If people trust and respect you, if they tell you their deepest, darkest secrets, or come to you frequently for advice, you might consider a counseling degree. As with any career, of course, it's important that you enjoy the work that's involved. If you're really good at what you do, then that's a huge plus!
With counseling, helping others is the essence of the work involved. Becoming a counselor, however, takes time, since there are states and specific counseling occupations that require counselors to have their degrees at the Master's level as well as licenses and certifications that might require continued studies to maintain. It also takes a lot of energy, both physically and emotionally, to help other people with their problems.
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At the same time, employment prospects for counselors are expected to be favorable. It was highly anticipated that employment for counselors who held more than 600,000 jobs in 2008 was to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Some of the reasons for this are: mental health services are expected to increase for the disabled, injuries and disabilities are expected to accompany an increasing elderly population, and rehab counseling is beginning to become more common for drug offenders than jail.
With the appropriate counseling degree and any needed state licenses in hand, you might expect to find work with people who have other specific needs or a variety of them as well. You might, for example, work with people who have experienced trauma or who have education, relationship, or career-related needs.
Depending upon the type of counseling you hope to provide, you might find counseling degree programs in areas such as marriage and family therapy, elementary or secondary school counseling, gerontological counseling, substance abuse or addictions counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and more. The courses required as part of these and other related degree programs might cover areas such as diversity, career development, professional ethics, and growth and development. Certificates and licenses for counselors require that they follow specific codes of ethics.
As of 2008, the median annual wages for counselors were between about ,000 and ,000, depending upon the area of specialty. The median wages for rehab counselors were on the lower end of the spectrum, while those for educational, vocational, and school counselors were on the higher end. Advancement opportunities might exist in areas such as education, research, administration, or in a supervisory capacity. One's salary may also depend on his or her level of education.
Two of the agencies that handle certification include the National Board of Certified Counselors and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. People who are considering counseling degrees or counseling work should check with agencies such as these, along with local and state governments and potential employers, to determine what might be expected in terms of credentialing.
A Counseling Degree Can Lead To A Career Helping Others
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