Counselors hold a very important position when it comes to health care. There are a variety of specific roles a counselor may fill though. A rehabilitation counselor is a more common one though. The rehabilitation will the mentally disabled, physically disabled, and those that are simply distressed emotionally. They can offer various types of guidence to patients by helping them gain confidence in themsleves, others, or a particular area in life they may be struggling. Their main goal is to help the patient acheive a way of self-sufficiency and they will commonly work with parents/guardians, teachers, professors, and doctors to accomplish this. One thing to keep in mind too is that counselors often conduct “interviews” that help detect possible problem areas for individuals. They can perform a variety of psychological testing to help with treatment.
Where do counselors work? Counselors may find work in a variety of locations both private and public. For instance, counselors are hired by public schools, hospitals, private practice, residential care localities, and government facilities to name a few.
How much do counselors make? On average, counselors make anywhere from $32,000 – $55,000. This of course varies depending on location and experience. Also, those with a masters level or high degree can earn significantly more than those with a bachelors.
How do you become a counselor? Well, for starters, majoring in pyschology or sociology would be a huge help and start in the right direction. At very minimum you will need a bachelors, but most will require a masters. To become a licensed counselor, one will have to pass both written and oral examinations and work in a supervised clinical setting for approximately two years.
If counseling is something you feel passionate about, the course is fairly clear cut for you. There isn’t a whole lot of hoops that you will need to jump through. As long as you get your bachelors as a minimum and you are able to pass your states certification (which isn’t particularly challenging) you should be good to go.