Mental Health Counselors

What the job really is

Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

At a glance

• Sector: Community & Social Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 21-1014
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
• Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
• Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.
• Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
• Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
• Perform crisis interventions with clients.
• Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
• Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
• Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
• Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Oracle PeopleSoft, Client information database systems, Database software, Desktop computers, Digital medical thermometers, Email software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Healthcare Social Workers
• Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
• Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Mental Health Counselors — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.