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Job outlook for mental health professionals in the United States
Mental health professional job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected mental health professional job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 64,000 new jobs for mental health professionals are projected over the next decade.
Mental health professional salaries have increased 14% for mental health professionals in the last 5 years.
There are over 37,111 mental health professionals currently employed in the United States.
There are 109,499 active mental health professional job openings in the US.
The average mental health professional salary is $49,119.
Are mental health professional jobs in demand?
Mental health professional job and salary trends over time
Mental health professional jobs over time
Mental health professional job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,111 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 37,381 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 37,514 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 36,397 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 34,472 | 0.01% |
Average mental health professional salary over time
Mental health professional salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $49,119 | $23.62 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $47,032 | $22.61 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $45,207 | $21.73 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $43,604 | $20.96 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $43,050 | $20.70 | +1.3% |
Mental health professional jobs by state
Most common states for mental health professionals
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,971 | 43% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 274 | 39% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,074 | 37% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 256 | 34% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 209 | 34% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 322 | 33% |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,940 | 29% |
| 8 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 385 | 29% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 207 | 28% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,974 | 27% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 858 | 27% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 282 | 27% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 150 | 26% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,489 | 25% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 216 | 25% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,327 | 23% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,300 | 23% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 435 | 23% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 396 | 23% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 304 | 23% |
Most common cities for mental health professionals
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseville | 2 | 6% | $56,715 |
| 2 | Cupertino | 3 | 5% | $89,683 |
| 3 | Campbell | 2 | 5% | $89,644 |
| 4 | Rock Island | 2 | 5% | $49,865 |
| 5 | Richmond | 3 | 3% | $89,400 |
| 6 | San Rafael | 2 | 3% | $89,545 |
| 7 | Roseville | 2 | 2% | $87,390 |
| 8 | Alexandria | 1 | 2% | $42,776 |
| 9 | Minneapolis | 4 | 1% | $56,711 |
| 10 | Columbus | 2 | 1% | $45,896 |
| 11 | Alameda | 1 | 1% | $89,473 |
| 12 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $50,165 |
| 13 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $53,394 |
| 14 | Oakland | 2 | 0% | $89,452 |
| 15 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $87,826 |
Mental Health Professional job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of mental health professional experts
Ohio State University
Baruch College of the City University of New York
Western Illinois University
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Ohio University
Colorado State University - Pueblo
Northeastern Illinois University
Oberlin College
College of Saint Scholastica
Florida Institute of Technology
University of Alaska Anchorage
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
University of Indianapolis
Campbellsville University
Rhode Island College
Lindsey Nichols
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
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 Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lindsey Nichols: Trauma skills will continue to be a major focus as our society continues to drastically change. Technology and being fluent working with someone using some type of technology will be increasingly important. Although they are foundational skills of counselors, flexibility, empathy, openness along with your ability to be reflective of yourself and others (aka a good listener) are important in the field. Of course there is much to counseling, and the learning process never ends!
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Lindsey Nichols: Usually people interested in counseling are not thinking about money, but with rising costs, home prices, daycare etc. making sure you are diligent about knowing counseling rates it the area you want to live and work is the first thing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great tool to give you a foundation and making connections with fellow counselors in your area. Starting your career, if you are preparing to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in your state (specialties like school counseling don't require additional training upon graduation, but you have to confirm you have met requirements from the state Department of Education.) you will have to do additional training and supervision. Once you become an LPC, opportunities open up like choices to go into private practice etc., it is a long process, but for most, it goes by quickly!
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: Most people find social work to be incredibly rewarding, knowing that you are a facilitator of positive change, whether be within an individual, organization, or at a larger community or societal level. For many, being able to help people reach their full capacity is fulfilling. The amount of documentation we must complete in clinical settings is often what is liked the least.
What Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: The need for social workers is high, particularly after the pandemic. A shortage of social workers means that there's an increasing demand in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics social work jobs are expected to increase 13% between 2020 and 2030.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: For clinical positions, which is what most social workers do, daily tasks typically include conducting assessments and providing individual, family, and/or group therapy to children and/or adults, while collaborating with other providers working with the client. There is also daily clinical documentation that needs to be completed.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Elizabeth List PsyD: It ultimately depends on what the graduate is interested in pursuing. I often tell students that the best and most challenging aspect of psychology is its vast scope. The field offers a multitude of career paths, which can be both exciting and overwhelming. For those who are unsure of their direction, I advise reflecting on what excites them and what they are passionate about. If you find fulfillment in listening to and supporting others through difficult times, you might consider a career in counseling. If you enjoy working with children, becoming a school counselor or school psychologist could be a great fit. The field of psychology extends to the criminal justice system, business, sports, and even video game and tech development. My best advice is to follow your passions. Your psychology degree is an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers. While many career paths may require additional education, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of your goals before committing to further schooling. A psychology major equips you with valuable employment skills such as critical thinking, understanding others, embracing diversity, self-awareness, mental flexibility, and self-discipline—qualities that are highly sought after by employers.
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorOhio State University
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.: The best way to maximize your salary potential is to do your homework. Start with self-awareness. What can and will you be able to contribute to the organization that will help the organization achieve their goals. Be able to “sell” your strengths, fit with the position, and areas for future growth. It is important to have realistic salary expectations while also sharpen your negotiation skills. Research to find out what are people in similar positions making in your community.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
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 Professional 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.
What will help Mental Health Professionals 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 general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Timothy Aubry: I don’t think people should try to maximize their salary potential. I think graduates should find a salary they can live on and prioritize finding a fulfilling job. If their primary concern is money, they are seeing the job as a means to something else, and the money itself is just a means to some other kind of satisfaction. They’ll be unhappy at work and try to make up for it by buying things they probably won’t have any time to enjoy—justifying the miserable job they have. I’d suggest finding a job that is not just a means to an end, but that allows you to feel happy while you are working, fulfilled in what you are doing. In that kind of situation, as long as you can pay the bills, you won’t care as much whether you’re making more than your neighbors and your friends, since you won’t be measuring the value of your life by how much money you make.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Timothy Aubry: Try to think about what kind of job would be fulfilling and would allow you to do meaningful work that helps other people and not just think about what job will make the most money. Once you’ve decided on a field, be tireless and relentless in your search. Keep sending out cover letters, keep following up, keep trying. Don’t take rejections personally. It’s a hard market, and you have to search exhaustively in order to find a job that will truly make you happy.
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 Professional?
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 Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC: Education and Credentials: Obtain relevant certifications and advanced degrees in counseling or related fields. Specializations or additional training in areas such as trauma therapy, substance abuse counseling, or marriage and family therapy can increase your market value. Gain Experience: Seek opportunities to gain practical experience through internships, volunteer work, or entry-level positions. Building a strong track record of successful counseling outcomes and client satisfaction can lead to higher-paying roles. Specialize: Consider specializing in a niche area within counseling, such as working with specific populations (e.g., children, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals) or focusing on particular issues (e.g., trauma, addiction, grief counseling). Specialization often commands higher salaries due to the specialized expertise required. Stay Current: Stay updated with industry trends, research, and best practices in counseling. Attend conferences, workshops, and continuing education programs to enhance your knowledge and skills, making you more valuable to employers. Negotiate Skillfully: When negotiating salary with potential employers, research industry standards and average salaries for your role and location. Highlight your qualifications, experience, and unique skills during negotiations. Be confident, but also realistic and flexible in your salary expectations. Explore Different Settings: Consider working in different settings such as private practice, community mental health centers, schools, hospitals, or corporate counseling programs. Each setting may offer different salary structures and opportunities for advancement. Build a Reputation: Develop a strong professional reputation by delivering quality counseling services, building positive relationships with clients and colleagues, and receiving positive feedback and referrals. A good reputation can lead to increased demand for your services and potentially higher fees. Network and Market Yourself: Network with other professionals in the counseling field, join professional organizations, and promote your services effectively. Building a strong professional network and marketing yourself can lead to new opportunities, higher-paying clients, and consulting or speaking engagements. Consider Additional Income Streams: Explore opportunities for additional income streams such as offering workshops, writing articles or books, providing supervision or consulting services, or teaching courses related to counseling.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC: In the evolving field of counseling, several skills are likely to become even more important e in the coming years. Firstly, digital literacy and proficiency in utilizing technology for counseling services will become increasingly important. As more counseling sessions move online or incorporate digital tools, counselors will need to adapt and leverage these technologies effectively while maintaining client confidentiality and ethical standards. Secondly, a deep understanding of trauma-informed care and techniques will be crucial. With growing awareness about trauma's impact on mental health, counselors must be equipped to provide trauma-informed interventions and create safe therapeutic spaces for clients who have experienced trauma. Cultural competence and diversity awareness will continue to be essential skills for counselors. As our societies become more diverse, counselors must be able to work effectively with clients from various cultural backgrounds, respecting their beliefs, values, and identities. Additionally, skills related to teletherapy and remote counseling will likely become more prevalent. Counselors will need to excel in building therapeutic rapport and conducting effective counseling sessions through virtual platforms, ensuring continuity of care for clients regardless of geographical constraints. Lastly, skills in advocacy and collaboration within interdisciplinary teams will be increasingly valuable. Counselors may need to advocate for policy changes, mental health resources, and equitable access to services. Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, social workers, and community organizations will enhance holistic care for clients.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Dr. Timmesha Butler-Davis PhD, LCSW: Social work encompasses a vast array of roles, making it challenging to pinpoint a specific day-to-day function. Social workers operate in a generalist capacity, providing direct services like therapy, case management, or client advocacy. Alternatively, they may engage in macro-level activities such as policy advocacy, organizational leadership, or education. A typical day might involve individual client sessions, documenting clinical notes, planning therapeutic interventions, or advocating on Capitol Hill. At its essence, social work strives to challenge social injustices and foster a more equitable society.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Jennifer Shadik: Social work can be a challenging profession. We are often helping people who have experienced trauma or are going through extremely difficult situations. We are there to help them navigate these challenges, while building on their strengths and resources. Helping people through these challenging circumstances and seeing them grow and change is very rewarding. Building relationships with people, helping them learn new knowledge and skills, and advocating for social and economic justice are gratifying aspects of being a social worker.
What Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Social workers are trained to understand and intervene on three levels—micro (individuals and families), mezzo (formal groups and organizations) and macro (community and the broader society). Given the challenges currently taking place nationally and internationally such as poverty, immigration, abortion controversy, societal racism/discrimination and the war in the middle east, social workers are trained to intervene and advocate for change on a variety of system levels.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Social workers employed in a variety of diverse settings to include prisons, hospitals, child welfare, homeless shelters, nursing homes, substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, community organizations and politics (and there are many, many more settings). The setting and the population of clients the social workers assist (children, youth, adults, etc.) will determine the specific day-to-day workload. However, general daily tasks completed regardless of the setting include interacting with clients/community constituents, responding to phone calls/e-mails, problem-solving, teamwork within the organization employed and/or with community constituents and documentation. Social workers entering the profession have fulfilled placement work during their educational training. Meaning, prior to graduation they have been placed in an agency working under the supervision of a social worker applying what they have learned in their coursework. As a result, when they begin their work as a social worker, they are ready to apply the knowledge, values and the skills they have learned to fulfill the tasks mentioned above.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
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 Professional 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 will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Dr. Pamela Fullerton: I think having diverse experiences in the field will be helpful when trying to make yourself stand out from the crowd of other clinicians. I also think adding specialty training and certifications to your resume may help in maximizing salary potential.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Nancy Kelley PhD: The next 3-5 years may see some changes that will require certain skills to be even more important and prevalent in social work practice than ever before. One of the most pressing challenges social workers are currently facing is the extremely contentious political environment of the United States and the direct impact that has on equity and justice issues that have always been at the root of all social work efforts. The divisiveness that has been exacerbated in this country over the past several years has stifled social welfare policy efforts and has threatened social work education to effectively address longstanding and emerging social issues. Social workers will need to be especially adept at negotiating conflict embedded in divisive concepts and highly skilled to effect legislative change. This, combined with other unprecedented demographic and cultural changes, such as the aging of our population, increased cultural diversity and intersectionality within the U.S. population, and health and mental health crises, including illicit drug and addiction epidemics, make for extremely complex cases of vulnerable populations social workers serve. The level of knowledge and skill social workers must acquire and activate simultaneously, including trauma-informed approaches to be used cross-culturally, is immense. Another major need for advanced social work skills is with regard to the environment, including the effects of climate change on human conditions, and environmental justice. Some of these significant changes to the landscape of social work practice will force social workers to beef up their interprofessional and macro-practice skills. Lastly, I think the great unknown is related to technology--how to manage the digital ethics at the speed of technological advances will be essential to the field of social work.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Nancy Darling: Students with degrees in Psychology have a terrific balance of liberal arts skills. They have strong quantitative skills, write and speak well, have strong training in analytic thinking, and know how to work with people. Because of this training they go into many different fields. We have students entering business who go into marketing. Other students have a more clinical or developmental focus and work with children in after school programs, as teachers’ aids, or provide services to people with autism or developmental disabilities. Many of our students go into research. They collect data, organize and present analyses, and work with teams of scientists in fields from cognitive science to nursing or medicine. Recently, many students have gone on to get further training in both public health and designing good user interfaces for phones, tablets and computers. Psychology is a huge field. Our students go on to many different things. What our students DON’T do is go directly into providing what many people think of as the bread and butter of psychology - counseling, psychiatry or clinical psychology. Those fields require advanced graduate training that isn’t offered at the undergraduate level.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michele Sneed DSW, LGSW: The concern frequently voiced by social workers is the documentation aspect of their work. While acknowledging its crucial role in accountability and transparency, social workers often find documentation to be time-consuming and tedious. This stems from the perception that excessive time spent on paperwork detracts from the meaningful interactions they could be having with the individuals and communities they serve.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: Be attuned to your values, passion, skills, and abilities, and also to what market values.
What Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: I believe multiple language and cultural knowledges and experiences are great assets to have, and also to integrate human specific and technology integration with the mental health field, by also considering ethics, culture, and humane relevancy. Neuropsychology is also a developing field and integration with mental health treatment is increasing.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: In the mental health field I believe it is the interaction between humans and technology, particular to the advance of AI. Also to embrace diversity and cultural difference and how to collaboratively work with them.
Matthew Cuellar
Associate Professor and BSW Program ChairUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Matthew Cuellar: Understanding how to use AI, balancing ethics in a changing and increasingly diverse world, and incorporating fresh and new perspectives in to old and unchanged processes within rigid climates. Respect and understanding of all voices is and will continue to be key to effective social work practice, education, and scholarship.
What Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew Cuellar: Pave a road that involves work you love to do. Maximizing salary potential is not just about making more money. It is about striking the optimal life/work balance for compensation that a given individual finds acceptable to meet their unique needs.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Matthew Cuellar: Be familiar with licensure and/or other professional requirements and keep your long-term goal in focus. Network as much as possible, and be open to different perspectives and ideas that you might not be familiar with. Choose a path that involves working within your passion, and be proud to be a change agent for the people you represent.
Dr. Maria Turkson Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology/Licensed PsychologistPennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Psychology
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Dr. Maria Turkson Ph.D.: There are several areas that are very important, such as trauma-informed therapy, diversity awareness, and artificial intelligence. According to research, we know that many people have some sort of trauma in their early childhood, such as poverty, witnessing domestic violence, sexual abuse, etc. These are called 'adverse childhood experiences' or 'ACES,' which are predictive of adult health and life-span expectancy. Trauma-informed perspectives, which are sweeping the nation, and their accompanying interventions are critical for psychologists to learn. Diversity awareness is not a new area, as psychology students and psychologists are well-trained in multiculturalism, but living in our modern society, we can see how 'old' issues like racism, hate crimes, and antisemitism are troubling social problems that need to be continually addressed by psychologists. Psychologists play an important role on college campuses to appropriately educate students about these areas. Psychologists also can help people work effectively with those who are different from them through diversity training. Diversity skills are very needed in all areas of psychology, related fields such as health professions, and all sectors of society. Recognizing one's implicit biases (e.g., stereotypes of which one is unaware), bringing them into awareness, and working on them to prevent these biases from impeding one's work is critical to successful therapy with clients, for example. Finally, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool but it can also be used inappropriately. For example, psychologists play a role in helping college professors and teachers spot plagiarism or cheating utilizing AI, but also helping students understand the ethics involved, and consequences of, using AI. The American Psychological Association (APA) might need to update their code of ethics to include statements on the use of AI.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Learn to negotiate effectively for salaries and consulting fees. Understanding your value and being able to articulate it convincingly can significantly impact your income.
What Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Being empathetic will enhance your ability to connect with clients, while resilience will help you manage emotional stress effectively. Fostering a lens of cultural humility will serve as a conduit to success and effectiveness.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Social workers will need to collaborate across different fields such as healthcare, education, and legal services. Skills in teamwork, communication, and coordination will be essential. Social workers should envision themselves as an asset in every business sector.
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW
Associate Professor of Social WorkCampbellsville University
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Professional?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: Social Work is a very large field; therefore, the practice of Social Work varies greatly depending on which field you enter. Overall, nearly all areas of Social Work include working with individuals who are facing some form of crisis or life challenge. Social Workers work to assist in providing education, assistance and most importantly empowerment. Social Workers are trained professionals who work from a set of ethics that govern their professional standards to respect, empathize and value all individuals. Most all Social Workers enter the professional because they feel called to assist and make a difference in the life of others.
What Mental Health Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: The best thing about being a Social Worker is the ability to serve, assist and empower other individuals who are facing challenges within their life. Although this can be very overwhelming, at times the rewards this can provide, and self-fulfillment is hard to put into words. One of the greatest challenges of Social Work is maintaining adequate self-care and knowing that you can impact or help all individuals. This can be extremely challenging and overwhelming, particularly for new workers. One must ensure that they have adequate supervision, education, and resources to protect their wellbeing or burnout is highly likely.
What will help Mental Health Professionals increase their earning potential?
Katherine Lacasse Ph.D.: Psychology majors go into a wide range of career fields. So keep in mind that careers in mental health can be a great option, but that is not your only option. Psychology majors often have careers in business (human resources, marketing, sales), research & data science, human services, education & training, or government & public safety. When you decide what types of jobs you want to apply for, update your resume and/or cover letter to highlight the skills from your psychology major, jobs, or internships that align with this career. It might not be obvious to the employer why a psychology major would be a good fit, so you need to show them why you are a great addition to their team. Most colleges have a Career Center that can help you update your materials, even after you graduate.