____ Social Occupations: Mental Health Counselors
patient, client, or family to community resources for
housing or treatment to assist in recovery from men-
tal or physical illness, following through to ensure
service effi cacy. Counsel and aid family members to
assist them in understanding, dealing with, and sup-
porting the client or patient. Modify treatment plans
according to changes in client status. Plan and con-
duct programs to prevent substance abuse, to combat
social problems, or to improve health and counseling
services in community. Supervise and direct other
workers who provide services to clients or patients.
Develop or advise on social policy and assist in com-
munity development. Conduct social research to
advance knowledge in the social work fi eld.
GOE—Interest Area/Cluster: 10. Human Ser vice.
Work Group: 10.01. Counseling and Socia l Work.
Other Jobs in " is Work Group: Child, Family, and
School Social Workers; Clinical Psychologists; Clini-
cal, Counseling, and School Psychologists; Counsel-
ing Psychologists; Marriage and Family # erapists;
Medical and Public Health Social Workers; Mental
Health Counselors; Probation Offi cers and Correc-
tional Treatment Specialists; Rehabilitation Counsel-
ors; Residential Advisors; Social and Human Service
Assistants; Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder
Counselors.
Skills: Social Perceptiveness; Service Orientation;
Negotiation; Judgment and Decision Making; Active
Listening; Persuasion; Complex Problem Solving;
Writing.
Education and Training Program: Clinical/Medi-
cal Social Work. Related Knowledge/Courses: Psy-
chology; # erapy and Counseling; Sociology and
Anthropology; Customer and Personal Service.
Work Environment: Indoors; noisy; sitting.
Mental Health Counselors .............................................
! Personality Code: SIA
! Education/Training Required: Master’s
degree
! Annual Earnings: $36,000
! Beginning Wage: $22,900
! Earnings Growth Potential: Medium
! Growth: 30.0%
! Annual Job Openings: 24,103
! Self-Employed: 6.1%
! Part-Time: 15.4%Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with
individuals and groups to promote optimum men-
tal health. May help individuals deal with addic-
tions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and
marital problems; suicide; stress management;
problems with self-esteem; and issues associated
with aging and mental and emotional health.
Maintain confi dentiality of records relating to cli-
ents’ treatment. Guide clients in the development of
skills and strategies for dealing with their problems.
Encourage clients to express their feelings and dis-
cuss what is happening in their lives and help them
to develop insight into themselves and their relation-
ships. Prepare and maintain all required treatment
records and reports. Counsel clients and patients,
individually and in group sessions, to assist in over-
coming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making
changes. Collect information about clients through
interviews, observation, and tests. Act as client advo-
cates to coordinate required services or to resolve
emergency problems in crisis situations. Develop and
implement treatment plans based on clinical expe-
rience and knowledge. Collaborate with other staff
members to perform clinical assessments and develop
treatment plans. Evaluate clients’ physical or mental
condition based on review of client information. Meet
with families, probation offi cers, police, and other
interested parties to exchange necessary information
during the treatment process. Refer patients, clients,
or family members to community resources or to
specialists as necessary. Evaluate the eff ectiveness ofSocial–
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