Are You Interested in Finding a Career in Counseling?
The counseling profession is an extremely rewarding career choice for those looking to help people and make a difference in the world. Many people may think that mental health counseling is the only type of counseling, but in reality there are many different ways for someone in the counseling profession to help others besides diagnosing and treating mental health concerns.
Earning an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling
While the job outlook for the counseling profession is high and the career has many benefits, earning a degree in the field does take quite a bit of dedication. In order to provide professional advice to clients, students must earn at least a bachelor’s degree. Some careers even require a master’s degree. Here are some important steps to expect before starting your online educational journey.
The Important Steps Along Your Path
Earning an online bachelor’s degree in counseling is a great way to become a licensed professional counselor while also having the flexibility to still work, take care of your family, create your own schedule, etc. However, individuals earning an online degree still need to achieve the same amount of education and accreditation. Here are some of the important steps…
- Research your options and find the best online degree program for yourself.
- Complete the required coursework.
- Complete your internship requirement.
- Graduate and get yourself licensed if necessary.
- Counseling sessions, here you come!
Careers for Graduates of Bachelor’s in Counseling Degree Programs
- Behavioral Health Assistant
- Residential Counselor
- Life Enrichment Supervisor
- Human Service Assistant
- Mental Health Medical Assistant
Careers for online bachelor’s in counseling degree grads are open to those who can meet the physical, industry or work environment requirements. If they are willing to put in the work so that they can give their clients informed professional advice, there will be many career options available to them. Medical, mental health, and residential living organizations all want counseling professionals who provide the highest levels of quality, service and professional interactions while offering their mental health services. It will be very helpful to excel at writing accurate and thorough reports, emails and client documentation.
1. Behavioral Health Assistant
Behavioral health assistants work under the supervision of licensed counselors to provide indirect care to clients. They serve as the primary point of contact for their counselor’s caseload. They are a resource for other medical and mental health professionals. Behavioral health assistants provide preparation, documentation, and scheduling for behavior analysis, individual therapy, emotional management, and solution-based interventions. They process, transcript and file documents related to therapy such as assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, and insurance company information.
2. Residential Counselor
Residential counselors are non-licensed professionals who work in private practice behavioral, medical and community programs. These could serve specific populations like the disabled, at-risk youth and recovering substance abuse addicts. Residential counselors provide for the health, safety, and welfare of their clients on-site and in the community who are at a higher risk for mental health problems and more. They follow and implement individual treatment plans. They monitor client behavior and interactions to minimize conflict, ensure compliance and encourage recovery or growth. Residential counselors must be comfortable dealing with clients with mental disorders and mental illnesses who may be verbally combative or defiant to authority.
3. Life Enrichment Supervisor
Life enrichment supervisors work in senior living facilities to plan and execute education, enhancement and entertainment activities and programs. They design events, negotiate budgets and schedule staff or participation from outside organizations. They supervise life enrichment coordinators to deliver activities that meet quality, policy and safety standards. Life enrichment supervisors often maintain a monthly life enrichment calendar that must meet individualized and group needs as well as company expectations. They set up one-on-one programming for residents who are unable to participate in group activities.
4. Human Service Assistant
Human Service Assistant, sometimes referred to as case aids or social service assistance, are usually employed by their state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) or Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) organizations. Human service assistants help case managers deliver life, medical, food, schooling, and therapy services to seniors, foster children and people with disabilities. They collect, process and file financial, insurance and legal documents to verify program eligibility. They sometimes conduct home visits to interview clients, collect data and ensure continued care and service authorizations.
5. Mental Health Medical Assistant
Mental health medical assistants are half caregivers, half counselors who work with clients living in acute care or treatment facilities. They assist CNAs and RNs with routine medical metrics like measuring weight, height and blood pressure. They collect and provide licensed counselors with professional information from an in-person mental health provider like a medical assistant, as well as an organizational provider like DHS. They set up patient schedules and appointments with counselors and with psychiatric therapists. They may manage medication forms and pharmacy documents to get approval from insurance providers. While these medical assistants may not be directly providing mental healthcare and don’t have the ability to prescribe medication on their own, their work is still extremely important and well respected.
Interested in Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling?
There is growing competition in careers for online bachelor’s in counseling degree grads, so it’s useful to know how to perform basic business, administrative and quality assurance tasks. These grads should be familiar with concepts like treatment planning activities, individual care conferences, mental healthcare, and self-management functionality. If you’re interested in learning more, be sure to check out the American Counseling Association website as well as our related resources below.