Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Mental Health Counselors
Mental Health Counselors counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.
Table of contents
What they do
Mental Health Counselors counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.
- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients’ treatment.
- Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
- Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
- Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Mental Health Counselors maintain the confidentiality of records relating to clients’ treatment. They encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
- Plan, organize or lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation, or social activities for clients.
- Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
- Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Mental Health Counselors also collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans. They may also supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, or graduate students.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Mental Health Counselors gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy. They might also counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.
In addition, they discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients’ status.
To some Mental Health Counselors, it is also their responsibility to refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 89% said they found their job meaningful.
My Typical Day A typical day at work as a Mental Health Therapist, for me, involves checking emails, voicemails and following up with anyone who has inquired about beginning therapy and following up on any requests or questions of regular clients. Then, I proceed to begin conducting therapeutic sessions from approximately 9 am to 6 … Read More
I have been a clinical mental health therapist (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) for 20+ years and am still in love with my career choice. I’m honored daily that people allow me to hold space with them as they develop through some of life’s most challenging and exciting moments. As a mental health counselor/psychotherapist, my … Read More
I’m a mental health counselor, specializing in anxiety, depression, and trauma. I’m a very client-focused therapist. I help people work through their past traumas, belief systems, and insecurities while bringing emphasis to their strengths, resilience, and self-awareness. My typical day I get in the office around 7:30 am and start to see clients from 8 … Read More
I am an LPC (licensed professional counselor) in the state of PA and currently operate a private practice called Consilium Behavioral Health. I specialize in trauma/PTSD and work with clients anywhere from 14 years old to 70. I also treat anxiety, depression, substance use, grief/complicated grief, and stage of life issues (transitioning to retirement, young … Read More
I am a Mental Health Therapist working with other mental health professionals. I also specialize in how grief and loss impact our relationship with self and others. I have the opportunity to have variety in my typical day of work since I have created a specialty mental health business. The typical day usually begins with … Read More
I am an integrative feminist therapist, and I work with young adults of all identity intersections to understand their past, make efforts to manage emotions and behaviors in the present, and actively decide and craft their future toward their pleasure, safety, and joy. As a therapist who integrates many theoretical influences and techniques, I make … Read More
I am a pre-licensed mental health counselor working in a group private practice. I hold a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling. While I have my degree and I completed all the necessary schooling, I have not yet completed the 3,000 hours of post-graduate work needed to obtain a fully independent license in my … Read More
I am Wendy B. Pitts, LCSW-C and in my day job, I am a School Mental Health Therapist (MHT) for a public alternative education school in Maryland. Students can be sent to an Alternative Education placement, for a variety of reasons, however, they are typically removed from their comprehensive school because of their behavior. My … Read More
I am a mental health therapist in private practice. A typical day at work includes many different tasks. First, and most importantly, a typical day involves meeting with clients. I will meet with 4-5 clients a day for a 50–55-minute session. Second, I block time off in my day for potential clients to engage in … Read More
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and owner of Sara Weand, LPC, a virtual private psychotherapy practice. Because I have a fully virtual private practice, I don’t have to leave my house in order to go to my office. I specialize in anxiety treatment & Borderline Personality Disorder, by helping adults have better relationships … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the fastest-growing careers.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Salary is below average.
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Mental Health Counselors with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $30,590 to $36,950 per year or $15 to $18 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $78,700 | $38 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $61,760 | $30 |
| Median | $47,660 | $23 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $36,950 | $18 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $30,590 | $15 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Mental Health Counselors based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Carriers | $71460 | $34.35 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $71030 | $34.15 |
| Specialty Hospitals | $70240 | $33.77 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $65530 | $31.50 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $65040 | $31.27 |
| Local Government | $60790 | $29.23 |
| State Government | $60670 | $29.17 |
| Offices of Physicians | $60400 | $29.04 |
| Educational Support Services | $59650 | $28.68 |
| Office Administrative Services | $58630 | $28.19 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Mental Health Counselors work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Mental Health Counselors including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | 27790 | $54380 | $26.15 |
| Individual and Family Services | 16320 | $48550 | $23.34 |
| Local Government | 14220 | $60790 | $29.23 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 12420 | $41300 | $19.86 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 9890 | $57840 | $27.81 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 7260 | $65040 | $31.27 |
| State Government | 6090 | $60670 | $29.17 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 6020 | $65530 | $31.50 |
| Offices of Physicians | 3300 | $60400 | $29.04 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | 2600 | $45070 | $21.67 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
Clinical/Medical Social Work
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor
Trauma Counseling
Social Work
Counseling Psychology
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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