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.

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Second Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

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.

Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.

Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.

Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.

Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.

Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.

Perform crisis interventions with clients.

Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.

Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.

Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.

Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy.

Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.

Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information.

Collaborate with mental health professionals and other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.

Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.

Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs on clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives.

Plan, organize, or lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation, or social activities for clients.

Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.

Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.

Learn about new developments in counseling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies.

Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.

Supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, or graduate students.

Gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy.

Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health or counseling services.

Coordinate or direct employee workshops, courses, or training about mental health issues.

Desktop computers

Digital medical thermometers

Flatbed scanners

Notebook computers

Personal computers

Sphygmomanometers

Client information database systems

Database software

Email software

Management information systems MIS

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Netscape Navigator

Office suite software

Oracle PeopleSoft

Patient electronic medical record EMR software

Scheduling software

Spreadsheet software

Statistical software

Test interpretation software

Web browser software

Word processing software

They have to be looking for an occupation that can help adolescents even if he/she does not agree with their decision IE abortion and/or birth control option

I applied for a lot of scholarships and grants.  Every little bit helps.

A fulfilling day for me is when an teen walks through the teens center and they learn that they do not have to become an product of their environment. It is not where you come from but the final destination.

Health Counselor

"You will never find a job in your field"

LaCava Ross

Health Counselor

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Education

Non-Profit Organizations

Teaching / Mentoring

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

Challenges I Overcame

Financial

LaCava Ross

Health Counselor

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Education

Non-Profit Organizations

Teaching / Mentoring

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

Challenges I Overcame

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