Mental Health Counselors

Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

On the job, you would:

Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors need to effectively convey ideas and information to clients. They must also write concise but detailed reports documenting clients' progress.

Compassion. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must empathize with their clients.

Interpersonal skills. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors must be able to develop and nurture good relationships with different types of people.

Listening skills. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors must give clients their full attention to be able to understand each client’s problems and values.

Patience. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors must be able to remain calm when working with all types of clients, including those who may be distressed or angry.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		98%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		93%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		92%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		92%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		87%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		85%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		84%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		84%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		80%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		79%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		78%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		76%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		74%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		74%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		71%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		61%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
		61%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		89%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		72%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		72%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		61%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		53%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		91%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		88%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		81%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		78%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		78%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		78%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		75%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		75%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		75%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		69%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		66%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		66%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		63%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		60%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		60%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		80%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		70%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		66%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		64%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		61%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		61%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		59%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		59%	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
		57%	Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
		57%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		57%	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
		57%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		55%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		54%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		52%	Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Counsel clients or patients regarding personal issues.

Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.

Write reports or evaluations.

Complete documentation required by programs or regulations.

Counsel clients or patients with substance abuse issues.

Collect information about clients.

Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.

Advocate for individual or community needs.

Intervene in crisis situations to assist clients.

Develop treatment plans for patients or clients.

Evaluate characteristics of individuals to determine needs or eligibility.

Confer with family members to discuss client treatment plans or progress.

Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.

Refer clients to community or social service programs.

Counsel family members of clients or patients.

Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress.

Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or educational programs.

Plan programs to address community mental wellness needs.

Modify treatment plans to accommodate client needs.

Maintain professional social services knowledge.

Develop working relationships with others to facilitate program activities.

Counsel clients or patients regarding personal issues.

Collect information about community health needs.

Provide basic health care services.

Plan programs to address community health issues.

Maintain client records.

Complete documentation required by programs or regulations.

Supervise workers providing client or patient services.

Lead classes or community events.

Train staff members in social services skills.

Intervene in crisis situations to assist clients.

Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.

Provide first aid or rescue assistance in emergencies.

Develop treatment plans for patients or clients.

Develop health assessment methods or programs.

Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		100%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		98%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		93%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		92%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		83%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		78%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		75%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		74%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		73%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		72%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		70%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		66%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		65%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		62%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		61%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		61%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		57%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		56%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		53%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		92%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		89%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		84%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		79%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		79%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		73%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		73%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		72%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		70%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		69%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		67%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		66%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		66%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		65%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		65%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		65%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		63%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		62%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		60%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		59%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		59%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		56%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		56%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		55%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		54%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		53%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		53%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

What Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Do

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors provide advice and support.

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression. They provide support, including for prevention, to help clients recover from addiction, modify problem behaviors, or improve mental health.

Duties

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically do the following:

Evaluate clients’ mental and physical health, addiction, or problematic behavior and assess their readiness for treatment
Develop, recommend, and review treatment goals and plans with clients and their families
Assist clients in developing skills and behaviors necessary to recover from their addiction or modify their behavior
Work with clients to identify behaviors or situations that interfere with their recovery
Document and maintain records of clients' progress
Teach clients’ family members about addiction or behavior disorders and help them develop strategies to support clients in recovery
Refer clients to other resources and services, such as job placement services and support groups
Prepare clients for transition out of counseling through discharge planning
Conduct outreach programs to help people identify the signs of addiction and other destructive behavior, as well as steps to take to avoid such behavior

Substance abuse counselors and behavioral disorder counselors, also called addiction counselors, work with clients individually and in group sessions. They teach clients how to cope with stress and life’s problems in ways that help them recover. Furthermore, they help clients rebuild professional relationships and, if necessary, reestablish their career. They also help clients improve their personal relationships and find ways to discuss their addiction or other problems with family and friends.

Some addiction counselors work in facilities that employ many types of healthcare and mental health professionals. Addiction counselors may work with psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, and registered nurses to develop treatment plans and coordinate care for patients.

Some counselors work with clients who have been ordered by a judge or referred by other people, such as a parole officer, to receive treatment for addiction. Others work with specific populations, such as teenagers, veterans, or people with disabilities. Counselors may have to intervene in crises by stepping in when someone is endangering his or her own life or the lives of others. They also intervene in noncrisis situations by encouraging a person with addictions or other issues, such as difficulty processing emotions, to get help. Noncrisis interventions often are requested by friends and family.

Mental health counselors advise individuals, families, couples, and groups. Some work with specific populations, such as children or older adults. Mental health counselors treat clients who have a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, grief, and stress. They also help with emotional health and relationship problems.

Work Environment

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors held about 388,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors were as follows:

Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers	18%
Individual and family services	15
Offices of other health practitioners	12
Hospitals; state, local, and private	9
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities	9

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, correctional facilities, and hospitals. Some addiction counselors work in residential treatment centers, where clients live in the facility during their recovery.

Although rewarding, the work of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is often stressful. Many counselors have large workloads and do not always have enough resources to meet the demand for their services. In addition, counselors may have to intervene in crisis situations or work with agitated clients.

Work Schedules

Most substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work full time, although part-time work is common. In some settings, such as inpatient or residential facilities, they may need to work evenings, nights, or weekends.

Getting Started

Education:

64%

Master's Degree

25%

Bachelor's Degree

How to Become a Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, or Mental Health Counselor

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors need a license in private practice.

Education and training requirements vary for entering these occupations. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, although some positions require a high school diploma and others require a master’s degree. Mental health counselors typically need a master’s degree and an internship. In addition, some counselors must be licensed.

Education

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, although the education required or preferred may vary by position, state, or employer. For example, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation, but requirements may vary from a high school diploma to a master’s degree.

Mental health counselors typically need a master's degree. Common fields of undergraduate study include psychology, public policy and social services, and social science. Master’s degree programs often include an internship that is clinically supervised.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in private practice must be licensed. Licensing requirements vary by state, but all states require these counselors to have a master’s degree and complete a specified number of hours of supervised clinical experience. In addition, counselors must pass an examination and complete continuing education every year. Contact information for your state's regulating board is available through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Licensure requirements for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors outside of private practice vary by state. For example, not all states require applicants to have a specific degree, but some require them to pass an exam. Contact information for individual states’ licensing boards is available through the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network.

All states require mental health counselors to be licensed. Licensure requires successfully completing a national examination and supervised clinical work under the supervision of a licensed counselor.

Some jobs require counselors to have certification in basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Advancement

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors who earn a master’s degree and complete a specified number of hours of supervised clinical experience are eligible to get a state license. This allows them to go into private practice or start their own business.

Other Experience

Counselors who have personal experience overcoming alcohol or drug addictions are sometimes viewed as especially helpful and insightful to those seeking treatment.

Job Outlook

Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 42,000 openings for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Employment growth is expected for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors as people continue to seek treatment for addiction and mental health issues.

Increased demand for these workers is expected because of a growth in the number of people, including youths, who have mental health and behavioral disorders. Additionally, there will be continued need for services to assist the large number of people with addictions, especially those who have opioid use disorder.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about addiction counselors, visit

Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network

NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals

For more information about counseling and counseling specialties, visit

American Counseling Association

For contact information for state regulating boards, visit

National Board for Certified Counselors

Occupational Requirements Survey

For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see

Mental health counselors (PDF)

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Marriage and Family Therapists	Marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome problems with family and other relationships.	Master's degree	$56,570
Physicians and Surgeons	Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.	Doctoral or professional degree	$229,300
Psychologists	Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments.	See How to Become One	$85,330
Registered Nurses	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.	Bachelor's degree	$81,220
Rehabilitation Counselors	Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently.	Master's degree	$39,990
School and Career Counselors and Advisors	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.	Master's degree	$60,140
Social and Community Service Managers	Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being.	Bachelor's degree	$74,240
Social and Human Service Assistants	Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.	High school diploma or equivalent	$38,520
Social Workers	Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.	See How to Become One	$55,350
Health Education Specialists	Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.	Bachelor's degree	$59,990
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitating law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.	Bachelor's degree	$59,860