This occupation is part of the Community and Social Services cluster
-
Compatibility
not enough datawhy?
- x Create a Plan
- x Find Training
- x Find Job Openings
About the Job
Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging.
It is also Called
- Behavior Support Specialist (BSS)
- Behavioral Health Therapist
- Bereavement Counselor
- Case Manager
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- Chemical Dependency Coordinator
- Chemical Dependency Therapist
- Child Care Counselor
- Children's Therapist
- Clinical Mental Health Counselor
What They Do
- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
- Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
- Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
- Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
- Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: SIA.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Social interests, but also prefer Investigative and Artistic environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Relationships, but also value Achievement and Independence in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Education Required
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $46,530 with most people making between $24,570 and $80,900
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 9,200 people in California. It is projected that there will be 11,100 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 190 openings due to growth and about 200 replacement openings for approximately 390 total annual openings.
Similar Occupations
- School Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Home Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Instructional Coordinators
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Genetic Counselors
People who viewed this occupation also viewed:
-
majorMental Health Counseling/Counselor
-
majorClinical/Medical Social Work
-
onetCounseling Psychologists
-
onetChild, Family, and School Social Workers
-
onetMental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
-
onetSubstance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
-
collegeLoma Linda University
-
majorSubstance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
-
collegeCalifornia State University-Long Beach
-
collegeUniversity of Southern California
-
collegeSanta Clara University
-
majorSocial Work