Career as Mental Health Counselor Paper Example

My journey of success has always been an aim of becoming a mental health counselor. Since I was in high school, my dream career had always been a counselor. Although there have been many hindrances into achieving these career, I have always aimed for the best and putting a deaf ear to my fellow schoolmate who thought I could not make it. Having born in a family of health practitioners, I have always enjoyed my mother, and my elder brother serves the patients. My eldest brother graduated two years ago in a bachelor's degree in Clinical medicine. He is now a certified clinical officer recognized by the board. Being raised in an estate where drugs were locally available, many teenagers never made it to high school since they indulged themselves into drug abuse. It is at these tender age that my passion shone brighter. I always aspired to work in a rehabilitation center so that I could help my fellow age mates since I saw them heading in the wrong direction. After joining high school, I met the school counselor teacher who we later became friends. I then joined a guidance and counseling group where the team visited rehabilitation centers monthly. I later told the counseling patron that I had an interest in being a mental health counselor where she made some clarifications on the key areas I was to specialize to venture into that career (Multon et al. 2001)

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My entire journey into these career has had many merits and demerits. For you to become a certified mental health counselor, there are some education requirements that you need to have achieved. The first step begins by attaining a bachelor's degree in counseling or psychology. You should get a master's degree in a mental condition area of study specializing in communal work, clinical mental fitness, psychology, and mental health advising. Also, there should be participation in clinical teaching. A large number of employers will prefer hiring employees who have attained their degree which is recognized by Council for Accreditation of Counseling& Related Educational Programs (CACREP) to have rehearsal as a mental health analyst, a license from the state which you aspire to work in is a requirement.

In addition to the training and the master's degree, there is a written test which you should pass. Majority of the countries need the counselor's to badge the National Counselor Examination for certification and licensure; a test ran by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). This exam contains 200 questions which are multiple choices. An ongoing learning course will be administered for the individual to maintain the licensure (Niles & Pate, 1989). There is a choice of becoming a mental counselor who is certified which is voluntary, but achieving this credential puts you in a category of a more competitive applicant. NBCC gives various titles. One can end up being both a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and apply for a certification of specialty which includes Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC).

The following are some career occupation when a person opts to study mental health counselor - being a rehabilitation therapist whose primary duty is to help personnel living with disabilities in living independently. Family and marriage therapist is another occupation where the specialist task is to treat patients having mental and emotional difficulties in marriage or family line also, having a master's degree in counseling results to an occupation as a career counselor. According to 2011, the total mean wage for a mental health therapist was $42,590. Statistics were done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their salaries have a certain range which is dependent on the field of expertise experience. Mental fitness counselors who have been working for the military for some years will make more money compared to those beginning in admittance level places with nonprofit assemblies.

Firstly, writing down your goal in a piece of paper is essential since it becomes part of the statement of intent, this whole process motivates a person in making sure that he works towards them. It is also necessary to ensure that individual's goals are taken down every morning and focus on them daily. Secondly, when the purpose has been taken down, it is significant to give the exact deadline for goal achievement, for example, six months or one year depending on one's target. Thirdly, it is essential to consider the mind drive that motivates a person to put down a given goal, always ensure that the set goal is achievable and has benefits. Lastly, while setting your own goals, disregard procrastination since it results in distress due to unachievable goals which were set.

A certified specialized counselor handles both behavioral and emotional disorders which is one of the career opportunities. Based on the American Counseling Association, they acquire teaching in various fields including family advising, marital and addiction counseling. They work best in institutional clinics and medical centers. Psychologist makes use of their training in helping their client manage their mental health difficulties and also implements psychological assessments. They can either work in court, general hospitals or university health centers. Having a master's degree in psychology results to a career of a social worker (Sorensen et al. 2005) their duties include assisting assemblies and the community enhance the social functioning capacity. They work to establish common conditions that provide communities in necessity. They help members of the population in overwhelming challenged that is as a result of joblessness, poverty, separation, and loss. In psychology, competition for jobs differs by specialty. Applicants who have acquired a postdoctoral, professional or doctoral degree have better chances of obtaining the position compared to those who have only a degree with less work experience.

The rate of hiring institutional psychologists is rising due to the higher recognition between knowledge and mental health and the essence of these facilities in schools. Given the low percentage number of graduates in this field and the rising requirement of mental fitness services in institutes, psychologists are anticipated to partake good job chances. Applicants having a master's degree have high chances of acquiring the job despite quicker employment rate (Billings, 2008).

The overall hiring of psychologists is said to have grown at a rate of 12% from 2012 to 2022. Employment of industrialized structural psychologist is anticipated to have a 53% from 2012 to 2022, far much than the mean for all occupations. The following are some that help in realizing your goals. Belief is one of the steps in goal setting. If you cannot believe, there is a possibility of converting your lifespan and acquire what you need, after that, you can also forget about this goal locale and perform another task. You can begin by making your opinions turn into realism. Setting a deadline is the other step whereby an individual places a date which you will accomplish your goals. If the goal is longer or more complicated, break it down into smaller bits and express a time limit for every distinct step. He/she later records these significant dates into an electronic planner or a diary. Working on your mindset is the other step.

You start working on your mentality before tackling your first objective. Read motivating books, believe in your skills and hang out with the other inspired people. Cultivate a skillset where it is simpler for learning a new ability or need some individual growth. Total out the new understanding you require or which new skills you will obtain to develop. Search for a useful source for acquiring this information and capitalize wisely to progress the assets needed. By rewarding yourself, you will have the ability to realize your goals. For any completion of a goal, it is essential to pay yourself. This teaches the subliminal mind to center on those actions producing positive results. Have a purpose; this involves having an understanding of why you have the desire of achieving your objectives. By identifying the drive of your objectives, you identify the essence of that objective and whether it deserves operating toward. Commitment is the other step which appears to sound obvious but has disastrous outcomes when taken casually.

Conclusion

The following are some strategies an individual needs to undertake to attain a career goal. We begin by putting your objectives in writing. In a study led by the US, it illustrated that telling your intentions in a written manner added close to 80% of the success of the goals (Bagozzi & Dholakia, 1999). The learning exposed that persons who inscribed their objectives had an excellent success rate. Scripting act as a reference where you can view areas that need improvements and areas that you are performing great. The more you inscribe, the higher the remembrance and grasp yourself answerable. Acquire yourself a career tutor he/she will guide you and assist in designing custom-made directions for career victory. These mentor guides you through SWOT analysis to begin making the right selections for your career. That tutor assists in planning your career objectives by confirming they are SMART. Continue devoted to the cause is a strategy used in realizing your goals. You should not fall by the sides once things get tough. Instead, develop higher levels of emotional intellect and flexibility when things result in be tough.

References

Niles, S. G., & Pate Jr, R. H. (1989). Competency and training issues related to the integration of career counseling and mental health counseling. Journal of Career Development, 16(1), 63-71.

Multon, K. D., Heppner, M. J., Gysbers, N. C., Zook, C., & EllisKalton, C. A. (2001). Client psychological distress: An important factor in career counseling. The career development quarterly, 49(4), 324-335.

Bagozzi, R. P., & Dholakia, U. (1999). Goal setting and goal striving in consumer behavior. The Journal of Marketing, 19-32.

Ng, T. W., Eby, L. T., Sorensen, K. L., & Feldman, D. C. (2005). Predictors of objective and subjective career success: A metaanalysis. Personnel psychology, 58(2), 367-408.

Billings, D. M. (2008). Developing your career as a nurse educator: The importance of having (or being) a mentor. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 39(11), 490-491.