Clinical Mental Health Counselor: Is This Career for You?
July 2, 2021
Blog Updated on December 8, 2025.
If you’re an empathetic, compassionate person who loves helping others, a career as a mental health counselor may be a great fit for you. Clinical mental health jobs are greatly needed today as millions of people are experiencing economic uncertainty, political unrest and grief. Cases of depression, anxiety and a host of other struggles are rising, increasing the need for clinical mental health practitioners to support people in need.
In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to clinical mental health counseling and its history before diving into personal motivators for a clinical mental health counseling career. We’ll look into why clinical mental health counselors are needed today and where they practice and review their duties and responsibilities. We’ll also explore types of mental health counseling careers, the choice between clinical mental health and school counseling, and the type of education required to fill these roles.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Its History
Clinical mental health counseling is a specialized form of counseling that uses clinical interventions to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral or emotional challenges. Clinical mental health counselors tend to take a holistic approach that considers not only the immediate problem a client is facing but also their background, experiences and other factors. These practitioners pair advanced methods, techniques and theories with a compassionate, empathetic approach to client care in the pursuit of optimal health.
When it comes to the history of clinical mental health counseling careers and associated mental health jobs, Lisa Lopez Levers, PhD, LPCC-S, LPC, CRC, NCC, writes in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Practicing in Integrated Systems of Care that “the history of CMHC is linked integrally with the AMHCA [American Mental Health Counselors Association] ... the AMHCA was inaugurated in 1976, the same year in which the first counselor licensure law was passed in Virginia.” Lopez Levers clarifies that many master’s-level counselors had entered community settings prior to this, but the AMHCA provided a way for these counselors to be identified and understood as a group with a relatively common scope of practice.
Personal Motivators for a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Career
Clinical mental health practitioners serve in roles that sometimes require them to help others through traumatic events and situations. Because of this unique component to their profession, many clinical mental health counselors cite different motivations for entering the mental health field. These motivations include the following:
- Desire to help others
- Personal reasons, such as a positive experience with a therapist
- Interest in psychology
- Sense of meaning, such as the desire to be part of something bigger than themselves
- Calling of faith to help and serve others
While clinical mental health counselors come to the profession from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, they share a common desire to help others, demonstrate compassion and promote wellness.
Why Clinical Mental Health Counselors Are Needed Today
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counseling jobs are projected to grow by about 17% from 2024 to 2034, compared with the average growth rate of 3% for all jobs.
There are a few reasons for this. One is that some states are shifting from incarcerating drug offenders to providing them with treatment and counseling services. In some cases, treatment is part of the incarceration process and can have positive results. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) finds that treatment of opioid addiction in jail can reduce reincarceration and overdose deaths while also boosting treatment engagement.
As states begin this process, the need for clinical mental health counselors prepared to guide clients through recovery and rehabilitation will be great. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that in 2023, roughly 48.5 million people over the age of 12 had a substance abuse disorder. Clinical mental health counselors will continue to serve a monumental role in helping people begin — and continue on — the path to addiction recovery.
There’s also an ongoing need for mental health and substance abuse counselors for military veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that 15% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a given year, and 29% have experienced PTSD at some point in their lives. Trained, empathetic clinical mental health counselors are essential to the care and support veterans need.
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical mental health counselors can use their knowledge to help clients cultivate mental and emotional wellness.
Cleveland Clinic provides a succinct, helpful description of the duties and responsibilities of a clinical mental health counselor. It writes that “clinical counselors attempt to find efficient ways to affect positive change in a patient’s life.” The clinic further notes that“in addition to assessing patients and providing them with psychotherapy, clinical counselors provide brief solution-oriented therapy, prevention programs, and crisis management.”
When it comes to scope of practice, the 2023 AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling states that clinical mental health counselors may:
- Provide professional counseling services that incorporate principles from areas of study such as psychotherapy, human development and group dynamics
- Promote optimal mental health by helping clients deal with problems in their lives
- Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders
- Conduct research; consult; and educate individuals, families and groups
While one counselor’s practice will look a bit different from another’s, a day in the life of a clinical mental health counselor will likely include a great deal of communication. Counselors spend much of their time speaking with clients, but they often find themselves in contact with other members of a client’s treatment team, such as health care and insurance professionals, or in educational settings. Counselors are often responsible for a significant number of assessments, reports and records based on each client’s situation and needs.
Where Counselors Practice
Clinical mental health counselors work in a range of community-based settings. Some locations are designed for specific populations, such as children or teens, while others focus on certain struggles, such as addiction or crisis intervention. Possible workplaces include:
- Community mental health programs serving children and adults
- Community family service programs
- School-based intervention programs
- Alcohol and drug programs
- Criminal justice programs
- Hospitals and residential service programs
- Employee assistance programs
- Crisis intervention centers
- Vocational and career-development programs
- Private practices
Requirements for Becoming a Counselor
Aspiring mental health counselors may wonder what skills are necessary for success in the profession. After all, it’s difficult to improve patient outcomes without establishing goals for counseling practice. An effective skill set combines core competencies with well-honed personal characteristics; these ultimately can allow professionals to deliver empathetic, rapport-driven care.
O-Net Online lists the following skills needed for counseling success:
- Social perceptiveness
- Active listening
- Service orientation
- Judgment and decision-making
Additionally, the BLS cites compassion and patience as core characteristics of a good clinical mental health counselor. Many counseling cases involve patients dealing with stressful situations that may cause them to initially react to treatment in a negative manner. These situations could also involve sensitive information that could make individuals reluctant to open up. Characteristics such as compassion and patience can make it easier for a counselor to develop a level of trust with the patient and could make treatment more effective.
Legal and Ethical Requirements for Counselors
Mental health counselors succeed when they build positive relationships with their clients. They can only build trust if they follow the legal and ethical standards for the profession. State laws and professional codes protect clients of all ages from harm while reducing potential conflicts of interest for counselors.
Additionally, according to the AMHCA Standards, effective counseling requires sensitivity to cultural diversity, promotion of social justice and an understanding of variability across a patient’s lifespan. These elements are built around a framework of integrity within the counselor-client relationship.
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) lists directives in its Code of Ethics. Clients, employers and fellow counselors rely on these directives when identifying ethical issues. The Code of Ethics is summarized by NBCC’s statements, including:
- “National Certified Counselors (NCCs) take appropriate action to prevent harm.”
- “NCCs provide only those services for which they have education and experience.”
- “NCCs promote the welfare of the recipients of provided professional services.”
- “NCCs communicate truthfully.”
- “NCCs recognize the importance of and encourage active participation.”
- “NCCs are accountable for their actions and adhere to recognized professional standards.”
The American Counseling Association (ACA) defines professional guidelines for counselors in its Code of Ethics. This document establishes the following core values for ethical decision-making by mental health counselors:
- “Enhancing human development throughout the life span”
- “Honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach”
- “Promoting social justice”
- “Safeguarding the integrity of the counselor-client relationship”
- “Practicing in a competent and ethical manner”
Selflessness is required for counselors who want to serve their communities. Good counseling characteristics are built by centering attention on others in clinical settings.
State Licensing Requirements
State licensing boards enforce legal and ethical requirements for mental health counselors. Each state establishes its own standards for licensure based on supervised practice, education and exam completion.
The highest level of mental health counseling licensure varies from state to state. We’ll use Ohio’s licensure process, including the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), as an example for new mental health counselors. Applicants demonstrate their adherence to legal and ethical requirements by completing the following steps:
- Graduating from a CACREP-accredited master’s degree program in counseling
- Completing 24 months and 3,000 hours of supervised experience
- Submitting an LPCC online application, including payment of a $100 application fee
- Passing the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- Completing Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and FBI background checks
Exams Required for Licensure
Mental health counselors must pass NBCC exams between graduate school and licensure. NBCC tests counselor competency prior to unsupervised practice with the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the NCMHCE. Each exam includes components related to professional standards, including ethical counseling.
Types of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Careers
A professional who holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling may practice in several different roles. Payscale reports that the median annual salary for individuals with a master’s degree in mental health counseling was approximately $53,000 as of September 2022. Also, according to the BLS, growth in the counseling profession is significant, with all career paths growing faster than the national average. Let’s take a look at some of the descriptions and salaries for mental health care jobs performed by individuals with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling:
- Licensed mental health counselor
- Substance abuse counselor
- Marriage and family therapist
- Certified career counselor
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Licensed mental health counselors help patients reach optimal mental and emotional wellness according to their specific needs. They address emotional and mental disorders through treatment plans and often ongoing counseling appointments. Payscale calculates the average annual salary of a licensed mental health counselor to be approximately $60,490 as of September 2025.
Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance abuse counselors specifically focus on clients who need help and guidance addressing addiction or disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Through treatment plans, therapeutic interventions and regular sessions, substance abuse counselors play a critical role in addiction recovery. Payscale reports the median annual salary of a substance abuse counselor to be approximately $49,700 as of October 2025.
Marriage and Family Therapist
Marriage and family therapists help address struggles and disorders within relationships and family structures. They may meet with individuals, couples, families or some combination of the three to help find solutions. Marriage and family therapists also diagnose and treat disorders within the family context. The BLS lists the 2024 median annual salary for marriage and family therapists at $63,780.
Certified Career Counselor
Certified career counselors help people find jobs and professional paths that match their skills, goals and personalities. The National Career Development Association (NCDA) reports that certified career counselors “fulfill many roles and responsibilities such as career counselor educators, researchers, supervisors, practitioners and consultants.” CareerExplorer says career counselors not only help their clients find the right job but also help them “locate resources for strengthening the skills needed for the job desired.” The median annual salary for career counselors was $52,840 as of July 2025, according to Payscale.
Learn Effective Counseling at Walsh University
Walsh University offers an online master’s degree in counseling and human development with no graduate exam or residency requirements. Students choose from Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling specializations based on their career goals. One-on-one support is available to each student from admission through graduation.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization trains future counselors through 100% online coursework, two internships and a practicum. A dedicated field experience team helps identify approved sites to complete fieldwork requirements within each student’s community. Good counseling characteristics are reinforced through courses including:
- Foundations for Practice
- Ethics/Issues in Counseling
- Social/Cultural Diversity in Counseling
Students realize strong returns on their investment in Walsh education, with a 100% job placement rate for recent graduates.
Learn how Walsh’s online master’s degree in counseling and human development can help you pursue a clinical mental health counseling career and inspire change in your community.
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