Mental Health Counselor Salary and Job Description
Written by:
East Carolina University®
• Dec 5, 2024
The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis. According to Mental Health America’s 2024 “The State of Mental Health in America,” 23% of adults had a mental illness episode within a 12-month period—equal to almost 60 million individuals. At the same time, there are 340 people for every mental health provider in the U.S.
This gap represents a pressing need for more people to dedicate their careers to becoming mental health counselors. These individuals apply the knowledge and skills they cultivate through education and training to play an instrumental role in helping people improve their mental health and well-being. It can be an intensely rewarding path for those who are seeking a unique way to help others. Anyone considering the field should identify the role’s essential duties and become familiar with the typical steps required to pursue the profession.
What Does a Mental Health Counselor Do?
Mental health counselors work with individuals, couples, families, or groups to help people overcome a wide range of mental health disorders. They evaluate clients’ well-being and develop individualized, behavioral-based strategies to help them overcome these issues.
As part of these strategies, mental health counselors work with clients to develop skills and behaviors that help them avoid triggering mental health issues. They can also help clients find various services and resources to help them maintain their well-being in the long term.
Their work can focus on treating various conditions driven by mental health disorders, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and grief. They may also help individuals address underlying issues through substance abuse counseling or marriage and relationship counseling.
Mental health counselors work in a range of different environments, including outpatient mental health centers, hospitals, and clinical offices. Wherever they work, they share a common goal: to help individuals develop strategies and mechanisms to mitigate any issues that are related to their mental health.
How To Become a Mental Health Counselor
Like other jobs with a psychology degree , mental health counselors aim to help people who need mental health support. Because of the sensitive nature of the profession, the role has strict requirements.
Education
The first step to becoming a mental health counselor is earning a bachelor’s degree in a field such as psychology, counseling, or social work. Those who study psychology develop a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts of behavioral issues and modification. A strong undergraduate program also helps students develop the psychology skills needed to identify clients’ specific issues and devise successful care plans.
A master’s degree in mental health counseling or counseling psychology is typically a requirement for the mental health counselor role. An undergraduate psychology degree can make the transition toward a graduate degree in psychology smoother, as it typically covers the necessary prerequisites.
Experience
Before mental health counselors can sit for the licensing exam, they are required to undergo a set number of hours of supervised clinical work in internship programs. Most states require anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 clinical hours of experience, but precise numbers vary by state.
Licensure
Each state requires mental health counselors to be licensed. Individuals can achieve this license by taking a state licensure exam once they have completed a graduate degree and fulfilled the state’s prerequisite hours of clinical experience. These exams are commonly administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
After obtaining a license, mental health counselors typically must take continuing education courses to keep their licensure current. The courses are usually administered by professional organizations like the American Counseling Association (ACA).
Mental Health Counselor Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2023 median annual salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $53,710. Several factors can affect salary, such as education level, years of experience, work setting, and location.
Those who are considering entering the field will find significant opportunities. The BLS projects 19% job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors between 2023 and 2033. This projection is substantially higher than the 4% job growth projected for the job market as a whole.
Prepare To Make a Lasting Impact
Becoming a mental health counselor can be a remarkably rewarding career that offers a deep sense of purpose. By helping people find ways to manage their mental health issues, counselors contribute to their well-being and quality of life in fundamental ways.
Make the East Carolina University® Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program your first step in this vital career. Our program incorporates practical, real-world learning opportunities that help you organically develop the foundational knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the lives of others, including understanding behavioral science and research design, information processing and memory, critical thinking and cooperation, and human behavior and the social environment. Find out how ECU can prepare you for your professional journey.
Recommended Readings:
What Is Organizational Psychology?
Sources:
American Counseling Association, Continuing Education
Indeed, “How To Become a Mental Health Counselor in 5 Steps”
Mental Health America, The State of Mental Health in America
National Board for Certified Counselors, Home
O*Net Online, Mental Health Counselors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
