prospective counselor is required to study under supervised clinical counseling.
As licensing depends on many different factors, it is important to understand that any prospective counselors should check with local and State governments or employers to ensure the proper requirements are met. Typically, after obtaining a master’s degree, a prospective counselor is required to accumulate 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, to pass an exam, and complete continuing education requirements. Other requirements may be in order for more specialized licenses.
Becoming a counselor is more than just obtaining a license and beginning practice, however. Counselors must have the ability to inspire others, be trustworthy, and exercise patience and energy.
Top schools for counseling
Finding the right school for your counseling education is very important. While there are numerous licensing and certification requirements dependent on the State, preparing for a future career as a counselor starts with a relevant, focused undergraduate study. The top 3 counseling schools for receiving an M.A, M.S., or M.ed., respectively, are listed below.
1. Northwestern University in Evanston, IL
The Illinois school is ranked in the top 25 U.S. graduate schools for Psychology by U.S. News and World Report. It offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Psychology. Students have the option of three specific specializations including Career (Vocational) Counseling, Child Assessment, and General Psychological Counseling. In addition, Northwestern offers a 3-year Two Plus Curriculum which is appealing to students entering the field after another career. Both of these programs meet Illinois state licensure standards for Clinical Professional Counselors.
2. University of Florida in Gainesville, FL
The University of Florida offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Counseling Psychology. The school offers students the ability to learn scientifically-based counseling methods and approaches. Research is also very important in the American Psychological Association accredited program.
3. University of Missouri in Columbia, MO
The University of Missouri College of Education offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling Psychology, with options in Career Counseling, Community/Agency Counseling, and School Counseling. Multicultural training is also a big part of graduate education in Counseling Psychology at UM. For those seeking more reach to underserved populations, UM is a good choice, as it promotes interventions and research aimed at these populations.
Job Statistics
There is currently more jobs to fill than graduates to fill them in the counseling industry. This proves to be very good news for prospective counselors.
- Around 650,000 counselors are currently employed, and 771,000 counselors employed is the current projection by the year 2016.
- The median annual earnings of educational, career, and school counselors was $47,530. The lowest 10% earned less than $27,500 and the highest 10% earned more than $75,900. Counselors working in elementary and secondary schools have the highest median annual earnings among industries employing large numbers of counselors earning $53,750 per year. Career rehabilitation services earned significantly less, at $31,340 per year.
- The median annual earnings of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in 2006 were $34,000.
- The median annual earnings of mental health counselors was $34,380 per year.
- Specifically for substance abuse, mental health, and rehabilitation, government employers paid the highest wages. Residential care facilities paid the lowest wages.
- Employment of counselors is likely to increase by a whopping 21% from 2006 to 2016
- Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor jobs is expected to grow by 34%, significantly higher than the average for all occupations. Many criminals are being sent to counseling programs instead of jail. In addition, more and more people are beginning to turn to treatment for additions of all types.
- Educational, career, and school counseling is expected to grow by 13%, around the average for all occupations.
- Demand for school counselors may increase as the number of students enrolled continues to grow. The increased responsibility given to these school counselors is also likely to increase their job prospects.
- Employment of mental health counselors is also expected to grow by over 30%, must faster than the average for all occupations.
- Marriage and family counselors are projected to experience a growth of 30% in their occupations due to the increased recognition of the specialty.
Tim Du
Counselor Network Writer
