What does a Counselor do?
A Counselor works for healthcare facilities or educational institutions, working with patients and students to assess and diagnose their mental health or emotional issues. They may meet with patients regularly to develop treatments and goals to help improve their mental wellbeing. They’ll record the patient’s progress throughout each session and will teach the patient about the most effective coping mechanisms to help overcome their mental health challenges.
Counselor skills and qualifications
A successful candidate will have the following minimum skills and qualifications needed for the job as Counselor:
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to empathize with clients
- Ability to consider internal and external resources to develop a client treatment plan
- Willingness to work on-call or at a sudden notice
- Organizational skills
Counselor salary expectations
The average salary for a Counselor is $16.18 per hour. Exact salary may vary depending on the applicant’s education, experience level, geographical location and exact job duties. The typical tenure for a Counselor is less than one year.
Counselor education and training requirements
The education and training requirements of a Counselor must meet company, state and local regulations. At a minimum, a candidate should possess a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work or counseling and either possess or be able to obtain a National Certified Counselor certification prior to employment. A master’s degree or doctorate in a related field may also be required.
Counselor experience requirements
Counselors may need experience writing assessments and reports to monitor client progress, working directly with clients or patients in an office or hospital setting or gaining experience as an intern under another Counselor. Any relevant experience working with people one-on-one is a plus.
Job description samples for similar positions
If you’re looking for candidates for similar roles to a Counselor, see our job description template for a related position: