Mental health is more than a buzzword. Diagnoses of depression rose by 33% between 2013 and 2016, and one in five adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year.
At The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, students are trained to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people suffering from mental illness. Graduates of the master’s in clinical mental health counseling program will be prepared to provide counseling services to individuals, families, couples, and groups, and will be able to help clients work through a wide variety of issues, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Grief
- Low self-esteem
- Stress
- Relationship difficulties
- Suicidal impulses
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow 20% through 2026. While private practice is often the first career path people think of in relation to clinical mental health counseling, there are other careers you can pursue. Read on for more information about five specific types of mental health counselor careers graduates can pursue with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Request infoSocial Worker
Social workers can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Nonprofit organizations
- Mental health clinics
- Schools
- Child welfare and human service agencies
- Settlement houses
- Community development corporations
- Private practices
It is important to note that social workers help people to access counseling—meaning, they’ll refer them to someone who can provide those types of services. Clinical social workers provide counseling in addition to that (and are typically licensed).
In hospitals, social workers can provide education, assist with support groups, advocate for patients and their families, help them find resources, and (if licensed) offer mental health services. Given the often-stressful nature of hospitals, social workers are a good resource for patients and their families if they are dealing with loss, a diagnosis, or other health-related problems.
Social workers can also be found in nonprofits. Specifically, social workers are helpful in settlement houses or homeless shelters. 45% of the homeless population show a history of mental illness diagnoses. Organizations like North Side Housing and Supportive Services and Franciscan Outreach have social workers that provide counseling to give clients lasting support.
Geriatric Counselor
Geriatric counselors work specifically with elderly individuals, whether that’s helping them with the retirement transition or with end-of life-matters. These counselors can also help clients process the loss of a spouse, lifelong friends, independence, or deteriorating health. Geriatric counselors often work in settings such as:
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals
- Long- and short-term care facilities
- Retirement homes
- Community senior centers
Read Related:
Aging alone: mental health practitioners are taking a closer look at the impact of aging
Access Denied: How Can We Remove Barriers to Mental Health Care Treatment?
Tips for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors provide treatment and support for those struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, or those that have an eating disorder or behavioral problem. They can work in settings such as:
- Mental health centers
- Community health centers
- Prisons
- Private practices
Given that relapse can happen for 40 to 60% of those with substance use disorders, many substance abuse counselors treat clients on an on-going basis.
Employee Assistance Program Counselor
An employee assistance program (EAP) is a voluntary, work-based program that offers assistance to employees facing mental and emotional issues, or work-related and/or personal problems. EAP counselors can either work remotely or on-site in the workplace. Since many EAPs offer 24/7 support, counselors may be required to work evenings and weekends.
97% of companies that have more than 5,000 employees have EAPs and 75 to 80% of mid-sized and smaller companies have them as well. The rationale behind workplaces having EAPs is that if employers take care of the mental health needs of employees, productivity will increase and business costs will decrease. EAPs give managers and human resources staff an opportunity to refer help to an employee in need.
Sports Counselor
Sports counseling is a specialized field of work where counselors are concerned with the wellbeing, mental functioning, and physical performance of athletes.
Athletic departments in colleges and universities, as well as professional sports teams or leagues, employ sports counselors. Attending mental health counseling can teach athletes techniques for overcoming the stress and pressure they experience during a competition, which in turn can improve their performance. Matthew Cunliffe, a sports psychologist says it best: “The top six inches of the body matter just as much as the rest.”
Military Personnel Counselors
Military personnel counselors can work in the military either as civilians or official members. As a counselor in this position, you would work with:
- War heroes and veterans
- Deployment anxiety
- Soldiers with substance abuse problems
- Soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
Military personnel counselors take care of service members that face challenges in the battlefront and away from the war. This job enables the counselor to support the soldier emotionally through their challenges with little or no damage.
By achieving a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, there is ample opportunity and knowledge for a military personnel counselor to help shift mental health outcomes within the military.
Rehabilitation Counselors
A rehabilitation counselor combines the knowledge of disability treatment with mental health treatment to help walk a patient through the rehabilitation process.
As a rehabilitation counselor, a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling would qualify you to work with disabled people, those suffering from mental conditions, congenital disabilities, and drug addicts––all with the goal of training patients to be independent and contributory in society.
A rehabilitation counselor can work in a variety of settings that include:
- Hospitals
- Non-profit organizations
- Private practices
- Mental health clinics
Health Educator
A health educator requires soft skills such as the ability to engage others and give practical counseling advice. A master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling equips the educator with a strong knowledge of human behaviors and attitudes that will provide a basis for judging and interpreting gestures, behaviors, and feelings.
A health educator can work in:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Community health centers
- Private practice
- Non-profit organizations
- Wellness programs and organizations
Health educators are versatile and can work in almost any sphere of life. Their knowledge of brain functions allows them to specifically excel at mental health practices.
Family and Relationship Therapist
A master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling may qualify you to pursue a career as a family or relationship therapist. Group therapy works to identify and resolve a variety of problems within specific relationship settings. This role involves using the knowledge of the workings of the brain to solve collective relational problems.
A relationship therapist can work in:
- Private practice
- Non-profit organizations
- Hospitals
- Business organizations
The relationship therapist handles family disagreements, job loss, effects of divorce or death on the members of a family, and other family or relationship issues.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs
At The Chicago School, we offer a variety of programs at different education levels and different locations so that everybody can find a degree path that fits their lifestyle. Check out our degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and apply today:
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Chicago, Online, Washington, D.C.)
Learn more about The Chicago School
If you would like to learn more about The Chicago School’s clinical mental health counseling programs, fill out the form below for more information. You can also apply today through our application portal.