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Job outlook for mental health consultants in the United States
Are mental health consultant jobs in demand?
Mental health consultant job and salary trends over time
Mental health consultant jobs over time
Mental health consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,640 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,683 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,697 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,682 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,614 | 0.00% |
Average mental health consultant salary over time
Mental health consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $51,006 | $24.52 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $48,839 | $23.48 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $46,944 | $22.57 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $45,280 | $21.77 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $44,704 | $21.49 | +1.3% |
Mental health consultant jobs by state
Most common states for mental health consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,403 | 50% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 293 | 42% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 315 | 36% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 190 | 30% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,460 | 26% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 350 | 26% |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 985 | 25% |
| 8 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,178 | 24% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,475 | 22% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 377 | 22% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 165 | 22% |
| 12 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 163 | 22% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,248 | 21% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 660 | 21% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 287 | 21% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 227 | 21% |
| 17 | Delaware | 961,939 | 206 | 21% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,925 | 19% |
| 19 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,569 | 19% |
| 20 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,065 | 19% |
Most common cities for mental health consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgewater | 3 | 11% | $41,430 |
| 2 | Andover | 1 | 3% | $39,032 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $56,066 |
| 4 | Juneau | 1 | 3% | $69,802 |
| 5 | Keizer | 1 | 3% | $62,163 |
| 6 | Daytona Beach | 1 | 2% | $49,053 |
| 7 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $53,958 |
| 8 | Carmel | 1 | 1% | $45,874 |
| 9 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $56,829 |
| 10 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $49,404 |
| 11 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $40,113 |
| 12 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $54,327 |
| 13 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $53,839 |
| 14 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $51,792 |
| 15 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $43,676 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $45,776 |
| 17 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $73,886 |
Mental Health Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of mental health consultant experts
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
California State University - Dominguez Hills
Wake Forest University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
San Diego State University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
University of North Dakota
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sea Mar Community Health Centers
Bay Path University
Montclair State University
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Neumann University
YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne
Tuskegee University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Nazareth College of Rochester
The University of Alabama
Van Whaley DC, EdD
Assistant Professor-in-ResidenceUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Nutrition Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Consultant?
Van Whaley DC, EdD: Specificity in training or certifications definitely can increase someone's salary potential. Also, there is a wide variety of jobs (and pay rates) within most fields. Someone in private practice may make two times more than someone with the same credentials working at a non-profit. However, those two would have very different experiences and demands in their work demands.
What Mental Health Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Van Whaley DC, EdD: Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) is a vital part of so many healthcare and human-performance fields. Understanding how our bodies work creates better therapists, nurses, doctors, experts, trainers, and more understanding people. We all have friends and family members who face health issues - diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, autoimmune conditions, hormone/chemical imbalances, arthritis, etc. Learning A&P helps us to help others, including being a health advocate for loved ones.
Dr. Shari DeVeney Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Graduate Program Chair, Department of Special Education & Communication DisordersOmaha
Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
What will help Mental Health Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Shari DeVeney Ph.D., CCC-SLP: For new graduates entering the workforce in health and wellness fields, there are a number of important aspects to be mindful of that could help you find success in your new career. Namely, I would encourage you to commit yourself to continued education. Create good habits early for staying current on the latest research and evidence-based practices in your field by seeking out professional development opportunities (e.g., attending conferences and seminars, participating in organizational workshops, etc.), particularly in content areas relevant to your new position. Further, networking and professional relationship building is key. Making connections to others in your field can provide you with valuable insights, mentorship, and even career advancement opportunities. Finally, be sure to take some time for yourself. Starting a new career is challenging and can feel all-consuming at times. Be sure to make time for activities that allow you to feel recharged. This will help you prevent burnout and maintain your own physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing as you embark on your new professional adventure.
Phu Phan MSW, Ph.D.
Professor and ChairCalifornia State University - Dominguez Hills
Human Services
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Consultant?
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 Consultants 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.
What will help Mental Health Consultants 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.
Ted Eaves
Associate teaching professorWake Forest University
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Consultant?
Ted Eaves: For general advice for graduates with a degree in Kinesiology, I would suggest finding an area that you are passionate about. There are a lot of different directions that graduates can take after school such as health care, research, clinical applications, behavioral medicine, pharmaceutical/device sales, and insurance or other business related programs.
What Mental Health Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ted Eaves: I think as far as skills are concerned, all graduates need to have the basic knowledge and ability to use that knowledge to help their patients/clients; however, the interpersonal skills are the ones that will be the most important moving forward. Caring/compassionate care is essential, empathy and listening skills help you relate to your patients/clients, and cultural competency is a big emphasis now. Communication and collaboration among constituent groups is also really important if going into health care. Taking care of patients requires an entire team of professionals and being able to interact with these different groups is going to be crucial to offering the best care possible.
Pamela Teaster Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Center for GerontologyVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department of Human Development and Family
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Consultants?
Pamela Teaster Ph.D.: Possibly. Surely there is an impact on the ability of some students to be hired post-graduation. Some students who had positions lined up in the early spring found themselves without a position due to companies/academia/government halting hiring and work. This circumstance has the unfortunate effect of delaying graduates' entry into the job market and of putting them in competition with students who will be entering the job market in 2020. Students who have interests in fields that have a direct, as well as the indirect relationship to healthcare and public health, could find that their skills are in high demand, now and post-COVID.
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorSan Diego State University
School of Social Work
What skills stand out on Mental Health Consultant 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 Consultants possess?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Soft skills that are essential for counselors include emotional intelligence, empathy, multicultural competency, interpersonal abilities, and authenticity.
Isaac Karikari Ph.D.
MSW Program Director, Chemical Dependency Minor, Assistant ProfessorUniversity of North Dakota
Department of Social Work
What soft skills should all Mental Health Consultants possess?
Isaac Karikari Ph.D.: By default, social work practice is integrative. The levels of practice, broadly speaking, the micro-and macro-levels, intersect in ways that may not always be apparent. The capacity for critical and analytical thinking in identifying the nuances, seeing how these levels intersect, and understanding the implications for clients is essential for effective practice.
Relatedly, social work practice involves working with a diverse array of people across different systems and levels. A social worker needs to be able to navigate these systems. Systems thinking and the person-in-environment perspective are relevant.
Good interpersonal and communication skills are essential in helping one build and make the needed connections. These skills apply across the micro and macro levels.
The capacity to work collaboratively and with interdisciplinary teams is important. Other skills include genuinely demonstrating respect, empathy, reliability, integrity, and adaptability. Forbearance and emotional intelligence are often understated.
Social workers also need to have grit. Achieving and maintaining successful outcomes can be challenging.
What skills will help Mental Health Consultants earn the most?
Isaac Karikari Ph.D.: -Versatility and the ability to adapt are important.
In this regard, there should be a commitment to lifelong learning and engaging opportunities for growth and development.
-Creativity and problem-solving
-Critical thinking/Analytical skills
-Leadership
There is the interplay and cumulative effect of skills, experience, and time. Those who refine their skills and acquire diverse experiences over time stand to earn more.
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
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Consultants?
Dr. Christopher Shelton Ph.D.: Yes, there will be an enduring impact on psychology graduates, as a result of the pandemic. The pandemic is certainly helping to increase public awareness surrounding the importance of mental health and wellbeing. During the pandemic, we are facing troubling mental health trends. Namely, a significant rise in mental health concerns across the country. This is problematic on many fronts, but in the context of employment, it is widening the gap between the supply of mental health practitioners and the increasing demand for mental health services. Even pre-pandemic, our ability to meet the increasing mental health demands was lacking, with many places across the US being classified as Health Professional Shortage Areas by the US Department of Health & Human Services. Simply put, there are not enough mental health practitioners in the US to meet the current need. Given, the sharp rise in mental health concerns due to the pandemic, it is likely that there will continue to be a significant need for psychology graduates interested in mental health professions over the next decade.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Mental Health Consultants?
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.
What will help Mental Health Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Christopher Shelton Ph.D.: There are several methods that are particularly effective in significantly increasing earning potential. First, seeking additional post-baccalaureate training at either the master or doctoral level. Second, completing trainings with various organizations that result in certificates denoting a specialty in a particular area. Third, working towards and gaining national board certification. Lastly, gaining experience in developing or providing remote mental health services. The pandemic has created a significant shift in the mode of service delivery for those seeking to address their mental health needs. Due to factors such as social distancing requirements, many mental health services during the pandemic have shifted to a virtual, online modality. It is likely that demand for virtual treatments will remain elevated, even post-pandemic. Thus, graduates who have familiarity and expertise in providing telehealth will be better equipped to differentiate themselves from other mental health practitioners.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Lisa Corbin Ph.D.: Before COVID, the mental health job market was due to grow by 23% between 2016 and 2023; projections are not surpassing that former prediction.
Trends in Mental Health: I believe we will start to see more job postings for online/remote counselors. Many mental health organizations realized they can effectively provide mental health services using technological domains. This will likely affect ethical codes and insurance coverages for both the clinician and the client.
(I have a SMALL private practice) and many of my colleagues are reporting a serious increase in requests for mental health services over the past year. We also know that is a 93% increase in anxiety screenings and that 8 in 10 of these people who took an assessment scored moderate to severe in their anxiety symptoms. The same goes for depression. There was a 62% increase in depression screenings and an increase in suicidal ideation. The people most at risk from the fallout of the pandemic are those in vulnerable communities and these are often folks who are uninsured. Therefore, I predict we will see an increase in mental health services for people of lower SES.
There is also a trend for counselors of color to be more diligent in serving black and brown communities. This movement will hopefully help people of color obtain services from people who look like them and understand the complexities of being a person of color. I also believe it may help demystify counseling and negate any negative stereotypes from seeking mental health services for people of color.
I believe the stress of a pandemic has highlighted the need for people to engage in self-care practices. I believe we will start to see more self-care activities embedded into the workplace and schools.
Unfortunately, I believe we will also see an uptick in grief services. Not having an opportunity to be with loved ones in their final moments or to hold death rituals / ceremonies adds an extra layer of complexity to grief.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Mental Health Consultants?
Lisa Corbin Ph.D.: I would suggest graduating clinicians attend a training on how to deliver clinical services in an online fashion.
I would also suggest attending a training on grief. Grief is an ever-changing process and requires a specialized approach.
I also believe having a training on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy would be highly marketable since CBT is cost-effective, timely, and evidenced based. Many insurance companies and organizations are looking to serve the masses; CBT can often do that.
In line with what I shared above, I would also suggest clinicians not only engage in self-care themselves, but also pick up a specific coping skill that they can teach to others since self-care is likely going to be embedded into schools and workplaces.
How have salaries changed over time for Mental Health Consultants?
Lisa Corbin Ph.D.: Starting salary for a counselor is between $35,000 and 60,000.
While there may be a need to fill clinical positions, it is a hard sell to invite people into the counseling profession considering students need a bachelors and masters degree and the return on investment is fairly low. However, there are numerous federal programs for loan repayment. Many loan repayment programs help clinicians who are often working at non-profit organizations pay back loans within ten years and payments are based upon the graduate's income. Also, a counselor often has a flexible work schedule and experiences feelings of fulfillment from helping others. Counselor positions vary from working in community mental health, to being a consultant, to working in a private practice (in which the salary is much higher than 60,000), to working for a correctional facility, to human resources, to the armed forces, etc. There is a lot you can do with the degree and the skills you learn while attending graduate school.
I believe with the field being more recognized that salaries may increase.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Vanna Kong: In my opinion. I think that the changes that were made during the pandemic will be here to stay. Telemedicine technology and practices are now a part of normal clinical operations. An example that before COVID all of our appointments were here at the clinic in person. Now we offer telemedicine appointments to all of our patients and they get to choose on how they would they want to be seen by our providers.The biggest growth that I believe will occur in the job market is areas in IT security, language services, and health care staffing.
What soft skills should all Mental Health Consultants possess?
Vanna Kong: Soft skills that I believe are important for new graduates are to be open to changes. The reason why I say that is because during COVID, I had to implement many changes to the way we do our normal clinic processes. It was a struggle to get staff to buy into these new changes but I had to remind everyone that the overall focus was to ensure that patients and staff risks to COVID was minimize as much as possible during a visit.
How have salaries changed over time for Mental Health Consultants?
Vanna Kong: I think that salaries will be based on an individual education and professional background. It is a lot harder nowadays to obtain a higher-paying job without a trade skill or education background. My professional background includes over 20 years in health care and an MBA degree that I obtain a year ago. Without having an MBA, I don't think that I wouldn't have the opportunity to be here in my current role.
Suzanne Gile
Adjunct professorBay Path University
Clinical mental health counseling, developmental psychology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Suzanne Gile: The pandemic has led to an explosion of telehealth options. Prior to the pandemic, most clinicians did not offer telehealth as an option. I myself would never have considered it because it felt so impersonal. But being forced into telehealth has been a good thing. We are able to provide services to homebound clients, clients with transportation issues or clients who have moved farther away from the office location. I believe as we move forward from this pandemic we will see more clinicians continue to offer this option. Telehealth will increase access to services.
Please note that all telehealth services must follow your state's licensure requirements.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Consultants?
Dr. Michael Hannon Ph.D.: I definitely think there will be an enduring impact of the pandemic on graduates. Among the most immediate effects include how graduates - like all of us - have had to reconcile our experiences with it. We've all been touched by COVID-19 by having suffered from it directly or because people in our families and communities have been affected. It has been nothing short of traumatic. What the pandemic has required our newest graduates to do is harness a level of creativity, patience, empathy, and responsiveness that may not have occurred otherwise. New graduates have had practice - through their fieldwork experiences - helping their students and other members of the school community providing school counseling services virtually. They have done this by delivering classroom lessons, providing short-term individual and group counseling, responding to student and family crises while being sensible and flexible enough to know they have less environmental control than they've ever had in the past.
Another enduring impact of the virus for school counseling graduates is how crystal clear the pandemic has wreaked havoc on communities differently. All counselors - school counselors included - are consistently challenged to identify, articulate, and take action to disrupt inequities for students and their families. New graduates have an opportunity to advocate for justice as we all bear witness to how families and students are underserved, which many times is predictable by socioeconomic status, native language, race, and ethnicity. For new graduates serving students in disinvested communities, they will have a unique set of challenges to confront and will have to decide how much they will help create policies and organizational routines that help reduce disparities in levels of care and educational opportunities.
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorNeumann University
Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Consultant 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 Consultant 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.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Consultant?
Timothy Hanna Ph.D.: Practice, practice, practice, and supervision, supervision, supervision! Many health fields require internships and supervised hours between graduation and official licensure or certification. If you’re not able to find a paid position, take whatever position you can find that offers you quality access to clientele and on-site supervision. Keep looking for paid positions in the meantime, and/or get involved in a peer supervision group to learn from others’ cases and experiences as well. The actual practice and supervisory feedback is where we cement our skills and solidify our professional identity.
Nicole Hansen
Director of Mission AdvancementYMCA of Greater Fort Wayne
What experience really stands out on Mental Health Consultant resumes?
Nicole Hansen: Experience that stands out on a resume is that which aligns to the job being applied for. For example, listing child care and tutoring experience are good if applying for a teaching position. If the job being applied for requires independence, list jobs that included that skill. If your work experience was volunteer or unpaid but relates to the job being sought, list that too. Any experience that can be tied into the job you want puts you ahead of the candidate with no experience. It's also important to list certifications or licenses that are relevant to the job, such as CPR and First Aid.
What type of skills will young Mental Health Consultants need?
Dr. April Jones: In society, we have always known the individuals need hard and soft skills to function well in the workplace. It's often known as employability skills. Over time, emotional intelligence was another skill noted to have to work in the workplace. For social worker graduates, at entry-level to the workforce, in the coming years there may be new skillsets needed beyond the traditional knowledge of social work competencies and code of ethics, analytic and critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, communication and problem-solving skills, team/group work, how to apply theory to methods of practice, etc. if COVID 19 pandemic sets a new norm or norm that will continue post an epidemic.
Technology use and application will bring a need for more tech-savvy graduates to interact with humans via videoconference, Bot chats, AR/VR therapy applications, communicating with symbols (e.g., memes, GIFs, emojis), Artificial Intelligence for best practices of assessment, interventions, or diagnosis, and much more. I can see more training on cultural awareness and various technology applications and etiquette.
This opens an excellent time for research and development of technology use in the social work as well. Skills that will be important are time management, self-management, and multi-tasking in a digital world. Information overload and faster communication processing must be balanced for graduates and their future clients. It appears an integration of current and new skills will need to be apart of a young graduate's toolbox to meet the workforce demands and to have a competitive advantage.
How do you envision technology impacting Mental Health Consultants in the next 5 years?
Dr. April Jones: This is a great question; it's hard to tell, the virus is so new and discovered each day by scientists and social science practitioners. We know currently, that the virus has after-effects to the human body that may affect the mental, physical, and emotional response of individuals who may need social services from social work practitioners. Suppose mental health, suicide, and health conditions are on the rise now. In that case, it can take some time to recover, and that's where an enduring impact of the coronavirus has an effect on graduates' knowledge base for client services in an array of settings.
What type of skills will young Mental Health Consultants need?
Brian Ogolsky Ph.D.: Critical thinking skills are crucial in science disciplines. Graduates need to be the right consumers of research because there is a lot of false information floating around. They need to be able to understand and critique science, methods, and data. Independence and creativity are also crucial. Employees are becoming more dependent on specific guidelines, tasks, and directives, but to thrive and move up the ranks, it is critical to come up with new and exciting ideas and take risks.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Mental Health Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Leanne Charlesworth Ph.D.: It appears that Zoom and telehealth will become more dominant in professional settings and practice in the next few years. Also, virtually all documentation and recording systems have shifted or are shifting to increasingly sophisticated electronic platforms.
Javonda Williams Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Educational Programs and Student Services and Associate ProfessorThe University of Alabama
School of Social Work
How do you envision technology impacting Mental Health Consultants in the next 5 years?
Javonda Williams Ph.D.: I think there will be enduring issues with the health disparities and poverty created by the pandemic.