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Job outlook for lead counselors in the United States
Lead counselor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected lead counselor job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 32,400 new jobs for lead counselors are projected over the next decade.
Lead counselor salaries have increased 7% for lead counselors in the last 5 years.
There are over 55,519 lead counselors currently employed in the United States.
There are 74,247 active lead counselor job openings in the US.
The average lead counselor salary is $178,478.
Are lead counselor jobs in demand?
Lead counselor job and salary trends over time
Lead counselor jobs over time
Lead counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55,519 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 52,997 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 51,254 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 51,252 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 50,438 | 0.02% |
Average lead counselor salary over time
Lead counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $178,478 | $85.81 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $175,161 | $84.21 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $172,920 | $83.13 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $170,156 | $81.81 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $167,546 | $80.55 | +1.7% |
Lead counselor jobs by state
Most common states for lead counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 219 | 21% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 139 | 19% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,108 | 16% |
| 4 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 279 | 16% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 132 | 15% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 269 | 14% |
| 7 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 373 | 13% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 272 | 13% |
| 9 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 373 | 12% |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 86 | 12% |
| 11 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 333 | 11% |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 377 | 10% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 220 | 6% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 58 | 6% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 659 | 5% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 348 | 5% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 36 | 5% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 31 | 5% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 361 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 25 | 4% |
Most common cities for lead counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belmont | 1 | 4% | $171,341 |
| 2 | Hoffman Estates | 1 | 2% | $152,472 |
| 3 | Pensacola | 1 | 2% | $140,035 |
| 4 | Sarasota | 1 | 2% | $144,918 |
| 5 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $171,416 |
| 6 | Springfield | 2 | 1% | $168,679 |
| 7 | Worcester | 1 | 1% | $170,205 |
| 8 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $172,028 |
| 9 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $153,070 |
| 10 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $196,091 |
| 11 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $129,708 |
| 12 | Fresno | 1 | 0% | $194,137 |
| 13 | Irving | 1 | 0% | $164,110 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $197,444 |
| 15 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $147,008 |
| 16 | New York | 1 | 0% | $170,062 |
Lead Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of lead counselor experts
Sonoma State University
Florida Institute of Technology
Indiana Wesleyan University
SUNY College at Oswego
San Francisco State University
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Adelphi University
Saint Xavier University
Western Illinois University
Marymount University
Lewis University
St. John Fisher College
Lindsey Nichols
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Lindsey Nichols: Your career path is a journey not typically a single destination. You will be exposed to professions, organizations, people etc. all the time and that networking and those relationships are so important. Unfortunately, social media, movies, etc. give a false impression to viewers about what counselors (of many specialty areas like school counseling, mental health, addictions, etc.) actually do. If you know licensed/certified counselors follow-up with them, ask them questions about their day-to-day activities, and volunteer or work so you can get more exposure to the helping professions, I think about the Boys-and-Girls Club, substituting in your local school district, organizations that provide helping services to people at all ages.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Adam Zagelbaum: I recommend that school counselors enter the field with as much open mindedness as possible, meaning that they would consider as many grade levels and school districts possible when choosing a job. This provides the school counselor the possibility of having various options, including the choice to work with a team or to have an independent position. I also believe that it is important to assess how many forms of support the early career counselor will have, whether this be amongst coworkers, the school district administration, or even the PTA because working in isolation can be draining. Support for a school counselor is important as it can be difficult for anyone first starting a counseling-focused position to learn the role, manage their time, and self-support their mental health while supporting student needs. It can be helpful to have access to consultation between district coworkers for not only case support but also for emotional support. It would also be beneficial to inquire about whether districts provide the school counselor ongoing training and professional development, including conference/workshop participation. It is important for entry-career school counselors to have support to grow as much as possible so that they can expand their skills.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Vanessa Alleyne: Don't be afraid to negotiate! Nonprofits often pay less than corporate sites, but there is almost always wiggle room. Salary is important, but so is paid time off, family leave, mental health days, and professional time for conferences. Try to obtain certifications in areas that are valued, such as clinical supervision or co-occurring disorders.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Judith Justice EdD, PSC, LMHC: I believe that most SC would say that they love to assist youth in their growth and into their futures. Most would likely say they dislike the duties they may be expected to do that take away time with their students. Oftentimes, they are expected to do tasks such as scheduling, recess/lunch/or bus duties (which can be nice as they get to see students, BUT they want to be able to assist students in their major needs).
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jodi Mullen PhD LMHC RPT-S: The bulk of the work a mental health counselor does is clinical, meaning you meet with clients and provide counseling. There is also record keeping, preparation, and administrative responsibilities. New and seasoned counselors alike spend some time in supervision and consultation with other counselors. Supervision is a time to discuss cases with a more experienced professional where there are opportunities for growth professionally and personally. Consultation involves either meeting with others connected to your clients, like parents of children clients, or with professionals in mental health and other fields that can help the counselor sort out a challenge. In that case it may be an attorney or a trauma specialist.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Jodi Mullen PhD LMHC RPT-S: There are so many opportunities for mental health counselors entering the field. The need for our services is at an all time high. Recently, there has been a great deal of focus on self-care for professional counselors to ward off compassion fatigue. There is much more being offered for counselor self-care than when I entered the field three decades ago.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Elif Balin: As we have witnessed since the pandemic, there is a fast transition to virtual mental health counseling practices. Beyond the virtual/video setting, counselors now have the option to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and networks to deliver their services. Some of these systems are more structured and expect counselors to shape their practices according to their delivery modalities (e.g., text messaging, online chat, learn and use a specific evidence-based therapy/counseling framework), while others involve counselors in the creation of new modalities (e.g., psychoeducational programs, phone applications). Thus, counselors should consider developing skills to understand and navigate changing technologies, devices, and program designs. They will need more skills to set and maintain boundaries against dysfunctional multitasking with new demands for availability/accessibility. They will also need to keep their own career planning and job application skills updated in case they need more transitions between jobs, roles, and settings due to the unpredictable nature of changes to their settings.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elif Balin: Being informed and realistic about what kind of employers or sectors offer your desired salary levels is important. For example, a counseling position at a public university (which is not a research university or R1) or non-profit organization system will likely remain underpaid (unless there is a prominent political economy shift in the country). If your passion and values are grounded in such a setting, you can still do your research about the salaries (which are usually publicly available) and understand what you want to negotiate for based on your experience. Learn about salary negotiation skills, practice with people who have experience in hiring or at least salary negotiation, and especially reflect on your values around money and what you need the money for, as well as any potential internal or socially imposed biases on talking about money. You can also negotiate for extra benefits such as professional development funds and inquire about the possibility of additional work (e.g., a side job in private practice or paid consultant roles) according to your job contract. If you need a higher salary and open to explore alternative sectors or settings than what you initially considered, then educate yourself about the salary ranges in those settings and ask for tips from more experienced people. In any setting, identify the strengths and unique value you bring to a potential employer and negotiate for a higher salary by clearly articulating those strengths and values you will add.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Elif Balin: As prospective counselors, it's essential to recognize that your career journeys begin when you start exploring and applying for training programs. The curriculum, faculty expertise areas, availability of training opportunities (e.g., internship sites), diversity of an active alumni network, and other aspects of these programs will significantly influence your career readiness and transition to jobs. After graduation, I strongly suggest you stay connected to your training programs, mentors, and alumni networks. This will help you access the hidden job market (e.g., potentially upcoming job openings and priorities for hiring criteria) in your areas of interest or work settings and make you feel supported and part of a community. In case you think your training program did not adequately prepare you for the job market, keep searching for mentors, which can be a one-time meeting or email exchange to learn about what helped them find employment or a longer-term connection that provides you with more insight and feedback about your ongoing areas of growth. Remember that your first job is most likely the first stepping stone toward the following opportunities. Even if you feel discontent with some aspects of a first job, it can lead to meaningful connections and happenstances to create future opportunities. Be aware of your most important needs and values that you can’t sacrifice for your physical and mental well-being, and aspire for a job that gets you what you need to continue growing and making connections toward more desirable next steps. When possible, self-advocate and seek additional resources (e.g., family, community, local or regional professional development grants, additional jobs) that may help you get started with some meaningful first experience and sustain your ongoing career planning.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Donna Sheperis PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, BC-TMH: The combination of the increased need for mental healthcare following a global pandemic, as well as the increased advocacy for mental health awareness to defeat the stigma that has always surrounded treatment, means that there is a lot of work to be done to provide the services that we need. If you or someone you know has tried to get an appointment with a counselor lately, you have probably encountered some pretty lengthy wait times. It seems that every practice is full and there’s practically no way to get seen quickly. We need more practitioners and more efficient ways to serve some clients who are struggling with some really pressing concerns.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Donna Sheperis PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, BC-TMH: When I talk to my former students as well as my friends and colleagues in the profession, they all tell me how richly rewarded they are providing a service to people who struggle with aspects of mental health. Being part of someone’s treatment, watching them find their way through trauma that has been burdening them, helping people leave behind a pass that no longer serves them, helping them find a way through genetically predisposed illness, or to overcome thoughts of death or suicide… These are all remarkable journeys to embark on with clients. To have the privilege to be part of healing when people are in crisis and pain and at their most vulnerable is really an awesome honor. Those experiences keep us hopeful and.buoyed throughout our career. When working in such an interpersonally intense profession, carrying that weight can be challenging itself. Some of the more routine tasks of the work that we do can also be burdening. As mental health counselors, we find ourselves making sure that we seek to do our own work in order to be able to do this work for others.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Catherine Lounsbury Ed.D., LCPC: Hello Alex, Attached please find my answers to your questions. Please let me know if anything else would be helpful. Thank you, Cathy
Wendy Hoskins Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate Department ChairUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Student Counseling And Personnel Services
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Wendy Hoskins Ph.D.: Counselors working in schools can maximize their salaries in a few ways. After graduation, make sure to move from a provisional license to a permanent professional school counseling license in your state as soon as you qualify. This may involve taking an exam such as the Praxis. Consider additional certifications (National Certified School Counselor) and education (Advanced Graduate Certificate, Ph.D.) that can result in a pay raise. Counselors who stay within the same district can also maximize pay and move across a pay scale based on how many years plus education invested after hire.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Education and Credentials: Invest in obtaining advanced degrees and relevant certifications that enhance your qualifications and marketability. A master's or doctoral degree in counseling psychology, along with licensure or certification in your jurisdiction, can significantly increase your earning potential. Specialization and Niche Expertise: Develop expertise in specialized areas of counseling psychology that are in demand or command higher fees. Consider focusing on niche populations, such as children and adolescents, trauma survivors, couples therapy, family therapy and acquire specialized training or certifications to differentiate yourself in the market. Clinical Experience and Internships: Gain diverse clinical experience through internships, practicum placements, and supervised training opportunities. Continuing Education and Professional Development: Stay abreast of emerging trends, research findings, and evidence-based practices in counseling psychology through continuing education, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Digital Literacy and Teletherapy Skills: With the continued integration of technology in mental health care, counselors will need to enhance their proficiency in digital platforms and teletherapy modalities. This includes utilizing secure video conferencing tools, managing electronic health records (EHR), and maintaining ethical standards in online therapy settings. Cultural Competence and Diversity Awareness: As awareness of cultural diversity and social justice issues grows, counselors must deepen their understanding of intersectionality and cultural humility. Competence in working with diverse populations and addressing systemic barriers to mental health care will from an antiracism lens will be essential for providing inclusive and culturally responsive services. Trauma-Informed Care: Given the prevalence of trauma and its impact on mental health, counselors will need to adopt trauma-informed approaches across various settings. This includes recognizing the signs of trauma, creating safe environments for disclosure, and integrating trauma-sensitive interventions into counseling practice. Resilience-Building and Positive Psychology: In addition to addressing mental health challenges, there will be a greater emphasis on promoting resilience and well-being. Counselors will incorporate positive psychology principles, such as strengths-based interventions and mindfulness techniques, to empower clients and enhance their coping skills. Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Care: With the recognition of the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, counselors will collaborate more closely with other healthcare professionals in integrated care settings. Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams will be essential for providing holistic and comprehensive care to clients. Data Literacy and Outcome Measurement: Increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice and outcome measurement will require counselors to develop skills in data collection, analysis, and outcome evaluation. Ethical Decision-Making in Complex Situations: As counseling scenarios become increasingly complex, counselors will face ethical dilemmas that require nuanced decision-making. Strengthening skills in ethical reasoning, consultation, and ethical sensitivity will enable counselors to navigate challenging ethical issues with integrity and professionalism.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Continued Learning and Development: Stay committed to lifelong learning by attending workshops, pursuing advanced certifications, and staying updated on the latest research and therapeutic techniques. Supervision and Mentorship: Seek out supervision and mentorship opportunities from experienced professionals in the field. Consider participating in a peer supervision group where you can support one another and be open to constructive criticism as part of your development. Engage in regular self-reflection for personal growth. Prioritize Self-Care: Establish healthy boundaries between work and personal life, engage in activities that recharge you and help prevent burn out. Cultural Competence and Diversity: Cultivate cultural humility and strive to understand the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of your clients. Continuously educate yourself on multiculturalism and antiracism to provide competent and inclusive counseling services. Ethical Practice: Adhere to ethical guidelines and professional standards in your practice. Strive to Build Strong Therapeutic Relationships: Establish rapport, demonstrate empathy, and create a safe and trusting environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings. Evidence-Based Practice: Stay informed about research findings and utilize interventions that have been empirically validated for specific client populations and presenting issues. Networking and Collaboration: Build professional connections within the counseling community. Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and participate in networking events to expand your professional network. Collaboration with colleagues can lead to referrals, consultation opportunities, and mutual support. Consider doing some pro bono work: Pro bono services help bridge the gap to access mental health services for individuals who cannot afford them.
Jennifer Cipollone MA
Director of School Counseling & Af. Professor of Counseling Psychology, Ph.D. Student, Organizational LeadershipWhat Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer Cipollone MA: Taking additional educational credits and professional development can help increase your salary potential and stay current with trends and issues facing students.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Cipollone MA: Meeting the diverse needs of students, spanning academic, social-emotional, and college and career realms, requires a comprehensive understanding of the school counseling field. Establishing and nurturing relationships with stakeholders, from teachers and administrators to parents and external agencies, is essential for effective interventions but can prove challenging. Amidst these demands, counselors must also commit to ongoing professional development, staying abreast of best practices and emerging trends in school counseling.
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC
Assistant Dean & Program Director, Master's programs in General Psychology and Mental Health CounselingAdelphi University
Mental And Social Health Services And Allied Professions
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: In the next few years, counselors will benefit from developing skills in emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and how such technology is being used by clients through various social media applications that might lead to clinical concerns (.e.g., dating, gambling, pornography). Integrating some of these new technologies into therapeutically sound interventions will be one way to address these concerns both in traditional therapy settings, as well as virtually (e.g., avatar therapy).
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: Given the complexities of the world today, emerging counseling professionals must be flexible in their treatment approach, inclusive in their understanding of diverse cultures and sub-cultures, and mature professionally through humility, self-reflection, and self-care.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: One way to maximize your earning potential when starting your career is to develop a focus, not just a specialization. A focus requires a broader lens when it comes to earnings. For example, specializing in clinical treatments for addiction is important and will generate referrals. However, having a focus in addiction treatments extends your reach into other adjacent areas such as business applications and services offered outside of the therapy office. It might start with the question, 'what other groups or organizations might benefit from my focus area?' This might lead to a consultation opportunity at a business that is interested in reducing burnout for its employees and by extension the sequelae of problems associated with burnout (e.g., depression, addiction). One opportunity often leads to another. The second way to maximize income early in your career is to consider ways to translate what you do into a public-facing profile. Whether using LinkedIn or your own website, it is crucial for the public to become acquainted with you professionally. Investing in this process will pay off quickly.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jessica Lane Ph.D.: School Counselors are school leaders who are trained to work with ALL students in the areas of academic, career, and social-emotional domains. School counselors are prepared to provide proactive, data driven, developmentally appropriate comprehensive P-12 programming via classroom lessons, small group, and individual counseling to support student success. Skills such as: time management, study habits, communication, collaboration, cooperation, and conflict resolution are taught to build healthy behaviors, mindsets, and goals, and aid in student attendance, achievement, and behavior.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jessica Lane Ph.D.: Every child deserves and needs supportive adults and student advocates, and school counselors serve in that capacity. The opportunity to help develop and support the whole student through academic, career, and social-emotional opportunities is very gratifying. A challenge of today's school counselors is the ability to have enough school counselors in schools and buildings to keep the number of students to school counselor ratio at an optimal level for student support and impact. Additionally, communicating to stakeholders how the role and training of school counselors has evolved to meet the needs of today's students is an important and necessary consideration for school counselors.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Kristen Toole: Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Personal and professional development are
lifelong processes that are never really finished. So, it is essential to pace yourself and establish a
foundation of healthy practices from the outset. Creating habits and routines in the beginning
with the end in mind can be a good strategy for success and sustainability.
Keep work-life balance and boundaries in mind from the start because breaking bad habits can
be tricky once established. Think about where you ultimately want to be and build toward that
future one step at a time. Also, it is okay if plans change! You never know where open-
mindedness and willingness to learn may take you.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristen Toole: This is an exciting time to be a counselor. It is a time for integration and inclusivity. With an
increasing focus on neuroscience and the advent of telehealth, incorporating science and
technology in counseling is increasingly relevant.
The use of technology is on the rise. As more people become familiar with telehealth, counselors
must become comfortable providing virtual care. Telehealth practices are also critical to
expanding our reach and improving the accessibility of our services.
Undeniable links between science and counseling continue to emerge. Findings in neuroscience
are shaping how we understand counseling and informing best practices (Cammisuli &
Castelnuovo, 2023). Furthermore, this supports incorporating knowledge and skills from other
disciplines to broaden the counseling field's horizons.
Mastering essential attending behaviors and the basic listening sequence (Ivey et al., 2018) is not
enough if we cannot successfully and accurately position our clients against a backdrop of broad
and complex contextual factors. Embracing diverse perspectives is crucial to supporting holistic
counseling practices. Integrating new information will be the key to achieving a more complete
and inclusive understanding of our clients and our work as we move forward.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Kristen Toole: Post-pandemic disparities have highlighted the necessity of prioritizing mental health and the
need for more mental health providers (Fink-Samnick, 2023; Health Resources & Services
Administration, 2023). The counseling field is expected to outpace the national average for
occupational growth six-fold over the next ten years (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022). There is
no question that counselors are in demand, but there are still a few strategies for new
professionals to maximize their salary potential.
A growing number of students are entering counseling graduate programs, having completed
undergraduate minors and focus areas in related fields. This is fantastic conceptually and can be
a vital strategy for enhancing their counseling work. Skill building is one way to optimize
success and salary.
Some graduate programs, like Xavier's, offer options for obtaining additional certifications along
the way to a master's degree. In Xavier's counseling program, students can choose courses that
allow them to get certificates in addiction counseling and medical trauma-informed care. For
clinical mental health counselors, this is an excellent way to demonstrate skill mastery, and for
school counselors, it provides a unique opportunity to broaden their scope of practice. Either
way, additional certifications exhibit a commitment that potential employers can appreciate.
Counselors who are well-informed about their market value and earning potential can engage in
informed offer negotiations. Additional skills are one way beginning professionals can increase
their starting salary. However, it is important to remember that total earnings include several
elements, and salary is just one piece of that puzzle.
Counselors are immensely versatile and can find work in various settings, so they need to
understand their options in addition to their earning potential. Benefits, schedule, and location
are other things that can impact the earnings bottom line and are essential to consider. Finally,
counselors must know themselves: personality, interests, work values, and abilities impact job fit
and, ultimately, work satisfaction. These are crucial considerations for mitigating compassion
fatigue (Stamm, 2010), which can limit counselors' longevity.
New professionals must research and reflect as they enter the job market. There are many things
to consider when choosing a job, and it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, various resources,
such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*Net, Glassdoor, and Monster, offer
indispensable tools and information to job seekers.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: A practicing counselor's day is often full of sessions with clients. These sessions may be individual therapy, couples/families, or groups of individuals with some shared presenting issue. Counselors also have to complete paperwork associated with these sessions throughout the day. Some counselors also provide supervision to newer practitioners as a part of their work roles.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: There is a critical need for mental health care in our world. Many want to help with this need, making counseling a good profession to enter now.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Specialist in School Psychology and Clinical/ Community Mental Health Graduate ProgramsWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - The best I can give to graduates is to focus on taking small steps at first. Often the first year in the field can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The system we work in (the helping profession broadly) often has a lot of challenges, and new professionals want to re-envision a path for changes. This is tangible, but at first, it is important to understand the roles and functions in the workplace before flipping everything upside down. I suggest taking one small change at a time in an area that is important to you and build relationships and trust with your professional colleagues before overloading yourself with the new job and new goals.
What will help Lead Counselors increase their earning potential?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - I think skills in using and being familiar with artificial intelligence (AI) will be important in our field now and in the upcoming five years. The capabilities of the open AI sources has exponentially grown smarter in just the past year. The tools accessible are revolutionizing the way people write reports, generate recommendations, capture clinical notes, and even summarize and synthesize information. It is technology that we must learn to understand after the point of graduate training where we can apply our professional decision-making skills and theoretical knowledge to the information input/output of this great technology.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - The best I can give to graduates is to focus on taking small steps at first. Often the first year in the field can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The system we work in (the helping profession broadly) often has a lot of challenges, and new professionals want to re-envision a path for changes. This is tangible, but at first, it is important to understand the roles and functions in the workplace before flipping everything upside down. I suggest taking one small change at a time in an area that is important to you and build relationships and trust with your professional colleagues before overloading yourself with the new job and new goals.
Stephanie Chalk
Associate Director of the School of Counseling at Marymount UniversityMarymount University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Lead Counselor?
Stephanie Chalk: Competence in trauma-informed care is very important and will only continue to become more important to our work as counselors in a post-COVID world. Counselors will need to have a strong understanding of how to assess for trauma and environmental stressors, and how trauma can impact clients and communities. Having the skills to adequately assess and support client safety, enhance client choice and empowerment, and the ability to work collaboratively as an interdisciplinary team with other professionals is going to become an even more valuable skill set for counselors. Counselors often work with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurse practitioners, school systems, social workers, occupational therapists, and many other professionals as a part of a care team. Having strong collaboration, leadership, and interpersonal skills are becoming more important as the role of counselors is becoming more salient in healthcare.
What Lead Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Stephanie Chalk: My first piece of general advice is to gain knowledge about their state's requirements of post-graduate clinical requirements for independent licensure. When students begin studying at a clinical mental health counseling graduate program, they often believe that once they graduate, they will be free to practice counseling independently and will be licensed. Clinical mental health counseling licensure requires post-graduate clinical supervision and training, and these vary by state or jurisdiction. New graduates should identify what state they want to work in and become familiar with those post-graduation requirements, especially if they are planning to move after graduation. I would also tell new graduates to be selective with where they work after graduation. Some students are very eager to find work after graduation, and finding a good placement can be anxiety-provoking. It is OK to take your time to find a good fit for your interests and needs. Do not be afraid to ask questions about pay, benefits, expectations, supervision, and clinical specializations of the site and the supervisor. There is a wide range of clinical specialties for counselors, and it's worth exploring your interests and finding a site that can fulfill your needs. Lastly, there's many different things that a counselor can do! Besides clinical mental health services, counselors can also get hired as consultants, researchers, organization and advocacy leaders, and more. There are many great career opportunities that new graduates can explore.
Lisa Brown
Assistant ProfessorLewis University
School Counseling Program
What soft skills should all Lead Counselors possess?
Lisa Brown: School counselors must be efficient. They may have large caseloads of students for which they are responsible. Being able to prioritize, manage their time, and have a strong work ethic are necessary components to success. Attitude is also key. School counselors are to be empathic, approachable, and nonjudgmental. This means school counselors need to be open to learning from others and be willing to confront any bias or prejudice they may hold.
School counselors are collaborators within the school system and may work as part of a large team that may include the student, parents, teachers, coaches, deans, social workers, psychiatrists, and so forth. School counselors must understand and demonstrate teamwork and conflict resolution.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Lead Counselors?
Lisa Brown: Because of the prevalence of social/emotional issues within K-12, especially in the last few years, school counselors need to have assessment skills. School counselors need to identify any red flags in their students that may indicate the student is struggling. This goes beyond academics and includes aspects such as interpersonal skills and self-worth.
Similar to assessment is data analysis. The gathering of data does not stop after a student is assessed but rather is just beginning. School counselors are held accountable to demonstrate the interventions they are utilizing are working. Data is also used to secure future funds. If an intervention used within the fall resulted in little change, a school district might not allocate funds to continue to use the same program. School counselors utilize data to demonstrate how effective they are and advocate for additional resources to address social/emotional issues within their student body.
As we learned during COVID-19, school counselors need to be tech-savvy. Many students are still learning remotely or are utilizing a hybrid format. While this has been quite helpful for some students, others are falling through the cracks. School counselors have had to get creative in checking in with their students and are doing so through technology.
What skills will help Lead Counselors earn the most?
Lisa Brown: Earning potential for school counselors is not likely to vary based on skillset, but rather the state or school district. Salary may vary based on the type of degree (master's versus doctorate) and level of experience. I am unsure of what skills may increase one's salary. As a counselor educator, I advise my students to remain relevant. Part of being successful in our field understands how current events shape the lives and needs of our students. Currently, there is a great need for school counselors to understand trauma, LGBTQ+ identities, and how to establish an anti-racist school.
John Kiweewa Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSt. John Fisher College
Wegmans School of Nursing
What soft skills should all Lead Counselors possess?
John Kiweewa Ph.D.: Receptivity to Feedback: Openness to consistently accept feedback in a respectful way is a vital quality, especially for new graduates. Such openness is important not only to feedback from supervisors but from colleagues and clients. Agreeing to or feeling bound to act on the feedback received is not as important as communicating appreciation for the effort of others in giving feedback. In this case, display of behaviors such as anger, annoyance, frustration, defensiveness, excessive/exaggerated self-criticism, or withdrawal gets in the way of learning and/or being a member of a team.
Appropriate Self-Disclosure: The ability for mental health practitioners to 'use' themselves for the benefit of their clients is one of the cornerstones of effective counseling. Such a quality is most evident when one only shares information about themselves that fits the nature and purpose of the interaction with a particular client. When personal information is revealed, it is tasteful, relevant, and is not upsetting, distracting, or confusing to others. Prospective employers are keenly aware of the ways self-serving or self-aggrandizing disclosure of personal information can negatively impact the ability to provide meaningful services to clients.
Reliability and Follow Through: Mental health professionals work in a helping profession that requires the professional to be consistently dependable, reliable, and able to follow through with tasks and assignments in a timely and thorough manner. This includes meeting deadlines, being punctual to sessions with clients and for agency meetings, being prepared, and having a reputation as one who can be counted on to do their part when functioning as a team or project member.
Flexibility and Adaptability: This quality is most evident when a mental health counseling professional consistently demonstrates a willingness to change or compromise in the face of new information, circumstances, and contexts. Situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, require mental health practitioners to have an openness to solutions that match the needs of their service recipients and organizations.
Sense of Humor: There is little to cheer about in the professional life of mental health professionals. We spend the majority of our working time listening to the most painful and vulnerable aspects of people's lives. This quality is most evident when a mental health counselor assumes an orientation to life that acknowledges to self and others the value of looking at the "lighter side" of life to maintain a balance; when they find enjoyment in laughing with others and recognize laughter as a way of reducing tension and as an important aspect of social discourse.
Confidence Balanced with Humility: Confidence in one's abilities (self-efficacy) is a general challenge for beginning mental health counselors. Some may appear over-confident as a way to compensate for lack of experience in the field and to project an image of competence. It is, therefore, important that new graduate is able to act with self-assurance by consistently expressing themselves in a clear, deliberate, and unassuming manner. It is not helpful to "put on airs" or flaunt knowledge or skills in order to bring attention to oneself. What is important is to convey appreciation for the privilege to partake in other people's life journeys and struggles.