Many of us in our life face mental problems due to various reasons. Some people face stress due to lots of work, some adults face problems with their children, some face problems due to financial stress, etc. The biggest problem of all of these problems is depression and the fact that many people even have suicidal thoughts in their mind. Here a medical counselor plays a major role to advise such people about their problems and help them overcome it. Mental health counselors need to completely study the people and understand their problems. They should be able to gather as much information as they can from their client in a natural way and assess an individual's problems through their case history, interview, and observation. Mental health counselors should be able to help their clients in personal development. They should also be able to maintain and establish a good relation with their clients in order to understand them in a better way. The mental health counselor should be able to maintain ethical and professional conduct.
In order to make a career as a mental healthy counselor you will be required to posses a Master's degree in social work or science. Most of the courses available for mental health counselors are of two years. To become a mental health counselor you need to complete a psychotherapeutic counselor course. There are various universities that offer training and certificate courses on psychology. Diplomas in guidance and counseling are offered by multiple universities in the United States. One can also undergo a diploma in psychological counseling after their graduation.
A mental health counselor apart from professional qualification in psychology should have enough patience to handle the client. A mental health counselor should keep their client's problems confidential. They should be able to analyze people quickly even from their appearance and look. He should be capable of building relationship of trust and respect with clients. He should allow his client to talk openly about his/her feelings that have made them seek counseling. A career counselor should be able to evaluate a person's abilities, interests, talents and personality to make them develop realistic goals. A career counselor should evaluate the person in various aspects. They should analyze them through interviews, tests or other methods before advising them. A mental health counselor should have a great command over written and oral communication. They should also have wonderful intrapersonal skills. The counselors must have emotional stability and maturity to handle their client's problems.
In order to avail a good job in a reputable hospital, having a minimum of 1-3 years of experience is must.
Mental health counselors have a significant demand round the globe. A person can work as a counselor in a school or college, can be a marriage counselor, can be a medical counselor, and can assist a welfare organization or behavioral counselor. Even some industrial organizations are using counselors for labor related problems. Therefore the job prospects for mental health counselors are very bright.
A fresh qualified counselor can earn up to $25,000 per annum. As per the reports of the Bureau of labor and statistics a median mental health counselor can earn around $36,000 annually. If you have your own office and offer counseling on an hourly basis, your income will be more. You may even get $30 to $50 per hour. Hence, an experienced career counselor has a bright future in terms of employment.
Many counselors even provide their professional help online. One can also earn quick money as a counselor sitting at home and offering opinions through the internet.
Many people approach counselors to cope with fierce competitiveness. Modern day living has driven more and more people to seek professional help to get rid of social, emotional, and vocational problems. So, a good counselor will always have a job and good earnings throughout the year.