Successful Mental Health Counselor Characteristics
- Building A Trusting Relationship
- Communicating Effectively
- Being A Champion
- Genuine Personality
- Problem-Solving Ability
Being a mental health counselor is a challenging but highly rewarding career. Interacting positively with clients with mental illness, mental health disorders including substance use disorder is necessary for success. If someone has the desire to help others through the counseling field, he or she should possess these five characteristics. An excellent mental health counselor must be able to balance their clients’ concerns with the ability to impart positive thought patterns. When a client feels like they can open up with a counselor, the therapy session becomes more powerful. Being an effective counselor and helping people overcome mental health issues requires interpersonal skills along with counselor education to become a licensed professional counselor.
Building A Trusting Relationship
Having a trusting relationships is the cornerstone of any successful mental health professionals practice. When someone comes to see an effective counselor, they let their guard down and enter a therapeutic relationship in a therapeutic environment. As a somewhat vulnerable individual, the client is seeking a trusting connection and counseling relationship with a professional who can help take them through the therapeutic process through their therapeutic alliance. Asking appropriate questions and active listening while giving someone time to explain their concerns is critical. With trust, the client can open up to the counselor so they can begin treating mental health issues and move ahead with life in a healthy way and become more self aware.
Communicating Effectively
Strong communication skills are vital to be an excellent mental health counselor. Without communicating effectively, it’s unlikely a client will want to see a counselor for additional sessions. They need to know what and how to speak to their clients, so the information is clearly understood. More importantly, counselors have to have keen listening skills. To communicate effectively helps clients in talk therapy to increase self awareness. Mental health counselors can’t judge someone’s situation. Instead, they offer a plan moving forward that will focus specific to the client need. Therapy has also gotten on the technology bandwagon. According to Forbes, more counseling sessions are available using an app or face to face sessions in an online setting. The option to see a counselor in your own time and space could give individuals more confidence if they are concerned about an in-person meeting.
Being A Champion
Advocating for a client is one of the essential characteristics of a mental health counselor. For any individual in therapy, they must view their therapist as someone on their side. If a counselor has s strong partnership with a client, the sessions and treatment plan are more likely to go smoothly. It’s essential to realize the different personalities counselors encounter daily. Being able to form a unique bond with many exceptional people takes dedication and strong counseling skills along with unconditional positive regard to help patients overcome psychological challenges. Effective counselors can make a direct impact in the life of someone seeking help with their mental health.
Genuine Personality
Mental health counselors shouldn’t exhibit a robotic-type personality when interacting with others. Someone who comes to a counselor for support needs to see them as a unique individual that also exhibits real emotions. During a session, it might be okay to laugh, cry, and show feelings of anger. When a client feels comfortable showing all their feelings, the counselor has done the job of making them feel welcomed. In contrast, mental health counselors must know their clients well enough to know when and why to show emotions such as laughter or concern.
Problem-Solving Ability
It’s not up to a counselor to be the answer to all the problems a client has. They have a primary focus to consider their concerns and develop a positive thought process moving forward to improve mental well being. Mental health counselors are adept at the counseling process and their ability to offer suggestions for change. They don’t tell someone “what to do” but provide solutions for making improvements in lifestyle habits that will support long-term emotional stability.
FAQ’s
What education does a mental health counselor need?
Substance abuse counselors and those working with behavioral disorders typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, although some positions require a master’s degree. Mental health counselors typically need a master’s degree and an internship and some counselors are required to be licensed.
A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) may also be referred to as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Licensed Practical Counselor or Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
LPCs are licensed at the state level. LPC’s complete a master’s degree that includes an internship, and work under supervision typically for two years. The final step is to pass the national exam from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
What is the job outlook for these health professionals?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the expected growth from 2021 to 2031 is 22%, which is much faster that the average growth rate of 5 percent for all occupations.
What are some of the professional organizations a mental health counselor might belong to?
The American Counseling Association (ACA) Is a professional and educational organization dedicated to the counseling profession. Its publication, their premier professional journal is called: Journal of Counseling and Development. ACA membership benefits include free continuing education credits, updates on legislation affecting the profession, the annual national conference, and access to current research and practice innovation.
The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., (NBCC) is an independent not-for-profit credentialing organization for counselors. NBCC’s certification program recognizes counselors who have met training standards, experience and performance standards of the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is dedicated to the work of clinical mental health counselors. AMHCA serves clinical mental health counselors through advocacy, research, standards for ethical practice and continuing education. The AMHCA journal is called: The Journal of Mental Health Counseling. The yearly AMHCA national conference provides a venue for collaboration and training for mental health counselors from around the country.
Joining the state counseling organization in the state in which they practice is a good idea, since regulations and licensure in this field differ from state to state. Many state counseling organizations have special interest divisions for those with specialized interest such as family counseling or career counseling. Attending the annual conferences enables counselors from around the state to come together for networking and education opportunities.
Other professional organizations include: American School Counselors Association (ASCA), National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), and the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) to name a few.
MPH staff, March 2023
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