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Job outlook for mental health associates in the United States
Mental health associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected mental health associate job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 64,000 new jobs for mental health associates are projected over the next decade.
Mental health associate salaries have increased 14% for mental health associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 31,684 mental health associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 122,947 active mental health associate job openings in the US.
The average mental health associate salary is $36,510.
Are mental health associate jobs in demand?
Mental health associate job and salary trends over time
Mental health associate jobs over time
Mental health associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,684 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 30,363 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 29,072 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 27,508 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 26,081 | 0.01% |
Average mental health associate salary over time
Mental health associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,510 | $17.55 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $34,959 | $16.81 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $33,602 | $16.15 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $32,411 | $15.58 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $31,999 | $15.38 | +1.3% |
Mental health associate jobs by state
Most common states for mental health associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,531 | 37% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 216 | 31% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 189 | 26% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,348 | 24% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,379 | 23% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 297 | 22% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,585 | 21% |
| 8 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,370 | 21% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 630 | 20% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 331 | 19% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 236 | 18% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 170 | 18% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,737 | 17% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 323 | 17% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 180 | 17% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 128 | 17% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 917 | 16% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 899 | 16% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 138 | 16% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 92 | 16% |
Most common cities for mental health associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth | 2 | 6% | $35,758 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | 3 | 4% | $21,967 |
| 3 | Hacienda Heights | 2 | 4% | $45,090 |
| 4 | Whittier | 3 | 3% | $45,110 |
| 5 | Conway | 2 | 3% | $21,647 |
| 6 | Folsom | 2 | 3% | $45,508 |
| 7 | Saint Paul | 6 | 2% | $38,435 |
| 8 | Minneapolis | 5 | 1% | $38,430 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $32,488 |
| 10 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $35,402 |
| 11 | Detroit | 4 | 1% | $35,402 |
| 12 | Grand Prairie | 2 | 1% | $28,797 |
| 13 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $43,676 |
| 14 | Portland | 3 | 0% | $36,229 |
| 15 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $28,843 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $31,671 |
Mental Health Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of mental health associate experts
Western Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Florida Institute of Technology
SUNY College at Oswego
California State University - Dominguez Hills
St. John Fisher College
Penn State College of Medicine
San Diego State University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Boston College
Monmouth University
Augustana University
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
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Neumann University
University of Baltimore
Montana State University
Bethel University
Lancaster Bible College
Maryville University
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Associate?
Dr. Vanessa Alleyne: It will be important to network and utilize professional organizations of which you are a member, such as the ACA (American Counseling Association), or the ASGW (Association for Specialists in Group Work), for example. Meet people, attend training for advanced skills in key areas, and present there when possible. Whether locally or nationally, these are valuable connections to make when starting out, and will also enhance your knowledge base as you begin and grow. Another valuable connection to be made can be found through your alma mater. Find professional affinity groups from your undergraduate program, and certainly maintain or build ties with your graduate program alumni. Finally, many people turn to social media such as Linkedin, which is fine, but can also be a bit overwhelming. Be deliberate in your choices about who to connect with, and don't get fomo! It's ok not to connect with everyone that pops up in your feed. Stay with one social media site at a time until you feel it's working the way you'd like, and then go on to another.
What Mental Health Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Vanessa Alleyne: Two of the most heavily sought out areas of expertise in the field today are trauma and substance use disorders. If you have taken courses in these areas as a grad student, bravo for you! The aftermath of the pandemic has left us in tremendous need of caring, coping strategies for trauma, as well as more evidence based, compassionate care for substance use disorders. The old tough love strategies aren't really effective in today's complex world. Sometimes students will say that they don't want to work with substance abuse, but it's shortsighted to think that you won't, even in a private practice. Many, if not most people seeking help are impacted by substances, either via someone they know or someone in the family. The emergence of legalized sports betting has also begun a new level of problematic gambling that will require a good skill set. Group work for these and other disorders will increase, so the ability to work well in groups will be in high demand. Additionally, we are at the early stages of successful use of psychedelic medicines for a range of mental health disorders. Learning about these possibilities will be important in terms of making appropriate referrals to psychedelic providers. Finally, I will mention a typically unmentionable or perhaps forgotten area that we need better skills in now more than ever. End of life counseling needs are rising as our elderly population in the US soars. We need to be able to support clients and their families through the processes and anxieties that come with these highly difficult experiences. I am beginning a summer course at MSU now in End of Life Counseling as an elective, and the class is FULL. Many of us want and need to explore this final stage of the lifespan, both professionally and personally, in order to be of maximal assistance to others.
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC
Associate ProfessorWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Associate?
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC: Starting a career in counseling is a fulfilling journey but comes with its own set of challenges. My advice to graduates stepping into this field would be to prioritize self-care. It's crucial to maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life, especially when dealing with emotionally taxing situations. Seek supervision and mentorship regularly; having guidance from experienced professionals can provide invaluable insights and support as you navigate your counseling career. Additionally, stay open to continuous learning. The field of counseling is dynamic, with new research and techniques emerging constantly. Pursue opportunities for further education, attend workshops, and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. Cultivate empathy and cultural competence to better understand and connect with clients from diverse backgrounds. Building strong therapeutic relationships based on trust and empathy is at the core of effective counseling practice. Lastly, remember to advocate for mental health awareness and the importance of access to quality mental health services. Being a counselor goes beyond individual sessions; it involves being an advocate for your clients' well-being within the larger societal context.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Associate?
Dr. Pamela Fullerton: All the skills we need to do well in this field are important since we are dealing with people's lives and livelihoods. I believe anyone entering this field needs to recognize the significance and seriousness of our work. In the next 3-5 years, the ever-changing landscape of the population will require us to be continuously working on the competencies and ethical codes mandated through our identities as professional counselors. There is a wonderful counseling model by Ratts and Pederson (2014) called the Counselor-Advocate-Scholar model. I teach this to all my students and during my professional development workshops. This model highlights the three main areas in which we need to be constantly working on and growing in: (1) counseling work, skills, and competencies; (2) advocacy work, skills, and competencies; and (3) research to learn about best practices, recent scholarly innovations to the field, and adding more research to our field. This model can be used in the future as it adapts to whatever changes in the field and population may be occurring/prevalent in the future.
What Mental Health Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Pamela Fullerton: Find a site with great supervision and a diverse range of clients. New clinicians really need to lean into competent and compassionate supervisory experiences that will help them not only increase their counseling competencies but also support in their growth around professional counseling identity, personal development, and multicultural and social justice advocacy. Additionally, working with a diverse range of clients at the beginning of a career will also support in increasing competencies in all the various areas of our field from skills and interventions to diagnosing and treatment planning.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Associate?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: Be attuned to your values, passion, skills, and abilities, and also to what market values.
What Mental Health Associate 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.
Phu Phan MSW, Ph.D.
Professor and ChairCalifornia State University - Dominguez Hills
Human Services
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Associate?
Phu Phan MSW, Ph.D.: As in 1 above, always negotiate and do not just accept what they offer. 3-5K more per year is reasonable. Do this by pointing out your bonus skills such as second language and/or technical skills. Point out that you are a hard worker and will bring added value to them. Enjoy.
What will help Mental Health Associates increase their earning potential?
Phu Phan MSW, Ph.D.: Be open to new experiences and populations. The field is very broad and very interesting. Try to stay at a job for 2 years to learn well. Negotiate your salary. Take on a professional outlook including think about a salary, and not an hourly wage.
John Kiweewa Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSt. John Fisher College
Wegmans School of Nursing
What soft skills should all Mental Health Associates 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.
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.
Medical Director of the PHP and IOP, Director of the Office of Professional Mental HealthPenn State College of Medicine
Adolescent Medicine, Psychiatry
What soft skills should all Mental Health Associates possess?
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.: Good communication skills are important. Working as a therapist involves interacting with someone. It will be important to demonstrate being able to listen effectively and being able to communicate clearly. Active listening is important in therapy and in an interview. Be engaged; listen to the interviewer so that you are clearly providing the information that they need. For example, I often ask interviewees to tell me about a case that they found rewarding or challenging. From this, I want to know how someone thinks through a clinical situation. I want to hear how they describe their client (anonymously, of course) and how they put together the important parts of the story. If it was challenging and they now recognize ways to handle it differently, that lets me know that they have thought about this. It also shows that they are willing to reflect on difficult situations and learn from them. If someone cannot relate a story or discuss a client with me, that makes me wonder about their skills as a therapist and their interest in their patients. These clinical interactions can come from your work in school, shadowing someone in training, or internships. It is recognizing and describing the important elements of the case. Another important skill is good written communication. Check your resumes for spelling mistakes. Reread any emails to make certain they are clear. Send thank-you notes. Keep things professional--use the interviewer's professional title when you write. Be on time and have a question or two to ask about the position or place of employment. Examples can be, what are they looking for in a counselor? What have they found the most rewarding working in this office? Find your own go-to question, but interviewers what to know that you are interested.
What skills will help Mental Health Associates earn the most?
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.: If someone demonstrates compassion, great interpersonal skills, self-reflection, and a willingness to grow in their profession, that will benefit them tremendously. If clients feel understood and helped and want to keep working with you, your team will also recognize your skills.
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorSan Diego State University
School of Social Work
What skills stand out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.: Formal training and/or experience using one or more evidence-based Interventions.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What soft skills should all Mental Health Associates possess?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Soft skills that are essential for counselors include emotional intelligence, empathy, multicultural competency, interpersonal abilities, and authenticity.
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.
Associate Professor of the Practice, Program Director, Master's Program in Mental Health CounselingBoston College
Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology
What soft skills should all Mental Health Associates possess?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: -compassion
-active listening
-perspective-taking
-open-mindedness and respect for differences
-humility
-curiosity and critical observation
-problem recognition and analytical thinking
-creativity and flexibility
-presentation skills
What skills stand out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Alan Cavaiola Ph.D.: Skills that stand out on a resume: What mental health counselors need to emphasize on their resume/CV would be any additional training, certificates, and conferences to help make their resume stand out. For example, some of our students take workshops and training to become certified Disaster Response Crisis Counselors in New Jersey. Others take workshops or trainings in DBT, or they'll take EMDR training or telehealth training. These are definitely the skills employers would see as important and would help put the applicant's resume at the top of the pile. Also, students in our graduate program can specialize in addiction counseling which then helps to make them eligible for both the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and the LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Counselor). Having both licenses will increase job possibilities exponentially.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Mental Health Associates?
Alan Cavaiola Ph.D.: There have been profound changes in mental health counseling services since the onset of COVID-19. Many clients prefer the convenience and the privacy afforded by telehealth sessions. Therefore, Zoom, FaceTime, and encryption will also help put applicants at the top of the resume pile. I don't know if this falls under technical skills, but I know of counselors whose primary job involves dealing with Medicaid reviewers and managed care reviewers to justify continued treatment. Unfortunately, the "tail is wagging the dog," and rather than continued treatment decisions being made by mental health counselors, insurance carriers are often making continued treatment decisions based on treatment plans and treatment progress. Counselors who can communicate effectively with these gatekeepers become invaluable for many treatment programs.
Dr. Benjamin Jeppsen
Associate ProfessorAugustana University
Psychology Department
What skills stand out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Dr. Benjamin Jeppsen: In Mental Health Counseling, the ability to work with people from various cultural backgrounds is paramount. Training in multicultural psychology, diversity, and inclusion are all essential in our pluralistic society. I would also emphasize training in empirically supported treatments and a clear theoretical orientation grounded in scientific literature. Finally, the recent pandemic has accelerated the use of teletherapy and remote counseling--effectiveness in connecting with people through technology and making the most of an adapted model for therapy will be very important.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Mental Health Associates?
Dr. Benjamin Jeppsen: Obviously, mastering the technology used in teletherapy and virtual counseling is essential. Further, the use of computer programs for therapy notes, documentation, and diagnosis is also important. Assessment and psychometric abilities are also important as psychotherapy research has been very clear about the important role of outcome measurement and objective assessment in psychotherapy. When prospective clinicians demonstrate the ability to work with numbers (and the software needed to make them useful), they show an openness to the objective assessment of their work.
Dr. Christopher Shelton Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Director, Virtual/Augmented Reality Lab (VAR Lab)Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
School of Humanities & Social Sciences
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Mental Health Associates?
Dr. Christopher Shelton Ph.D.: Within the mental health field, having specialized psychological training, in addition to a broad set of fundamental psychological skills, can help graduates stand out when on the job market. Future psychology graduates interested in mental health careers should prepare along their academic journey to partake in trainings and seek out certifications that align with their post-academic goals.
For those with a psychology degree at the undergraduate level, licensure is not always a requirement for jobs within the mental health field (e.g., case manager, mental health technician, social work assistant, health educator). That said, having additional certifications you can attain through specific academic training (e.g., Behavioral Health and Counseling Psychology Certificate or Child Development Certificate) or additional trainings outside of academia, focused on specialized mental health initiatives (e.g., Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Facilitator training) can have a positive impact on job prospects. Moreover, those with a psychology undergraduate degree may wish to consider pursuing graduate training. Attaining a master or doctoral level graduate degree in any of the many mental health domains (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school counseling) can have a significant impact on factors such as starting salary, lifetime earning potential, range of potential jobs one is suited for, and overall career advancement.
For those with a psychology degree at the graduate level, licensure is a fundamental part of most mental health professions (e.g., psychologists, counselors, social workers, school counselors) and will certainly impact job prospects. Many places will help to provide those seeking licensure with the post-educational supervised training hours required by their specific state licensing board. That being said, once you have the required training, you should plan to sit for and complete the state licensure exam, as soon as possible. Being licensed is often seen as a benefit by employers seeking to hire mental health professionals. Moreover, one typically has greater flexibility in their work once licensed (e.g., opening their own private practice, joining an integrated health unit at a medical center).
In addition to seeking state licensure, individuals with graduate level degrees should also consider seeking additional board certification (e.g., American Board of Professional Psychology, National Board for Certified Counselors). Board certification signifies one has expertise in a specific area and can help to differentiate an individual from other practitioners.
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorNeumann University
Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Associate job market given the pandemic?
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.: At the same time that COVID has placed strains on the economy, it has also led to an increased need for psycho-spiritual support as individuals strive to cope with the multi-faceted impact of this pandemic. As such, the current need for professionals equipped to address mental and spiritual health has risen in the past many months, and likely will continue to rise as people continue to make sense of and come to terms with ongoing and new challenges. In addition, the need for switching to "telehealth" modalities for providing these services has increased both their popularity and familiarity for professionals and lay folk alike. This has enhanced access in ways that may persist for years to come, if not permanently augmented the means by which individuals can engage in such supportive services.
What Mental Health Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.: Focusing on telehealth training could increase one's job options. Many workshops exist through various professional organizations tied to mental and spiritual health (ACA, APA, ACPE, SPT, PESI, etc.). If the student is interested in specialized certification (such as EMDR, DBT, etc.), they can also pursue those additional trainings during this time.
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Baltimore
Division of Applied Behavioral Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Associate job market given the pandemic?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental health counselors is projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, which is much greater than the average for all occupations. The pandemic has greatly affected the mental health of Americans due to the necessity to quarantine and/or keep a safe distance from others. Human beings are social by nature. Thus, social isolation can significantly impact stress levels and mental health. Additional ways that the pandemic has negatively affected mental health is via job loss as well as creating increased responsibilities for people while working virtually such as caring for children engaged in distance learning, or caring for the elderly. The aforementioned situations can be challenging and create stress for individuals, especially if they are unable to engage in appropriate self-care, or positive ways of coping in response to the new stresses in their lives. As such, my prediction is that there will be an even greater demand for mental health services due to the pandemic, consequently resulting in a greater need for mental health professionals.
What Mental Health Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: If a recent college graduate decides to take a gap year between their undergraduate studies and starting a master's program in Counseling Psychology, my advice would be to try their best to be exposed to or engage in either 1) experiences in the field of mental health, or 2) experiences that will strengthen their social science research skills. Engaging in these types of experiences such as working as an administrative assistant in a private practice, or volunteering on a psychiatric unit at a hospital will provide greater exposure to the field of mental health and hopefully, help the graduate determine if entering the mental health field would be the right fit for their career expectations, goals, and values.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Associate?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: General advice I would give to a graduate in the field of counseling psychology beginning their career is to be flexible and open minded, especially during these unprecedented times due to the pandemic. Being open to providing mental health services in a variety of formats such as virtual or hybrid (combining virtual, and in-person services) will allow for greater flexibility in providing services to clients. Career development and career satisfaction is an ongoing process. Therefore, I would also encourage graduates to continually evaluate and assess their careers to determine if their current position is still the best fit for their career values, needs, and goals.
What type of skills will young Mental Health Associates need?
Edward Dunbar: Additionally, new graduates will need knowledge and skills in telehealth, integrative care and medicine, trauma, and case management. Whereas prior to the pandemic students had limited knowledge of the importance of client case management, the pandemic has required students to learn about community resources and helping clients with concrete short term goals.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Associates?
Edward Dunbar: Yes. Prior to this pandemic our graduates had little to no training in telehealth (distance-based counseling), and there was a steep learning curve for people who graduated and entered the field prior to the pandemic. For our current students, we have been able to assist them with developing the skills for multiple modes of counseling (telehealth, in person counseling, etc.). Additionally, the increase in mental health issues, addiction issues, domestic violence, and unemployment will affect our graduating students for years. They will need to be well-versed in treating higher acuity issues and helping clients from low SES. The pandemic has also highlighted the social systems and systemic injustice/racism which has made our students look more closely at the role of power/privilege and oppression in addictions and mental health counseling.
What experience really stands out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Edward Dunbar: Crisis counseling, suicide prevention training, and case management
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Associates?
Dr. Amy Evans: The pandemic certainly will have lasting impact on graduates in counseling, as we will see shifting expectations related to training and experience with telemental health for all counselors. Additionally, there is the impact on mental health of so many because of the pandemic across the world, including grief and loss, depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug concerns, as well as many other mental health concerns individuals may be experiencing. There continues to be a strong and growing need for counselors! Mental health counseling will continue to see growth in relation to job prospects for many years to come.
What type of skills will young Mental Health Associates need?
Dr. Amy Evans: Graduates in counseling will find experience with telemental health as well as diversity as highly important for counselors entering the field. If an individual does not have specific experience working with those different than them, showing additional training in diversity and multicultural competence shows the desire to learn!
What experience really stands out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Dr. Amy Evans: What tends to stand out for applicants is often a variety of experiences. Showing one's experience with both group and individual counseling as well as any crisis intervention work helps to highlight skills the counselor may have developed. Volunteer experience that shows the passion a counselor might have for advocacy is also helpful. Carefully crafted resumes that show one's fit for the particular job is always important!
Grace Palmisano
Lancaster Bible College
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Associate job market given the pandemic?
Grace Palmisano: Since the pandemic started, mental health concerns have skyrocketed as the pandemic disrupted the regularity of peoples' social and work lives. There is an increase of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, addictions, and sadly suicides during the pandemic as people encounter loneliness, social isolation/distancing, loss of loved ones, unemployment, financial struggles, etc. Because of this, more people are seeking mental health services to help them cope through this pandemic.
So job opportunities in the mental health field will steadily increase as the need for mental health services have increased, even for therapists themselves. It is a strange time for therapists to also share similar experiences and stresses as the client when it comes to the pandemic. Because of that, there is additional stress for therapists to care for their own mental health needs while supporting their clients'. The complications are that most mental health positions do require formal education and training, which can slow the process down. Nevertheless, there are training opportunities in communities that seek to provide first-aid mental health training to the community just to be informed and even just know the "basics."
What skills stand out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Grace Palmisano: For those seeking mental health fields, skills that stand out on resumes: possess strong self-awareness and emotional stability, critical thinking, interpersonal/relational skills, communication skills, problem-solving, creativity, and genuine interest and concern for humanity. Some of these skills can be developed, but other skills are a "must-have" even before entering into the field of mental health as one is working with all kinds of people. Carl Rogers shares that counselors ought to possess and demonstrate qualities of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruency. These are essential ingredients that make a therapist effective in the field and helps build therapeutic alliance. More importantly what clients innately want in therapy is not just a "clinical expert" but a human being who relates and understands them as a human person.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Mental Health Associates to find work opportunities?
Grace Palmisano: Check out major counseling agencies in your areas as most public agencies have the ability and capacity to hire new therapists, straight from graduate school. Through counseling agencies, you have opportunities for training, professional development, and clinical supervision which is needed for the licensure process. Positions in family-based services, mobile therapy, or drug and alcohol areas are great launching pads for unlicensed therapist who seek to work their way up to obtain their LPC and hopefully go into private practice. Other places are behavioral hospitals which will give you a plethora of clinical experience of seeing variety of diagnoses first-hand. You can also check some of private counseling offices in the area if they are willing to take on new graduates. Just be mindful, that a variety of clients may be limited due to insurance and going through private practices often starts out slow as it takes time to build caseloads and professional reputation.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Associate job market given the pandemic?
Michael Kiener Ph.D.: The pandemic accelerated the use of telehealth services. Rehabilitation counselors with advanced technology skills as well as knowledge of ethical and legal issues regarding telehealth will have an advantage in the job market. Supervisors that have a skill set to onboard and mentor employees virtually will also have an advantage. Agencies that provide crisis counseling may also experience an increased demand for counselors.
What skills stand out on Mental Health Associate resumes?
Michael Kiener Ph.D.: Regardless if you are counseling in person or virtually effective professionals will need to develop empathetic therapeutic relationships with their clients. Rehabilitation counselors that have experience working with post-traumatic stress and other forms of trauma will be highly valuable. The increased use of working remotely will require individuals to develop new technology skills and rehabilitation counselors who can work independently will be successful. Finally, volunteering, participation in professional organizations, and internships will help make individuals stand out when applying for jobs.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Mental Health Associates to find work opportunities?
Michael Kiener Ph.D.: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there is a need for over 12,000 more rehabilitation counselors nationwide and the growth in the profession is faster than the average of all occupations. The pandemic will only add to this demand. Rehabilitation counselors have the unique scope of practice to provide both mental health and vocational counseling. Areas of the country that experienced high unemployment rates could benefit from rehabilitation counselors helping displaced workers find new employment or transition to new careers. Moreover, rehabilitation counselors could provide mental health counseling to front line workers who have been managing the pandemic since March.