5 In-Demand Mental Health Jobs
- Mental Health Counselors
- Addiction Counselors
- Psychologist
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Psychiatrist
Mental health professionals play such an important role. They see patients facing a variety of conditions, all of whom are in need of help, clarity, stability, and healing.
Careers in mental health may involve working with people who suffer from depression or anxiety. Mental health careers also might deal with more serious mental health conditions. An example of such a condition is schizophrenia. People who work in mental health will not only help their patient to heal, but they will also help them improve their relationships. There are many situations in which mental health cases deal with some form of an addiction. Sadly, mental health issues are at an all time high.
The job outlook for mental health works for the next ten years is projected to be much higher than for other positions, even those positions found within the medical field. There is a need for well educated professionals who not only understand the science behind the mental issues that clients are facing, but who care enough to help their clients heal and change.
Below are five of the most important jobs in the mental health field. We will discuss the job description, as well as the qualifications for each job and necessary personality traits in order to succeed at each job.
1. Mental Health Counselors
A mental health counselor has the important job of helping their clients deal with difficult issues that are affecting them enough to seek help. Mental health counselors may work with individuals, couples or families. They also might work to facilitate group therapy sessions. A mental health counselor would be responsible for evaluating the mental health of their patients. After evaluation, they would need to analyze their findings. Following this, it is their job to create a treatment plan specific to the individual that they are working with.
They might work with people on many different issues. These could range from relationship issues to depression, anxiety, grief, obsessive compulsive disorder, and more. Mental health counselors often use psychotherapy to assist patients as they work through their issues. This method of therapy helps them learn to develop coping strategies.
Counselors within the field of mental health can be employed at a variety of settings. They could work in their own private practice with their own client base. They could also be employed by government or community agencies. Academic institutions at all levels employ mental health counselors to work one on one with their students. Mental health counselors could also work at medical facilities, such as a hospital or a rehabilitation center.
In order to work as a mental health counselor, you need to get a degree in counseling, psychology, or some other related field. To be able to work as a licensed mental health counselor, which almost all jobs require, it is necessary to also earn a master’s degree. This degree should be in counseling or mental health, though the specific name of the degree will vary depending on the school.
There are also licensing exams that must be passed in order to work as a licensed counselor. This includes the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, as well as any state specific degrees that may be required. There is also a supervised clinical requirement before obtaining licensure. The number of supervised hours varies from state to state. After completing these steps, you are ready to apply for licensure.
Before choosing this career, it is a good idea to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses to make sure it seems like a good fit. Arguably, empathy is the most important character quality for someone working in the field of mental health. A mental health worker will listen to what their clients share with them while in their most vulnerable state. Being empathetic towards them will go a long way. Also, it is important for a mental health counselor to be genuine in their approach. Genuinity will do a lot to build bridges between a counselor and their client.
Other important skills for a mental health counselor are being a good listener and a good problem solver. Good listening skills will help them pick up on details and learn how to best treat those they deal with. Problem solving skills can come in handy as a counselor needs to take in information from the client. They then need to use that information to make decisions about the best way to form a successful treatment plan.
2. Addiction Counselors
Addiction counselors are similar to mental health counselors. The big difference is that they work specifically with people who have substance abuse issues. Usually, their clients are dealing with a dependence on drugs or alcohol. They not only work with those facing addiction, but they may sometimes work with their families as well.
Often, addiction counselors will specialize in a certain population. Examples of this are ones who work with adolescents or veterans. There are some situations in which patients might be required by a judge to attend sessions with an addictions counselor. Addiction counselors may work one-on-one with patients or they might work with groups.
Addiction counselors could be on staff at substance abuse clinics or other facilities treating people with addictions. Addictions counselors will work both with those at inpatient facilities and outpatient facilities. Other organizations that hire addiction counselors are hospitals, government agencies, and private practices.
As with mental health counseling, the first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, or something related. Then, in order to work, as a licensed addictions counselor, it is necessary to earn a master’s degree in addictions counseling. There are some jobs available for those who only have a four year degree. However, more and more organizations are requiring master’s degrees and licensure to work as an addictions counselor. The last steps needed to working as a licensed addictions counselor are to complete supervised clinical hours and to take any necessary licensure exams. 
It takes a special person to work as an addictions counselor. As with other mental health workers, being empathetic is of the utmost importance. It is also essential for an addictions counselor to be non-judgmental. The clients that they deal with will likely have all made some very poor decisions. They need to be able to listen to their clients, assess them, and gather the necessary information while maintaining a non-judgmental attitude. Along the same lines, they will often deal with those who have experienced relapse. A gracious and kind approach to these individuals is very important.
Additionally, good listening and problem solving skills will be a great asset to those working as substance abuse counselors.
3. Psychologist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are many different types of psychologists. The ones who tend to work in careers related to mental health are usually either clinical or counseling psychologists.
Like mental health counselors, psychologists may work with different populations on various issues. The main difference between the two is that psychologists are much more likely than counselors to work with patients who have more serious mental illnesses. Psychologists have more extensive training in abnormal psychology and disorders. Psychologists have a higher level of training in disorder-specific therapy. They are also often qualified to administer more specific testing than a mental health counselor.
Doctoral-level training is almost always required for psychologists. Some psychologists might also specialize in research, studying mental illness and looking for more effective ways to treat it. Psychologists generally find employment in many of the same locations as other mental health workers. This includes hospitals, government agencies, private practices, clinics, or rehabilitation centers. 
When thinking about what kind of person makes a good psychologist, empathy is at the top of the list. Alongside empathy, it is also important to be able to communicate in a clear and effective way. Good communication includes being a good listener, as well. Successful psychologists have good investigative and reasoning skills. They are able to gather what they have heard and observed, and come up with a plan so that they can give their clients the best chance of success and healing.
4. Mental Health Social Worker
Mental health social work is a mental health career that involves providing support to mentally ill individuals. They do this by identifying resources for the individual. Some mental health social workers might also provide counseling services.
Generally, a mental health social worker who also counsels individuals is known as a clinical social worker and must be licensed. Mental health social workers might also help connect clients to substance abuse programs if necessary. They will also help to connect inpatients who are leaving a mental health facility with resources to assist them in reintegration outside of the hospital or treatment center.
To work as a licensed mental health social worker, you need to earn a master’s degree in social work. In addition to the master’s degree, social workers also need to complete quite a bit of postgraduate experience before they can be licensed. The specific experience requirements for licensure vary from state to state. Not every person is naturally predisposed to succeed in the area of social work. 
In order to be a good social worker, it is important to have a few important character traits. Social workers need to be empathetic, caring, and compassionate. Their job requires them to work with people who have found themselves in difficult positions. A good social worker will listen and will genuinely care. It is also important for social workers to be able to think critically. This is because they will need to problem solve and make important decisions for the benefit of their clients.
Good interpersonal skills are also very important. Mental health social workers will not only be dealing directly with their clients, but also working with other agency employees. They will also need to speak on behalf of their clients and do it in an effective manner.
5. Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist has a medical degree but specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists are the only mental health professionals able to prescribe medications as a part of treating mental illness. Not only this, but they may also offer psychotherapy.
Psychiatrists have a unique role within the field of mental health because they don’t only assess and evaluate conditions, but also treat them through prescribing medication. As the American Psychiatric Association points out, a psychiatrist’s training prepares the psychiatrist to understand mental illness from both an emotional and physical standpoint.
Like in other types of mental health careers, psychiatrists might also specialize in certain populations or certain types of illnesses. They may work in private practices, in hospitals or in psychiatric care facilities. Some of the most common health conditions that psychiatrists work with are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Within the mental health professions, psychiatry requires the biggest educational time commitment. This is because to become a psychiatrist, you must go to medical school. Following medical school, psychiatrists must complete four years of residency. This must be done before they can work as licensed practitioners. 
Those looking to work in the field of psychiatry must not only be well learned, but also empathetic. The psychotherapy side of the profession requires empathy and good listening. Additionally, a psychiatrist should be patient when listening to and assessing the needs of their clients. It is also very important for someone looking to succeed as a psychiatrist to be a lifelong learner. This enables them to help their clients in the best possible way.
Related Resource: Top 10 Doctor of Public Health Degree Programs
The range of jobs as well as the amount of preparation that is necessary for someone to succeed in the field of mental health varies a great deal. Not only that, but the environment in which people may work and the type of work that is done varies a lot as well. Mental health conditions are on the rise.
Almost every type of mental health career is expected to see growth in the years ahead. For people who are interested in helping others, this could be a very rewarding path to pursue.