As some of the most inspiring and influential professionals imaginable, counselors make a profound difference in the lives of their patients or clients. Offering empathetic support and actionable insights, these passionate professionals recognize that with the right treatment mechanisms, today’s most significant mental health and relationship challenges can be navigated.
Many people are drawn to counseling because they believe that they can inspire positive changes among individuals and across entire communities. Still, this field is not right for everyone, nor is there one specific pathway that will appeal to all aspiring counselors.
Prior to entering this field, it is important to understand, what can you do with a master’s in counseling? There are several excellent options, as we will highlight in detail below. Keep reading to uncover top careers with a master’s in counseling.
What Is an MS in Counseling?
The Master of Science in Counseling is a career-oriented graduate degree designed to prepare students to eventually become professional counselors. Featuring a well-rounded curriculum that draws heavily on psychological theories, the MS in Counseling places a strong emphasis on research and evidence-based practice.
This program can be an excellent precursor to becoming a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). It reveals the power of integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Comprehensive coursework delves into assessments, intervention strategies, ethical standards, and more.
Why Pursue a Master’s in Counseling?
A graduate degree is a prudent pursuit for aspiring counseling professionals, as it is virtually impossible to enter this field without this crucial credential.
While there is no denying the value of a master’s degree for improving the licensure and job search processes, this degree is also crucial because it allows graduates to thrive upon entering the field. In-depth coursework and a wealth of practical experience should leave students feeling fully prepared to tackle counseling challenges and confident about their ability to make a difference.
Other reasons to get a master’s degree in counseling relate to the field itself. You must consider the satisfaction that counselors get from helping their clients, the strong job outlook, solid work-life balance, and rising earning potential. We explore these advantages in more detail below:
High Demand and Job Security
As the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and their solutions begins to fade, more people are willing to seek counseling services. Meanwhile, many organizations place a clear emphasis on the mental health of their workforce or student populations. This has resulted in the expanded hiring of counselors by schools and even at the corporate level.
Diverse Career Opportunities
Counseling is a wonderfully diverse field, offering opportunities to assist patients or clients from all walks of life. This diversity extends to different patient populations, different mental health concerns, and even different settings in which counselors can provide guidance. Counselors have the opportunity to pursue careers closely aligned with their interests and experiences.
Competitive Salary and Benefits
Earnings can vary considerably across the spectrum of counseling. Master’s in counseling salary prospects largely depend on the specific facilities in which these professionals work, as well as which specialties they pursue. Those in private practice can frequently command excellent earnings.
Many aspiring counselors are drawn to positions that offer strong benefits. For instance, those employed by schools or government agencies often receive excellent healthcare benefits. This, combined with a potentially promising master’s in counseling salary can make the field highly compelling to counselors who feel driven to make a difference.
Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
Counselors understand the importance of maintaining an optimal work-life balance better than most professionals. Many prioritize roles that allow them to take plenty of time off for vacation. In fact, some school-based positions allow counselors to take the summer off. Part-time counseling jobs may improve work-life balance throughout the year.
Other counselors set their own hours, lending a unique element of flexibility and the chance to scale back if needed. Yes, hard work can be expected, but there are some ways for counselors to develop schedules that help them avoid feeling overburdened.
Professional Growth and Development
Emerging research and methodologies encourage counselors to continue developing their skill set and adjusting their approach over time. This can be highly rewarding, as it delivers new challenges and new opportunities to feel engaged. Counseling never feels stale. There is always something inspiring to explore and new ways to grow as a person and as a professional.
The American Counseling Association refers to professional development as a lifelong process and an ethical responsibility. The goal is to “remain informed about best practices…and maintain a reasonable level of awareness of current scientific and professional information.” Opportunities abound, ranging from conferences and workshops to continuing education and even mentorship.
Personal Fulfillment and Impact
Counseling professionals take great satisfaction in knowing that their work makes a difference. Day-to-day tasks can be just as satisfying, as expressed by licensed professional counselor Shari Manning: “It’s so much fun when the client and I get things figured out and watch what happens.”
Counselor Laura Golding adds, “Being a counselor means that I have real human [and] meaningful connections every day…It sounds very cliche but knowing I am spending my time doing something that helps others is a huge motivation for me.”
Career Opportunities and Specializations with a Master’s in Counseling
Careers with a master’s in counseling can vary greatly, with graduates found in all kinds of work settings and assisting a diverse array of patients or clients. This versatility represents one of the core advantages of working as a counselor, but it means that some soul-searching may be required before entering this field. Below, we will discuss a few of the most compelling opportunities in detail:
Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- Role: Capable of assessing and diagnosing a variety of patients, clinical mental health counselors (CMHCs) provide therapeutic interventions for those with mental health concerns such as depression, or anxiety. According to the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), this role involves “flexible, consumer-oriented therapy,” combining traditional psychotherapy with a “practical, problem-solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change.”
- Work Settings: Often working in private practice or offering remote services, clinical mental health counselors are versatile professionals who can aid clients or patients in many settings. They are also employed by hospitals, outpatient clinics, and community mental health centers.
- Available Specializations: Several of the counseling field’s most familiar specialties relate to clinical mental health counseling. These counselors may work with specific age groups. For example, this may include gerontological counseling for senior patients or targeted counseling for adolescents. Grief counseling can be valuable for recently bereaved individuals, while rehabilitation counseling offers valuable guidance for those with physical or cognitive disabilities. With clinical mental health counseling, there really is a niche for everyone.
School Counselor
- Role: Helping students overcome a variety of social and academic challenges, school counselors provide much-needed support and skill development opportunities. These counselors may address issues specific to the school environment, such as bullying or academic-oriented stress. They can also leverage the school setting to ensure that all children and adolescents find support, regardless of socioeconomic background.
- Work Settings: Typically committed to supporting K-12 students, school counselors are most frequently found within elementary, junior high, and high schools. That being said, school counseling can also prove valuable within charter schools, vocational schools, or alternative learning centers.
- Available Specializations: A number of school counselors work with targeted student populations and may tailor their approach to reflect the needs of different age groups or school environments. Others work with students facing specific challenges. As an example, special education counseling can be valuable for those with disabilities, while behavioral counseling helps students develop positive social skills as they address behavioral challenges.
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
- Role: Marriage and family therapists focus on systems and relationships. As the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) explains, the individual is not the primary unit in marriage and family therapy. Rather, this approach emphasizes “the set of relationships in which the person is embedded.” Experts at AAMFT add that marriage and family therapy is limited in duration and “designed with the ‘end in mind.'”
- Work Settings: It is common for MFTs to run their own practices, with some even taking advantage of remote opportunities. Others work for faith-based institutions, community mental health centers, or family service agencies.
- Available Specializations: Relationships and families take many forms and today’s MFTs are committed to supporting all types of partners or family groups. Some primarily work with LGBTQ clients, while others focus on co-parenting relationships. Specializations may also involve specific mental health concerns such as depression or trauma.
Substance Abuse Counselor
- Role: Substance abuse counselors help patients who struggle with addiction and other mental health concerns. These professionals can stage crisis interventions for those suffering severe symptoms. Still, the main intention underscoring treatment is to develop healthy coping mechanisms and other strategies that facilitate full recovery from substance abuse problems.
- Work Settings: Often found in rehabilitation centers, substance abuse counselors may form the foundation of inpatient or outpatient treatment programs. Others work in dedicated psychiatric or mental health departments within hospitals. Plenty of colleges and universities employ substance abuse counselors, as do some correctional facilities.
- Available Specializations: Substance abuse counseling increasingly incorporates trauma-informed care, with the recognition that adverse experiences can form the root causes of addiction. Dual-diagnosis counseling addresses comorbidities, such as depression or anxiety. Other specializations relate to specific patient populations. For reference, some counselors work primarily with adolescents, while others treat veterans or lead group counseling sessions.
Career Counselor
- Role: Professional journeys can be difficult to plan and navigate, but career counselors provide valuable guidance. These unique counselors help clients determine which pathways are preferable based on their specific interests, talents, or challenges.
- Work Settings: Any setting that strives to prepare aspiring professionals for rewarding careers can be expected to employ this type of counselor. They are most frequently found at high schools, colleges, and universities, although major corporations increasingly draw on career counseling to boost retention and help promising prospects advance in their careers.
- Available Specializations: Many career counselors work with specific types of students or aspiring professionals, such as those with corporate or even artistic aspirations. Others may focus on meeting the unique needs of international students, immigrants, service members, or veterans. Small business career counseling provides an excellent avenue for supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.
Start Your Master’s Degree in Counseling at Baker College
Do you desire to make a positive impact as you explore top counseling careers? You will find plenty of opportunities for self-reflection and skill development as you pursue your Master of Counseling with Baker College. This program provides well-rounded preparation to accommodate future counselors with diverse career aspirations. Reach out today to learn more about our online master’s degree in counseling.