Counselor Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Counselor, or Mental Health Counselor, works with patients to help them overcome and manage different mental and emotional challenges. Their duties include meeting with patients to listen to their problems, diagnosing their mental or emotional disorder and building treatment plans and coping strategies for the patient to follow.

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Counselor duties and responsibilities

Typical duties and responsibilities as a Counselor include:

  • Perform initial evaluations of client needs and develop customized treatment plans.
  • Educate staff and clients on stress and trauma coping mechanisms.
  • Provide individuals with the resources they need to reach personal goals.
  • Monitor client progress and modify their treatment plans as needed.
  • Coordinate with social and medical agencies, healthcare providers and community outreach programs to provide clients with needed services.
  • Complete continuing education courses to maintain National Certified Counselor certification and stay up-to-date on the latest practices.
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Counselor Job Description Examples

 

Example 1

Bilingual LOAN Default Counselor

Our mission is to create exceptional experiences for our customers that help them achieve their dreams, and we are looking for exceptional people who have the talent and passion to help us make those dreams come true.

Looking for a career with a great company culture, potential for growth, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others? At North American Savings Bank (NASB), we deliver best-in-class customer service and the right financial solutions to help our customers achieve their dreams, whether it’s buying their first home, planning for retirement, or anything in between. We believe that exceptional customer service starts by cultivating an exceptional work culture—one that recognizes and rewards hard work, provides the right tools for success, and believes that healthy, happy associates are the foundation of a strong organization. NASB has been in business for over 92 years, and our rapid growth means we are looking for new team members who want to grow with us!

We are currently looking for a Bilingual Loan Default Counselorto join our Loan Servicing team.

Job Summary
Join our highly motivated team! Our daily goal is to help borrower(s) retain home-ownership and successfully mitigate losses for the bank.

What you can expect to work on

  • This position is primarily responsible for the collection and loss mitigation of mortgage loan accounts.
  • Inbound and outbound calls to delinquent borrowers to determine reasons for delinquency.
  • Counsel borrowers on importance of keeping loan current.
  • Counsel borrowers on loss mitigation options.
  • Review financial information submitted by borrowers.
  • Provide recommendations or alternatives to prevent further or future delinquency.
  • Establish repayment plans with borrowers and follow-up to ensure agreed upon arrangements are adhered to.
  • Execution of conventional and GSE mortgage servicing policies, procedures and compliance regulations.
  • Recommend files for foreclosure to management when other loss mitigation options have failed.
  • Compliance with all federal, state, agency and internal collection regulations and guidelines.
  • Correspondence with attorneys.

    What you offer us

  • 2-5 years mortgage collection experience or similar financial collections experience required.
  • 2+ years of college preferred, but not required.
  • Must be professional and courteous with internal and external customers.
  • Must have strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Must have strong negotiation skills.
  • Must have strong propensity for detail, accuracy, and confidentiality.
  • Must be able to complete complex directives.
  • Must be able to manage time efficiently and prioritize tasks.
  • Must be proficient in math.
  • Must be proficient in Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • Position Hours: Monday- Friday, 40 hours, occasional evening, or Saturday morning required.

    Work Environment

    This position will be a hybrid-based schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work.

    Vaccine Policy
    NASB has a vaccine policy, which requires all employees to be vaccinated.

    What we offer you
    NASB offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits packages, including:

  • Comprehensive health insurance options including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with immediate employer match.
  • Generous paid vacation, sick and personal days. Plus, enjoy a bonus day off for your birthday!
  • Exclusive mortgage and banking benefits.
  • Paid holidays, volunteer time off, and free parking at NASB facilities.
  • Employee referral bonuses and internal training programs to help reach your career goals.

    If you have any questions, please contact [website]

    Note: This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not to be construed as a contract for employment.
    North American Savings Bank (NASB) is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, termination, promotions, or any other condition of employment or career Type: Full-time
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    Example 2

    School Social Worker or Counselor
    About us

    South Macoupin Association for Special Education provides special education services for Mt. Olive CUSD 5, Staunton CUSD 6, Gillespie CUSD 7 and Bunker Hill CUSD 8. Our teachers, related service providers and paraprofessionals work to educate students with disabilities in classrooms located in these school districts.

    The school social worker or counselor will provide individual and group therapy to students with disabilities, provide behavioral interventions both directly and indirectly, serve as a resource to parents and staff, as well as complete appropriate paperwork.

    A Masters Degree in Social Work or Counseling is required. The state of Illinois requires a Professional Educator's License to work in the school setting. There are opportunities and pathways to achieve this designation if candidates do not have degrees in School Social Work or School Counseling. All candidates with an MA in any area of social work or counseling will be considered.

    South Macoupin Association for Special Education provided the following inclusive hiring information:

    We are an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $48,049.00 - $70,344.00 per year

    Benefits:
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Professional development assistance
  • Retirement plan
  • Tuition reimbursement
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift

    Education:
  • Master's (Required)

    Experience:
  • Social work: 1 year Location: One location
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    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:

    Ready to Hire a Counselor? Build a Counselor Job Description

    Frequently asked questions about Counselors

     

    What are the different types of Counselors?

    There are a wide variety of counseling careers for an individual to specialize in and pursue. Marriage and Family Counselors work closely with couples and family members to help overcome their issues with loved ones to help them build stronger relationships with each other. Guidance Counselors work in academic institutions like high schools and colleges to offer emotional support to students struggling with their school and personal lives. 

    Mental Health Counselors work in an abundance of settings offering their guidance and support to individuals, family members, couples and other groups as they overcome mental health problems like bipolar, personality or anxiety disorders. 

     

    Which settings do Counselors typically work in?

    Most Counselors work in healthcare facilities regularly meeting with patients. Some of them work in hospital settings treating patients with more severe issues by providing them with emotional guidance. Other Counselors work in rehabilitation facilities helping patients overcome addictions like substance abuse. 

    There are also Counselors who work for high schools, providing emotional and educational guidance. They often act as Career Counselors, helping students determine which career to pursue and mapping out the educational path to get there.

     

    What makes a good Counselor?

    Effective Counselors are great at speaking with people and have advanced listening abilities. They must also have strong empathy as they show patients they care for them and are committed to helping them overcome challenges. 

    Great Counselors should also be in control of their emotions, as they may listen to difficult stories and must be confident and stable enough to help the patient overcome their problems. Critical thinking abilities are also important for candidates to have, as they must find solutions and treatment plans that help increase a patient’s mental and emotional health. 

     

    What's the difference between a Counselor and a Therapist?

    Counselors and Therapists share many similarities, but the main difference is that Therapists are usually licensed in their state and hold a specialty in the type of therapy they perform. They can specialize in fields like social work, marriage and family and mental health illnesses. When they select one of these specialties, they usually work primarily in this field and receive their state license in it. Most Counselors don’t require a license or specialty and can often easily work in different fields as they please.

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