OLMIS

by Jason Payton
Published Sep-21-2009

Analyze This Education Vital to Helping Others Helping Others Compensates for Low Wage Many Couches to Fill

Mental health counselors apply a broad set of skills to optimize their clients' physical, mental, and social well being.

Mental health can be a tough subject to talk about. However, needing help for a mental health problem is far more common than the cultural stigma may indicate. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, half of all Americans will fit the criteria of a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. That may seem astronomical, but consider the possible need to talk to someone about the sorrow that follows a loved one passing away, or finding an outlet for the anxiety and worry caused by a layoff.

Mental health counseling is a career for those who have a strong desire to help others and who have the ability to inspire trust and respect in the clients they serve. Working alongside other healthcare and social services professionals, mental health counselors provide a vital service in addressing and improving the emotional, psychological, and physical condition of their clients.

Mental health counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, the primary purpose of counseling is to empower clients to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience personal growth, and make well-informed, rational decisions. Counseling takes a broad view of mental health care, emphasizing its developmental, preventative and educational aspects in addition to the treatment of illnesses.

Mental health counselors work in a wide range of settings, including community counseling centers, government agencies, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, colleges, and private practices. Most of the mental health issues counselors will encounter are related to mood, anxiety, or adjustment disorders (Graph 1). Potential counselors should understand that they may encounter clients with severe mental health disorders like schizophrenia. An important skill for counselors to develop is the ability to spot and diagnose mental health disorders, and to coordinate with other health professionals the proper treatment for clients.

Mental health counseling positions require completion of a master's degree in counseling or in a related field. Potential counselors have to plan ahead when choosing what type of education program to enroll in. Counselors planning to obtain a professional license have to enroll in an accredited graduate program that will fulfill state licensing requirements.

Oregon does not require a license to counsel, but the state does set education, experience and exam requirements for professionally licensed counselors. The Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists oversees professional licensing for mental health, marriage, and substance abuse counselors. In order to qualify for a professional license a counselor must have completed a master's degree in an accredited counseling program. They must also complete 2,400 hours of supervised counseling with clients. A list of accredited counseling programs is available at  www.oregon.gov/OBLPCT.

While helping others is rewarding, wages for mental health counselors are low compared to other occupations that require at least a master's degree. The Oregon Employment Department estimates the median hourly wage for mental health counselors to be $21.58. Table 1 shows counselor wages for selected areas around the state. One positive aspect of these lower wages is that it costs less for a client to see a mental health counselor than it does to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. According to the American Mental Health Counseling Association, the national median cost for a session with a mental health counselor is $63, while the median session cost of a psychologist is $100. For most counseling occupations government typically pays the highest wages, while residential care facilities pay the least.

The job outlook for qualified mental health counselors is good. In 2006 there were an estimated 1,691 mental health counselors in Oregon. The Oregon Employment Department projects employment for mental health counselors will grow 24 percent between 2006 and 2016. A 2006 report on Oregon's health care industry found that mental health counseling positions had one of the highest vacancy rates for health-related occupations. The report noted that the vacancies were due to the difficulty of finding counselors who had the required education for the vacant positions. Mental health counselors will continue to fill an important role by providing preventative treatment for those afflicted with severe mental health disorders, or just being available to fellow Oregonians who need someone to talk to.