Counseling Degree Program and Career Education

A counselor provides advice and guidance to people with temporary problems too great for them to solve on their own. These problems can be of a personal nature, or might concern family, education, mental health, or career decisions. Counselors provide support, therapy, and knowledge in a specific field of expertise to those who seek their assistance. Counseling is often a shorter term solution than psychotherapy, and emphasizes a nonjudgmental developmental or behavioral approach to solving specific problems of an acute, or temporary, (versus chronic) nature.

Education, Training and Degrees in Counseling

The counseling field covers a wide range of professions. A counselor might be a social worker, a spiritual advisor, a psychologist, a guidance counselor, or some other person with specialized knowledge or training in a specific area.

Since the careers in this field cover such a wide range, so do the degree and certification requirements. There are, however, certain universally accepted requirements. In virtually all states, for example, counselors must be licensed to practice, and a master's degree is required to obtain licensing. School counselors must also be certified. Prospective counselors must stay aware of the educational and training requirements in their state, which are often detailed and which vary from specialty to specialty.

Some counselors who hold a master's degree apply for national certification by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC), which grants the credential "National Certified Counselor." This voluntarily credential, however, is not a substitute for the mandatory state licensing. There are a number of additional counseling organizations which offer certification in specific counseling specialties.

Find out more information about online Health Care degrees, certificates, and diplomas.

Explore Career Opportunities in Counseling

Counselors often specialize in a specific field, such as career, vocational or guidance counseling; high school or college counseling; community counseling; gerontological counseling; health counseling; bereavement counseling; mental health counseling; rehabilitation counseling; substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling; genetic counseling; or marital, couple and family counseling, among others.

The specific duties, functions, and responsibilities of a counselor vary with the precise nature of the position. Below are a few of the most popular careers:

Educational or School Counselor
Educational or school counselors deliver career and educational guidance to individuals and groups, as well as treating their social, behavioral, and personal problems. School counselors work with special needs students and help other students understand their abilities, interests, and personalities so they can establish career goals in line with these personal traits and abilities. Techniques and tasks vary widely depending on the level of schooling at which the counselor is employed. Elementary school counselors, for example, will focus more on developmental issues, while high school counselors spend less time with development than in assisting students in dealing with personal and educational issues, and in assisting them in choosing, applying, and preparing for college. Growing trends at all schooling levels are crisis counseling and preventive counseling.

Vocational Counselor
Vocational counselors, also known as employment or career counselors, spend most of their time providing career and job guidance. They survey an individual's background, such as level of education and previous employment, as well the person's personality and interests. Based on these findings, the vocational counselor assists the client in making suitable career decisions. They also assist individuals in finding jobs and provide emotional support to people undergoing the stress of career change or job loss.

Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation counselors assist individuals with disabilities or injuries cope with the personal, social, and job-related effects of their conditions. They perform a variety of functions specific to the needs of their client, including evaluating needs and skills, coordinating or arranging rehabilitation efforts, administering vocational or occupational counseling, and providing emotional support.

Mental Health Counselor
Mental health counselors provide psychotherapeutic counseling to individuals, families, and groups in an attempt to resolve emotional or behavioral problems. They are trained to address a number of common and current personal and interpersonal issues, including depression, stress management, addiction and substance abuse, aging issues, decisions regarding employment or education, mental and emotional health concerns, and marital, family, and relationship difficulties.

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors assist individuals who have addictive disorders, including alcohol, drug, or gambling addiction, or food-related disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. In addition, they frequently conduct prevention programs.

Marriage and Family Counselors
Marriage and family counselors work with individuals, families, couples, or even entire organizations, applying various therapeutic techniques to resolve emotional and interpersonal conflicts.

Salary Range and Employment Outlook for Counseling Professionals

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 601,000 people were employed as counselors in 2004. Approximately 40 percent worked in state or local government, while the remaining 60 percent worked mostly within the health services industry.

Nearly half of these positions were as educational counselors, vocational counselors, and school counselors. Of the remaining counselors, about 131,000 were employed as rehabilitation counselors; 96,000 as mental health counselors; 76,000 as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors; and 24,000 as marriage and family therapists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field of counseling is expected to grow "faster than the average for all occupations" during this decade. Opportunities are expected to be very good, as the number of jobs is predicted to exceed the number of counseling program graduates. Rehabilitation counselors, substance abuse counselors, and behavioral disorder counselors, in particular, should experience prospects the Bureau of Labor Statistics regards as "excellent."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that in 2004, median annual salaries of educational, vocational, and school counselors was $45,570, with a range running from less than $26,260 to a high of more than $72,390. Elementary and high schools paid the highest salaries for these positions on average, and government employers usually paid the highest wages for substance abuse, mental health, and rehabilitation counselors. As is the case with most professions, salaries and wages can differ significantly depending on the location of the job as well as the education level, degrees, and experience of the counselor. Counselors with established private or independent group practices in general earned the highest wages.

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