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Occupational Report for Mental Health Counselors (21-1014) , Oregon Statewide
Occupational Description
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Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. May help individuals deal with addictions 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. Exclude "Social Workers" (21-1021 through 21-1029), "Psychiatrists" (29-1066), and "Psychologists" (19-3031 through 19-3039).

Employment Outlook for Mental Health Counselors
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Statewide Employment Analysis 2006 employment is estimated to be at about the statewide average. This occupation is expected to grow somewhat faster than the statewide average. Total job openings are projected to be somewhat higher than the statewide average.

Reasonable employment opportunities exist for trained workers.
Data Sources and Limitations
Current Job Openings for Mental Health Counselors
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There are 26 current openings for this occupation. Openings 1 through 26 are listed below.
Job Title Date Posted Location Wage Offered
Mental Health Therapist 2/5/10 Salem $31,000/yr to $38,000/yr DOE
Counselor Advocate Ii 2/5/10 Eugene $12.12/hr
Mental Health Specialist 2 - Community Crisis Outreach Team Job #554-294 2/2/10 Salem $20.59/hr to $27.60/hr DOE, Neg.
Temporary Counselor Advocate 2/1/10 Eugene $12.12/hr
Counselor Advocate 2 ( T I P) 2/1/10 Eugene $12.12/hr
Mental Health & Disabilities Specialist 1/28/10 Wilsonville $48,975/yr DOE
Mental Health Associate 1/27/10 Albany $2,892/mo
Psychiatric Social Worker 1/22/10 Pendleton $3,903/mo to $5,442/mo
Mental Health Therapist 1/22/10 Eugene $30,000/yr to $32,000/yr
Mental Health Specialist Ii 1/19/10 Gold Beach $3,336/mo to $4,256/mo DOE
Alcohol & Drug Case Manager 2 - Housing Rapid Response/Estate Hotel (10-14) 1/15/10 Portland $32,000/yr to $34,000/yr DOE
Family Support & Connections Service Provider 1/6/10 Salem $26,000/yr to $28,000/yr DOE
Counselor Advocate 2 ( S A F ) 1/4/10 Eugene $12.12/hr
Clinical Supervisor / Assistant Manager 12/7/09 Eugene $16.50/hr to $17.50/hr
Mental Health Therapist 11/25/09 Salem $20.00/hr DOE, Neg.
On-Call Acute Care Coordinator #6365-64 11/24/09 Portland $25.29/hr to $31.11/hr
Mental Health Specialist 3 - Community Based 11/23/09 Roseburg $3,388/mo to $4,943/mo DOE
Counselor - Advocate3 11/10/09 Eugene $15.53/hr
Mental Health Residential Counselor 11/6/09 Beaverton $11.00/hr
Mental Health Specialist 3 Crisis Treatment 10/20/09 Roseburg $3,388/mo to $4,943/mo DOE
Mental Health Associate (Job# Amh-26) On-Call 10/9/09 Mcminnville $15.98/hr to $18.49/hr DOE
Occupational Therapist (Job#Ap-24) 10/9/09 Yamhill County $3,682/mo to $4,749/mo DOE
On Call Mental Health Clinician 8/19/09 Florence $23.58/hr to $27.12/hr DOE
Relief Counselor 8/18/09 Eugene $10.00/hr to $10.55/hr
Clinical Responder - On-Call 5/20/09 Corvallis $15.65/hr
State of Oregon License Information for Mental Health Counselors
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No statewide license is required for this occupation.
Wages for Mental Health Counselors
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Region ---------------- 2009 Wages ----------------
Percentiles (hourly wages) Avg
Hourly
($/hr)		 Avg
Annual
10th 25th 50th
(median)		 75th 90th
Oregon Statewide $12.46 $16.45 $21.58 $28.98 $35.40 $22.85 $47,537
Multnomah / Washington 16.28 18.58 24.92 30.41 37.23 25.06 52,122
Marion / Polk / Yamhill 15.62 18.47 21.49 26.69 31.57 22.76 47,329
Benton / Lincoln / Linn 14.37 18.51 24.58 29.43 32.25 23.87 49,642
Lane 11.64 13.47 17.78 24.26 32.11 20.22 42,066
Crook / Deschutes / Jefferson 14.31 16.36 18.67 22.71 27.31 19.64 40,843
Klamath / Lake 11.78 13.85 17.76 23.55 26.46 18.68 38,853
Data Sources and Limitations
Regional Employment Projections for Mental Health Counselors
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Region Employment Change % Change Projected Annual Openings
2006 2016 Growth Replacement Total
Oregon Statewide 1,691 2,104 413 24.4% 41 43 85
Multnomah / Washington 610 804 194 31.8% 19 16 36
Marion / Polk / Yamhill 210 246 36 17.1% 4 5 9
Jackson / Josephine 164 213 49 29.9% 5 4 9
Lane 152 190 38 25.0% 4 4 8
Benton / Lincoln / Linn 149 175 26 17.4% 3 4 6
Clackamas 105 136 31 29.5% 3 3 6
Douglas 64 73 9 14.1% 1 2 3
Coos / Curry 59 65 6 10.2% 1 1 2
Klamath / Lake 43 48 5 11.6% 1 1 2
Baker / Union / Wallowa 41 54 13 31.7% 1 1 2
Grant / Harney / Malheur 34 41 7 20.6% 1 1 2
Morrow / Umatilla 28 32 4 14.3% 0 1 1
Gilliam / Hood River / Sherman / Wheeler / Wasco 24 28 4 16.7% 0 1 1
Clatsop / Columbia / Tillamook 20 30 10 50.0% 1 1 2
Crook / Deschutes / Jefferson 17 21 4 23.5% 0 0 1

Replacement openings are caused by existing workers permanently leaving their occupation. Many additional job openings occur due to job changes within occupations.
Data Sources and Limitations
Industries of Employment for Mental Health Counselors
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Industry
Click links to view infoUSA employers		 Ownership 2006
Employment
Total, All Industries All 1,691
Total, All Industries Private 1,147
Health Care and Social Assistance Private 1,123
Ambulatory Health Care Services Private 481
Offices of Other Health Practitioners Private 379
Outpatient Care Centers Private 93
Hospitals Private 70
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities Private 284
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities Private 253
Other Residential Care Facilities Private 30
Social Assistance Private 288
Individual and Family Services Private 272
Total, All Industries Local 529
Public Administration Local 527
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support Local 520
Total, All Industries Tribal 15
Public Administration Tribal 14
Educational Requirements for Mental Health Counselors
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Workers must have a master's degree to gain the necessary skills for this occupation. However, those with a master's degree and related work experience have a competitive advantage in this labor market.
Skills for Mental Health Counselors
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  • Access Social Service Resource Providers
  • Apply Active Listening Techniques
  • Apply Childhood Development Theories
  • Apply Confidentiality Procedures
  • Apply Counseling Techniques
  • Apply Cultural And Religious Awareness
  • Apply Current Social Research
  • Apply Grief Counseling Techniques
  • Apply Group Psychology Principles
  • Apply Institutional Care Procedures
  • Apply Intervention Techniques
  • Apply Mediation Techniques
  • Apply Psychological Assessment Tools
  • Apply Psychology Theory
  • Chart Clients' Personal Data
  • Collect Client Data
  • Communicate With Children And Adults
  • Compile Data Related To Social Work Or Entitlement Programs
  • Conduct Prisoner Pre-Release Activities
  • Counsel Inmates
  • Determine Program Eligibility
  • Determine Program Status
  • Empathize With Other While Providing Counseling Or Related Services
  • Interpret Psychological Test Results
  • Lead Recreational Activities
  • Maintain Social Trend Awareness
  • Manage Detailed Case Records In A Social Work Setting
  • Obtain Information From Clients, Customers, Patients Or Others
  • Prepare Reports In Timely Manner
  • Provide Emotional Support To Social Services Clients
  • Recognize Home Safety Hazards As Part Of Health Care Services
  • Recognize Physical And Emotional Abuse
  • Refer Clients And Patients To Community Services
  • Relate To Clients' Socioeconomic Conditions
  • Resolve Conflicts
  • Schedule Appointments
  • Supervise Adult Care Residents
  • Understand Needs Of The Elderly
  • Use Behavior Modification Techniques
  • Use Computers To Enter, Access And Retrieve Data
  • Use Correct Grammar, Punctuation And Spelling
  • Use Interviewing Techniques
  • Use Principles Of Group Dynamics
  • Work As A Team Member
  • Work With Persons With Mental Disabilities And Illnesses
Schools and Training Providers for Mental Health Counselors
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The training providers listed below offer one or more of the following programs:

Chemeketa Community College
4000 Lancaster Dr NE
Salem, OR 97305
Phone: (503) 399-5000
Programs of Training:
 Mt Hood Community College
26000 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR 97030
Phone: (503) 491-6422
Programs of Training:
 Central Oregon Community College
2600 NW College Way
Bend, OR 97701
Phone: (541) 383-7500
Programs of Training:
Rogue Community College
3345 Redwood Hwy
Grants Pass, OR 97527
Phone: (541) 956-7500
Programs of Training:
 Southwestern Oregon Community College
1988 Newmark Ave
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone: (541) 888-2525
Programs of Training:
 Tillamook Bay Community College
4301 Third Street
Tillamook, OR 97141
Phone: (503) 842-8222
Programs of Training:
Portland Community College
12000 SW 49th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219
Phone: (503) 244-6111
Programs of Training:
 Lewis & Clark College
0615 S W Palatine Hill Rd
Portland, OR 97219
Phone: (503) 768-7000
Programs of Training:
Career Pathway Roadmaps for Mental Health Counselors
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These Oregon community colleges have defined career pathway roadmaps to facilitate entry into this occupation:

Umpqua Community College
Related Occupations
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The scores listed below indicates how closely the skills for Mental Health Counselors matches the occupation in the list. A score of 100% means the occupations have identical skill sets. A maximum of 10 occupations are displayed below.
Occupation Skill Overlap
Counselors, All Other 88%
Social Workers, All Other 84%
Marriage And Family Therapists 76%
Community And Social Service Specialists, All Other 72%
Mental Health And Substance Abuse Social Workers 65%
Child, Family, And School Social Workers 64%
Medical And Public Health Social Workers 63%
Substance Abuse And Behavioral Disorder Counselors 62%
Social And Human Service Assistants 60%
Probation Officers And Correctional Treatment Specialists 60%