Mental health counselor sitting and talking to a client
Mental health counselor sitting and talking to a client

Tips for Making a Career Change to Counseling

by Walsh University Online

According to the Behavioral Health Workforce 2023 Brief from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as many as 59 million American adults had a mental health disorder in 2022. Unfortunately, only about half receive help.

While the causes of this crisis include everything from stigma to mental health service shortages, one fact remains true: The U.S. needs more counselors from all backgrounds and all walks of life. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment in the counseling sector to increase by 18% by 2032. That’s the equivalent of about 42,000 job openings every year.

However, not everyone with the potential to be a great counselor gets the opportunity to follow that path right away. Also, while many people have thought about making a career change to counseling, it can be a tough decision to make.

If you’re thinking about making the change yourself, here are five tips to help you prepare for a career in counseling.

 

1. Learn About Counseling Skills, and Perform a Self-Assessment

Before making a career change to counseling, identifying the hard and soft skills the job requires and performing a self-assessment are important. While this may seem intimidating, many professionals may be more prepared for a career in counseling than they think.

Soft skills that counselors often need include the ability to:

  • Communicate effectively and listen well
  • Demonstrate empathy
  • Collaborate well with others
  • Be organized and skilled at recordkeeping
  • Develop cultural competence and awareness
  • Make ethical decisions
  • Set boundaries
  • Practice patience
  • Think critically

As important as these skills are to counseling, they’re not exclusive to the field. For example, people who have experience in sales, customer service and healthcare have likely used these skills often.

In addition to soft skills, counselors often need to possess a few field-specific hard skills, such as the ability to:

  • Observe the federal law restricting the release of medical information
  • Assess clients based on a scientific understanding of substance use and mental health disorders
  • Perform interviews using evidence-based methods
  • Provide crisis intervention to clients in the middle of dangerous situations

Individuals new to counseling can learn about these topics through counselor degree programs and on-the-job training.

 

2. Explore Different Specialties

Counselors can specialize in serving specific populations and issues. The specialty a person wants to go into will likely affect the type of training and education they’ll need.

Common specialties in counseling include the following:

Finding the right specialty isn’t all about career planning, though. Entering a focus area that one is passionate about can be rewarding for both clients and counselors. 

 

3. Research Local Licensing Requirements

Counselors, similar to other mental health professionals, often need a license to practice. However, counselor licensing laws differ between states and often between specialties. Before making a career change to counseling, it’s important to investigate these regulations.

Different Licenses and Certifications

Many states offer multiple types of counselor licenses. For example, people who want to get into mental health counseling may want to investigate the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credential. However, if a person wants to work in a school or a substance use disorder treatment center, they may have to earn other credentials, as well.

Education Requirements

Advanced credentials such as the LPCC typically require a master’s degree in counseling. However, each state has its own regulations about the types of classes that applicants must take.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Before earning a counseling license, professionals typically have to work under the direct supervision of a licensed professional for a specified period. Such requirements vary widely by state.

For example, to become an LPCC in Ohio, a person must complete at least two years or 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. In neighboring Kentucky, LPCC applicants must complete 4,000 hours of supervised experience.

Similarly, each state has regulations regarding who an applicant’s supervisor can be and what type of work counts toward the licensure requirements.

Get My Program Guide 

 

4. Counseling Students Get Professional Experience Before Graduation

In many types of master’s degree programs, fieldwork and internships are optional or highly competitive. However, in accredited master’s degree counseling programs, fieldwork is required. This means that new counselors get hands-on experience before they enter the workforce.

Through fieldwork experiences, counseling students get to do the following:

  • Reinforce what they learn in the classroom.
  • Apply theories to real-world situations.
  • Practice new skills under the supervision of experienced professionals.
  • Meet various counseling professionals, including those who switched from other careers.
  • Gain firsthand experience with different roles and specialties.
  • Learn about self-care.
  • Work with various organizations.

While fieldwork is important for all students, it can be especially beneficial for students changing careers to counseling. It gives them a chance to acclimate to a new workflow, change specialties if they feel drawn to a different area of counseling and build relationships with potential new employers and colleagues. 

 

5. Consider Earning a Degree Through an Online Master’s Program

It typically takes between two and three years to earn a master’s degree in counseling. While the number of courses required for graduation varies by program, most programs include about 20 classes.

For students who already have careers, making time for 20 classes can be a huge barrier to transitioning into counseling. Fortunately, online master’s degree programs can make a new career much more accessible.

Through online master’s degree programs, students can do the following:

  • Attend class when and where it’s most convenient.
  • Take fewer classes at a time, and earn their degrees in anywhere from two-and-a-half to three years.
  • Save money on costs associated with transportation and relocation.
  • Have one-on-one interactions with their instructors when needed.

When exploring online programs, ensuring that the curriculum matches up with a state’s licensing requirements is important. If it doesn’t match up completely, students can turn to local counseling licensing boards for guidance and clarification.

Make a Career Change to Counseling on Your Terms

If you’re thinking about pursuing your passion and becoming a counselor, Walsh University Online’s Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed with nontraditional students and second-career counselors in mind.

With classes on addiction, human development and evidence-based counseling techniques, the 100% online program helps students prepare for licensure as independent mental health counselors. Each term is only eight weeks, allowing working students the time they need to keep up with their busy lives and prepare for new, rewarding careers.

However, online doesn’t mean alone. Students get one-on-one faculty guidance and personalized fieldwork placement support. To find out more about the curriculum, tuition and how you’ll prepare for a new career in counseling, contact the enrollment team today.

Recommended Readings

Sources: