About Jobs in Mental Health

Introduction

The number of people employed in mental health jobs is growing with each year that passes. It is projected that the growth will continue in mental health employment. As more mental health issues come to the surface, there will be more people seeking help from mental health professionals.

Different Types of Mental Health Counselors

There are different types of mental health jobs for those who are qualified. Probably the most common position in mental health employment would be a counselor. Mental Health Counselors are those individuals that have received proper education in order to allow them to provide therapeutic mental services for patients and clients. They generally offer therapy for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and many other mental health illnesses. A Mental Health Counselor will generally be required to have a master’s degree and be licensed by the state in which they are employed.

Another common position found in mental health is that of substance abuse or counselors for those who have behavior disorders. Much like the mental health counselor, these individuals will be providing therapeutic treatment for drug or alcohol offenders that are in the legal system. Drug addiction and alcoholism are both mental health disorders. The counselors that work with these people should be able to provide supportive and therapeutic services for the individuals, groups and sometimes the entire family that is involved. Substance abuse seems to be taking the nation by storm but it also appears that many more people are beginning to willingly seek assistance. This can sometimes be due to the legal system and their involvement. Sometimes court systems will opt to send a substance abuse offender to a treatment program instead of sentencing them to jail.

Aside from the types of mental health counselors, there are other types of mental health jobs that are common.

Additional Mental Health Jobs

A psychiatrist is a physician that is educated and licensed as well as highly trained. These individuals are doctors of psychiatry medicine and they have the necessary qualifications to write prescriptions for medication, admit people to a hospital and are also certified to use psychotherapy or psychoanalysis for treatment methods. The psychiatrist has a much higher pay scale and must have a college degree. Many mental health facilities, hospitals and long term care facilities employee psychiatrists.

Psychiatrists are the only doctors in the mental health related fields. Another type of doctor is a psychologist. A psychologist must possess a college degree and licensure. They are many times employed by mental health facilities or possibly even industrial organizations. They put their clinical skills to use in formulating a plan of treatment for mental health patients. For those employed in industrial organizations they can be the ones who give specific tests to those candidates that may be looking for a job. Some workplaces require that a psychology test be taken and passed in order to be eligible for employment.

Positions in mental health can also include being a social or human services assistant. These mental health personnel may work in places like group homes or elderly home settings. They generally provide social work or mental health services under the direction of nurses, doctors, or other social workers.

These are just some examples of mental health jobs that are common and open positions for these jobs are continually on the rise. For reference purposes, here are further examples of mental health jobs:

 

• Case manager
• Case management aide
• Therapist
• Liaison
• Client advocate
• Intake analyst
• Mental health nurse
• Mental health aide

Many different jobs are required in different settings where mental health care is given.

 

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