101 Careers in Counseling

Shannon Hodges, PhD, LMHC, ACS, is professor emeritus of clinical mental health counseling at Niagara University and currently associate professor of counseling at the University of the Sunshine Coast near Brisbane, Australia He has over 25 years of experience providing counseling in community agencies, university counseling centers, residential treatment centers and overseas. He is a former director of a university counseling center and clinical director of a county mental health clinic and has 10 years of experience supervising and providing peer counseling in collegiate living groups. He has 33 years of experience in training school counselors, mental health counselors, and undergraduate psychology students.

CONTENTS


Foreword by Perry C. Francis, EdD, NCC, ACS, LPC


Preface


Acknowledgments


Share 101 Careers in Counseling, Second Edition


1 The Profession of Counseling: Coming of Age


Steps to Becoming a Professional Counselor in the United States


Types of Counseling


A Brief History of the Counseling Profession


The 1980s to 2000


Important Credentials in Counseling


Similarities Among Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers


Psychiatrists


Psychologists


Counselors


Social Workers


Marriage and Family Therapists


Dance Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and Others


The Job Market for Counselors


Occupational Outlook for Counselors


Earnings for Counselors


Summary


References


2 Counseling as a Career


Is the Counseling Profession a Good Fit for You?


Required Education and Training to Become a Counselor


Variations in Counselor Experience and Training


Benefits of a Career in Counseling


The Case of Carl


The Necessity of Professional Membership


Licensure and Certification


Basic Licensure Information


Certification


Strength of the Profession


Summary


References


3 Career Variations in the Counseling Profession


I. Counseling Children and Families


Spotlight: Domestic Violence Counseling


1. Counseling Children in Intact Families


2. Counseling Children in Foster Care


3. Counseling Families


4. Counseling Couples


5. Counseling Couples Wishing to Adopt


6. Counseling and Play Therapy


7. Counselors as Parent Effectiveness Trainers


8. Counselors Working in Child Protection and Family Services


9. Counseling Children in Outpatient Treatment


10. Counseling Children in Inpatient Settings


Spotlight: E-Counseling and Technology


II. Counselors in the Schools


Spotlight: School Counseling


11. Counseling in Elementary Schools


12. Counseling in Middle Schools


13. Counseling in High Schools


14. Counseling in Private Schools


15. Counseling in Alternative Schools


16. Counseling in Residential Schools


17. Counseling in School-Based Family Services Centers


18. After-School Counseling Services


III. Counseling in Colleges and Universities


Spotlight: Assistant Professor of Counselor Education


19. Professor of Counselor Education


20. The Counselor as Department Chair


21. Director of a College or University Counseling Center


22. Counseling in a College or University Counseling Center


23. Counseling in a Large University Counseling Center


24. Counseling in a Medium-Size University Counseling Center


25. Counseling in a Small College Counseling Center


26. Counseling in a Community or Technical College


27. Counselors Working in a College Career Center


28. Counseling in a College or University Residence Hall


29. Counselors Working in Student Affairs (Noncounseling Positions)


30. Counselors Working as Academic Advisors


31. The Counselor as Campus Ombudsman


32. The Counselor as Academic Dean (or Associate Dean or Assistant Dean)


IV. Counseling in Community Mental Health Settings (Public and Private)


33. Counseling in Outpatient Clinics and Agencies


34. Counseling in Inpatient Settings


35. Residential Counselors in Long-Term Psychiatric Care


36. Counseling in Outpatient Chemical Dependency Clinics


37. Counseling in Inpatient Residential Addictions Treatment


38. Counseling Intellectually Disabled Clients


39. Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors


40. Counseling the Homeless


V. Counseling the Elderly


41. Counseling in Retirement Centers


42. Counseling the Elderly in an Outpatient Center


43. Counseling the Elderly for End-of-Life Decisions


44. The Counselor as Day-Care Coordinator


VI. Spiritual-Based Counseling and Related Areas


Spotlight: Pastoral Counseling


45. Counseling in a Pastoral Counseling Center


46. Counseling in a Church, Synagogue, or Other Religious Institution


47. Bereavement Counseling


48. Counseling the Homeless in Spiritual-Based Centers


49. Hospice Counseling


VII. Counseling in Private Practice


Spotlight: Private Practice in Counseling


50. Counseling in Private Practice (Solo)


51. Counseling in Private Practice (With Associates)


52. Counseling in an Employee Assistance Program


VIII. Counseling in Correctional Settings and the Legal Arena


53. Counseling in a County Jail


54. Counseling in Prisons


55. Counseling in Juvenile Detention Facilities


56. Forensic Counseling


57. Counselors as Divorce Mediators


58. The Counselor as Therapeutic Mediator


59. The Counselor as Probation Worker


60. The Counselor in the Restorative Justice Field


61. The Counselor as Probation Officer


62. Gang Prevention Counselor


63. The Counselor as Victim’s Rights Advocate


IX. Counseling in Crisis Intervention and Emergency Management


Spotlight: Trauma Counseling


64. Counseling in the Aftermath of Natural and Major Disasters


65. Counseling in the Aftermath of a Tragedy (e.g., School Shootings, Suicide)


66. Counseling in Domestic Violence Shelters


67. Counseling Victims of Sexual Assault


68. Crisis Line Counseling


69. Counseling Individuals Who Are in Transitional Settings


X. Counseling in Healthcare Organizations


Spotlight: Counseling in a Healthcare Setting


70. The Counselor in the Hospital


71. The Counselor in the Health Clinic


XI. Career and Vocational Counseling


72. Career and Vocational Counseling in an Agency Setting


73. Employment Counseling


74. Career Coaching


XII. Counseling in the Military


75. Counseling in the Military


76. Counseling in VA Hospitals


XIII. Creative Arts Counseling


Spotlight: Creative Arts Counselor


77. The Counselor as Art Therapist


78. The Counselor as Dance Therapist


79. The Counselor as Music Therapist


80. The Counselor as Drama Therapist


81. The Counselor and Animal-Assisted Therapy


82. The Counselor as Play Therapist


XIV. International Counseling Careers


Spotlight: Counseling in Australia


83. Counseling in a Foreign Country


84. The Counselor as Human Rights Worker


85. The Counselor Educator in a Foreign Country


86. Counseling in a Foreign University


87. The Counselor as Student Affairs Professional in a Foreign University


XV. Emerging Fields and Professions in Counseling


Spotlight: Wilderness-Based Counseling


88. Genetic Counseling


89. The Counselor as Life Coach


90. Personal Fitness Coaching


91. Athletic Performance Counseling


92. Adventure-Based Counseling/Therapy


93. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ Counseling


94. Financial Counselor


XVI. Nontraditional Counseling Careers


Spotlight: The Counselor as Consultant and Trainer


95. The Counselor as Human Resources Professional


96. The Counselor as Trainer and Facilitator


97. The Counselor as Consultant


98. The Counselor as Author


99. The Counselor as Community Activist


100. The Counselor as Human Services Caseworker


101. The Counselor as Executive Director of a Nonprofit Agency


102. The Counselor as Program Manager in a Nonprofit Agency


References


4 Financing Your Education


Some Considerations


Looking for Scholarships


Additional Methods of Financing Graduate School


Federal Student Loans


Work Study


Graduate Assistanceships


Graduate Fellowships


References


5 Counselors and the Job Search


The Visioning Process: Creating Your Dream


The Next Step: The Career Center


Requesting Letters of Reference


Developing a Winning Resume or CV


A Few Points Before You Begin to Construct Your Resume or CV


Action Words


Where to Search for Counseling Jobs


Interview Questions to Anticipate


Sample Interview Questions


Inappropriate Questions


A Final Checklist Before the Interview


Dealing With Rejection


Stages of Job Rejection Grief


Reasons Candidates are Rejected for Jobs


Transforming Your Disappointment


Final Thoughts on Managing Job Rejection


Entertaining a Job Offer: To Accept or Not to Accept


An Employment Decision Tree


If You Reject the Offer


If You have Decided to Accept the Offer


Some Final Thoughts on the New Job


Conclusion: A Few Tips to Remember


References


Appendix


Index