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Job outlook for residential counselors in the United States
Residential counselor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected residential counselor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for residential counselors are projected over the next decade.
Residential counselor salaries have increased 10% for residential counselors in the last 5 years.
There are over 194,430 residential counselors currently employed in the United States.
There are 81,287 active residential counselor job openings in the US.
The average residential counselor salary is $34,117.
Are residential counselor jobs in demand?
Residential counselor job and salary trends over time
Residential counselor jobs over time
Residential counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 194,430 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 195,197 | 0.06% |
| 2019 | 204,221 | 0.06% |
| 2018 | 213,452 | 0.06% |
| 2017 | 205,131 | 0.06% |
Average residential counselor salary over time
Residential counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,117 | $16.40 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $33,083 | $15.91 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $32,293 | $15.53 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $31,503 | $15.15 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $30,900 | $14.86 | +2.3% |
Residential counselor jobs by state
Most common states for residential counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,615 | 38% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 149 | 21% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 106 | 14% |
| 4 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 173 | 13% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 137 | 13% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,478 | 12% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 665 | 12% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 413 | 12% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 117 | 12% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 811 | 11% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 682 | 11% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 121 | 11% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 584 | 10% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 496 | 10% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 395 | 10% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 75 | 10% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 56 | 10% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,723 | 9% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 616 | 9% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 297 | 9% |
Most common cities for residential counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wakefield | 12 | 48% | $33,549 |
| 2 | Walpole | 11 | 46% | $33,545 |
| 3 | Brockton | 36 | 38% | $33,518 |
| 4 | Worcester | 60 | 33% | $33,609 |
| 5 | Reading | 8 | 32% | $33,552 |
| 6 | Leominster | 12 | 29% | $33,629 |
| 7 | Norwood | 7 | 24% | $33,542 |
| 8 | Andover | 7 | 21% | $33,568 |
| 9 | Woburn | 8 | 20% | $33,557 |
| 10 | Franklin Town | 6 | 18% | $33,556 |
| 11 | Waltham | 10 | 16% | $33,559 |
| 12 | Newton | 10 | 11% | $33,552 |
| 13 | Boston | 14 | 2% | $33,532 |
Residential Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of residential counselor experts
Western Illinois University
Loyola University New Orleans
SUNY College at Oswego
Ohio State University
Adelphi University
Saint Xavier University
Western Illinois University
Marymount University
Husson University
St. John Fisher College
Penn State College of Medicine
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Boston College
Monmouth University
Brenau University
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
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.
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC
Associate ProfessorWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
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.
Kevin Foose
Professor of PracticeLoyola University New Orleans
Rehabilitation And Therapeutic Professions
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Foose: As our graduates enter the field of counseling and psychotherapy, the guidance that I provide is generally threefold. First I suggest that they develop a niche practice which they are passionate about. I encourage them to specialize rather than 'generalize' their practice. Towards that end I advise that they find a clinical supervisor and mentor with whom they share a theoretical and philosophical foundation. I encourage them to surround themselves with talented, experienced and inspiring professionals. And to follow their curiosity and cultivate the capacity to become highly competent clinically and theoretically with a specific population and modality of treatment (such as working with couples & relationships, adolescence, social justice & advocacy, play therapy etc).
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jodi Mullen PhD LMHC RPT-S: The bulk of the work a mental health counselor does is clinical, meaning you meet with clients and provide counseling. There is also record keeping, preparation, and administrative responsibilities. New and seasoned counselors alike spend some time in supervision and consultation with other counselors. Supervision is a time to discuss cases with a more experienced professional where there are opportunities for growth professionally and personally. Consultation involves either meeting with others connected to your clients, like parents of children clients, or with professionals in mental health and other fields that can help the counselor sort out a challenge. In that case it may be an attorney or a trauma specialist.
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Donna Sheperis PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, BC-TMH: There are so many different employment positions that a mental health counselor could take that a day could be incredibly different depending on their area of specialty. A private practitioner could have a full day of hour long individual sessions. A hospital based counselor might spend time running groups or doing crisis stabilization. A home-based counselor might travel from site to site providing family therapy or assessing living situations for child placement. Someone working in a substance use rehabilitation facility might find themselves Providing individual, group, and family therapy all within the span of several hours. In other words, a mental health counselor is going to be very flexible and able to provide a number of different services depending on the type of work that interests them and that they find themselves seeking specialty training and credentialing in.
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Donna Sheperis PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, BC-TMH: When I talk to my former students as well as my friends and colleagues in the profession, they all tell me how richly rewarded they are providing a service to people who struggle with aspects of mental health. Being part of someone’s treatment, watching them find their way through trauma that has been burdening them, helping people leave behind a pass that no longer serves them, helping them find a way through genetically predisposed illness, or to overcome thoughts of death or suicide… These are all remarkable journeys to embark on with clients. To have the privilege to be part of healing when people are in crisis and pain and at their most vulnerable is really an awesome honor. Those experiences keep us hopeful and.buoyed throughout our career. When working in such an interpersonally intense profession, carrying that weight can be challenging itself. Some of the more routine tasks of the work that we do can also be burdening. As mental health counselors, we find ourselves making sure that we seek to do our own work in order to be able to do this work for others.
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Samantha Bates PhD, LISW-S: One of the best things about being a mental health practitioner is supporting someone during a time of immense need. The human spirit is beautiful to witness, and the role of a mental health provider is to use the vulnerability and time spent together to empower someone to see their strengths, utilize new skills, and decide what the future holds for them. I think the best day of my professional career was when a young woman told me that had I not been in her life at the time she might not be here today. Knowing you were a support for someone, and the time you spent together made an impact, is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. One thing that is challenging in the mental health profession is the lack of coordinated services and supports. Access and equity continue to challenge the profession and are issues we must address to tackle the mental health crisis.
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Education and Credentials: Invest in obtaining advanced degrees and relevant certifications that enhance your qualifications and marketability. A master's or doctoral degree in counseling psychology, along with licensure or certification in your jurisdiction, can significantly increase your earning potential. Specialization and Niche Expertise: Develop expertise in specialized areas of counseling psychology that are in demand or command higher fees. Consider focusing on niche populations, such as children and adolescents, trauma survivors, couples therapy, family therapy and acquire specialized training or certifications to differentiate yourself in the market. Clinical Experience and Internships: Gain diverse clinical experience through internships, practicum placements, and supervised training opportunities. Continuing Education and Professional Development: Stay abreast of emerging trends, research findings, and evidence-based practices in counseling psychology through continuing education, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Digital Literacy and Teletherapy Skills: With the continued integration of technology in mental health care, counselors will need to enhance their proficiency in digital platforms and teletherapy modalities. This includes utilizing secure video conferencing tools, managing electronic health records (EHR), and maintaining ethical standards in online therapy settings. Cultural Competence and Diversity Awareness: As awareness of cultural diversity and social justice issues grows, counselors must deepen their understanding of intersectionality and cultural humility. Competence in working with diverse populations and addressing systemic barriers to mental health care will from an antiracism lens will be essential for providing inclusive and culturally responsive services. Trauma-Informed Care: Given the prevalence of trauma and its impact on mental health, counselors will need to adopt trauma-informed approaches across various settings. This includes recognizing the signs of trauma, creating safe environments for disclosure, and integrating trauma-sensitive interventions into counseling practice. Resilience-Building and Positive Psychology: In addition to addressing mental health challenges, there will be a greater emphasis on promoting resilience and well-being. Counselors will incorporate positive psychology principles, such as strengths-based interventions and mindfulness techniques, to empower clients and enhance their coping skills. Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Care: With the recognition of the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, counselors will collaborate more closely with other healthcare professionals in integrated care settings. Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams will be essential for providing holistic and comprehensive care to clients. Data Literacy and Outcome Measurement: Increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice and outcome measurement will require counselors to develop skills in data collection, analysis, and outcome evaluation. Ethical Decision-Making in Complex Situations: As counseling scenarios become increasingly complex, counselors will face ethical dilemmas that require nuanced decision-making. Strengthening skills in ethical reasoning, consultation, and ethical sensitivity will enable counselors to navigate challenging ethical issues with integrity and professionalism.
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Continued Learning and Development: Stay committed to lifelong learning by attending workshops, pursuing advanced certifications, and staying updated on the latest research and therapeutic techniques. Supervision and Mentorship: Seek out supervision and mentorship opportunities from experienced professionals in the field. Consider participating in a peer supervision group where you can support one another and be open to constructive criticism as part of your development. Engage in regular self-reflection for personal growth. Prioritize Self-Care: Establish healthy boundaries between work and personal life, engage in activities that recharge you and help prevent burn out. Cultural Competence and Diversity: Cultivate cultural humility and strive to understand the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of your clients. Continuously educate yourself on multiculturalism and antiracism to provide competent and inclusive counseling services. Ethical Practice: Adhere to ethical guidelines and professional standards in your practice. Strive to Build Strong Therapeutic Relationships: Establish rapport, demonstrate empathy, and create a safe and trusting environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings. Evidence-Based Practice: Stay informed about research findings and utilize interventions that have been empirically validated for specific client populations and presenting issues. Networking and Collaboration: Build professional connections within the counseling community. Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and participate in networking events to expand your professional network. Collaboration with colleagues can lead to referrals, consultation opportunities, and mutual support. Consider doing some pro bono work: Pro bono services help bridge the gap to access mental health services for individuals who cannot afford them.
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC
Assistant Dean & Program Director, Master's programs in General Psychology and Mental Health CounselingAdelphi University
Mental And Social Health Services And Allied Professions
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: In the next few years, counselors will benefit from developing skills in emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and how such technology is being used by clients through various social media applications that might lead to clinical concerns (.e.g., dating, gambling, pornography). Integrating some of these new technologies into therapeutically sound interventions will be one way to address these concerns both in traditional therapy settings, as well as virtually (e.g., avatar therapy).
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: Given the complexities of the world today, emerging counseling professionals must be flexible in their treatment approach, inclusive in their understanding of diverse cultures and sub-cultures, and mature professionally through humility, self-reflection, and self-care.
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: One way to maximize your earning potential when starting your career is to develop a focus, not just a specialization. A focus requires a broader lens when it comes to earnings. For example, specializing in clinical treatments for addiction is important and will generate referrals. However, having a focus in addiction treatments extends your reach into other adjacent areas such as business applications and services offered outside of the therapy office. It might start with the question, 'what other groups or organizations might benefit from my focus area?' This might lead to a consultation opportunity at a business that is interested in reducing burnout for its employees and by extension the sequelae of problems associated with burnout (e.g., depression, addiction). One opportunity often leads to another. The second way to maximize income early in your career is to consider ways to translate what you do into a public-facing profile. Whether using LinkedIn or your own website, it is crucial for the public to become acquainted with you professionally. Investing in this process will pay off quickly.
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
Kristen Toole: Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Personal and professional development are
lifelong processes that are never really finished. So, it is essential to pace yourself and establish a
foundation of healthy practices from the outset. Creating habits and routines in the beginning
with the end in mind can be a good strategy for success and sustainability.
Keep work-life balance and boundaries in mind from the start because breaking bad habits can
be tricky once established. Think about where you ultimately want to be and build toward that
future one step at a time. Also, it is okay if plans change! You never know where open-
mindedness and willingness to learn may take you.
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristen Toole: This is an exciting time to be a counselor. It is a time for integration and inclusivity. With an
increasing focus on neuroscience and the advent of telehealth, incorporating science and
technology in counseling is increasingly relevant.
The use of technology is on the rise. As more people become familiar with telehealth, counselors
must become comfortable providing virtual care. Telehealth practices are also critical to
expanding our reach and improving the accessibility of our services.
Undeniable links between science and counseling continue to emerge. Findings in neuroscience
are shaping how we understand counseling and informing best practices (Cammisuli &
Castelnuovo, 2023). Furthermore, this supports incorporating knowledge and skills from other
disciplines to broaden the counseling field's horizons.
Mastering essential attending behaviors and the basic listening sequence (Ivey et al., 2018) is not
enough if we cannot successfully and accurately position our clients against a backdrop of broad
and complex contextual factors. Embracing diverse perspectives is crucial to supporting holistic
counseling practices. Integrating new information will be the key to achieving a more complete
and inclusive understanding of our clients and our work as we move forward.
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Kristen Toole: Post-pandemic disparities have highlighted the necessity of prioritizing mental health and the
need for more mental health providers (Fink-Samnick, 2023; Health Resources & Services
Administration, 2023). The counseling field is expected to outpace the national average for
occupational growth six-fold over the next ten years (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022). There is
no question that counselors are in demand, but there are still a few strategies for new
professionals to maximize their salary potential.
A growing number of students are entering counseling graduate programs, having completed
undergraduate minors and focus areas in related fields. This is fantastic conceptually and can be
a vital strategy for enhancing their counseling work. Skill building is one way to optimize
success and salary.
Some graduate programs, like Xavier's, offer options for obtaining additional certifications along
the way to a master's degree. In Xavier's counseling program, students can choose courses that
allow them to get certificates in addiction counseling and medical trauma-informed care. For
clinical mental health counselors, this is an excellent way to demonstrate skill mastery, and for
school counselors, it provides a unique opportunity to broaden their scope of practice. Either
way, additional certifications exhibit a commitment that potential employers can appreciate.
Counselors who are well-informed about their market value and earning potential can engage in
informed offer negotiations. Additional skills are one way beginning professionals can increase
their starting salary. However, it is important to remember that total earnings include several
elements, and salary is just one piece of that puzzle.
Counselors are immensely versatile and can find work in various settings, so they need to
understand their options in addition to their earning potential. Benefits, schedule, and location
are other things that can impact the earnings bottom line and are essential to consider. Finally,
counselors must know themselves: personality, interests, work values, and abilities impact job fit
and, ultimately, work satisfaction. These are crucial considerations for mitigating compassion
fatigue (Stamm, 2010), which can limit counselors' longevity.
New professionals must research and reflect as they enter the job market. There are many things
to consider when choosing a job, and it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, various resources,
such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*Net, Glassdoor, and Monster, offer
indispensable tools and information to job seekers.
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: A practicing counselor's day is often full of sessions with clients. These sessions may be individual therapy, couples/families, or groups of individuals with some shared presenting issue. Counselors also have to complete paperwork associated with these sessions throughout the day. Some counselors also provide supervision to newer practitioners as a part of their work roles.
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: There is a critical need for mental health care in our world. Many want to help with this need, making counseling a good profession to enter now.
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Specialist in School Psychology and Clinical/ Community Mental Health Graduate ProgramsWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What Residential Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - The best I can give to graduates is to focus on taking small steps at first. Often the first year in the field can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The system we work in (the helping profession broadly) often has a lot of challenges, and new professionals want to re-envision a path for changes. This is tangible, but at first, it is important to understand the roles and functions in the workplace before flipping everything upside down. I suggest taking one small change at a time in an area that is important to you and build relationships and trust with your professional colleagues before overloading yourself with the new job and new goals.
What general advice would you give to a Residential Counselor?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - The best I can give to graduates is to focus on taking small steps at first. Often the first year in the field can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The system we work in (the helping profession broadly) often has a lot of challenges, and new professionals want to re-envision a path for changes. This is tangible, but at first, it is important to understand the roles and functions in the workplace before flipping everything upside down. I suggest taking one small change at a time in an area that is important to you and build relationships and trust with your professional colleagues before overloading yourself with the new job and new goals.
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - I think skills in using and being familiar with artificial intelligence (AI) will be important in our field now and in the upcoming five years. The capabilities of the open AI sources has exponentially grown smarter in just the past year. The tools accessible are revolutionizing the way people write reports, generate recommendations, capture clinical notes, and even summarize and synthesize information. It is technology that we must learn to understand after the point of graduate training where we can apply our professional decision-making skills and theoretical knowledge to the information input/output of this great technology.
Stephanie Chalk
Associate Director of the School of Counseling at Marymount UniversityMarymount University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What will help Residential Counselors increase their earning potential?
Stephanie Chalk: Competence in trauma-informed care is very important and will only continue to become more important to our work as counselors in a post-COVID world. Counselors will need to have a strong understanding of how to assess for trauma and environmental stressors, and how trauma can impact clients and communities. Having the skills to adequately assess and support client safety, enhance client choice and empowerment, and the ability to work collaboratively as an interdisciplinary team with other professionals is going to become an even more valuable skill set for counselors. Counselors often work with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurse practitioners, school systems, social workers, occupational therapists, and many other professionals as a part of a care team. Having strong collaboration, leadership, and interpersonal skills are becoming more important as the role of counselors is becoming more salient in healthcare.
What skills stand out on Residential Counselor resumes?
Chad Howland: I believe having strong interpersonal skills is important when first entering the field. The rehabilitation specialist must work to be an active listener and encourage their patient/client to be an active participant in meeting their own healthcare goals. Exposure to different clinical settings and experiential learning across diverse patient/client populations is a plus. In addition, rehabilitation specialists should be a part of their respective national organizations. Certainly, being involved in the national or state chapter of a professional organization speaks to the job candidate's professional growth, along with taking on a leadership role within their profession. In regard to specific skills, well-rounded education in the foundational sciences (anatomy, biomechanics, neurology) has become essential for rehabilitation specialists.
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors possess?
Chad Howland: As outlined previously, a rehabilitation specialist needs to be an active listener and form a partnership with their patient/client. Expanding upon this point, they need to be effective communicators with other healthcare professionals. Establishing trust between various stakeholders is essential.
John Kiweewa Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSt. John Fisher College
Wegmans School of Nursing
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors possess?
John Kiweewa Ph.D.: Receptivity to Feedback: Openness to consistently accept feedback in a respectful way is a vital quality, especially for new graduates. Such openness is important not only to feedback from supervisors but from colleagues and clients. Agreeing to or feeling bound to act on the feedback received is not as important as communicating appreciation for the effort of others in giving feedback. In this case, display of behaviors such as anger, annoyance, frustration, defensiveness, excessive/exaggerated self-criticism, or withdrawal gets in the way of learning and/or being a member of a team.
Appropriate Self-Disclosure: The ability for mental health practitioners to 'use' themselves for the benefit of their clients is one of the cornerstones of effective counseling. Such a quality is most evident when one only shares information about themselves that fits the nature and purpose of the interaction with a particular client. When personal information is revealed, it is tasteful, relevant, and is not upsetting, distracting, or confusing to others. Prospective employers are keenly aware of the ways self-serving or self-aggrandizing disclosure of personal information can negatively impact the ability to provide meaningful services to clients.
Reliability and Follow Through: Mental health professionals work in a helping profession that requires the professional to be consistently dependable, reliable, and able to follow through with tasks and assignments in a timely and thorough manner. This includes meeting deadlines, being punctual to sessions with clients and for agency meetings, being prepared, and having a reputation as one who can be counted on to do their part when functioning as a team or project member.
Flexibility and Adaptability: This quality is most evident when a mental health counseling professional consistently demonstrates a willingness to change or compromise in the face of new information, circumstances, and contexts. Situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, require mental health practitioners to have an openness to solutions that match the needs of their service recipients and organizations.
Sense of Humor: There is little to cheer about in the professional life of mental health professionals. We spend the majority of our working time listening to the most painful and vulnerable aspects of people's lives. This quality is most evident when a mental health counselor assumes an orientation to life that acknowledges to self and others the value of looking at the "lighter side" of life to maintain a balance; when they find enjoyment in laughing with others and recognize laughter as a way of reducing tension and as an important aspect of social discourse.
Confidence Balanced with Humility: Confidence in one's abilities (self-efficacy) is a general challenge for beginning mental health counselors. Some may appear over-confident as a way to compensate for lack of experience in the field and to project an image of competence. It is, therefore, important that new graduate is able to act with self-assurance by consistently expressing themselves in a clear, deliberate, and unassuming manner. It is not helpful to "put on airs" or flaunt knowledge or skills in order to bring attention to oneself. What is important is to convey appreciation for the privilege to partake in other people's life journeys and struggles.
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 skills stand out on Residential Counselor resumes?
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.: Certainly, experience is one thing that we look for, which can be a challenge when applying for their first position. Other ways to get experience are through volunteer work or demonstrating a passion for a certain mental health issue, and being involved in advocacy. Looking for and participating in research opportunities while in college or post-graduate work. Within the field of counseling, it is important to demonstrate a passion for the work. Other skills would be any additional training. Individuals can sometimes pursue workshops or other training that builds on some of their skills or interests. Some organizations target certain interests or specialties. It can be important to get involved in these to get more education and skills and make connections within the field.
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors 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 Residential Counselors 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.
Dr. Raymond Ortega Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock
Rehabilitation Counseling Program
What skills stand out on Residential Counselor resumes?
Dr. Raymond Ortega Ph.D.: The job market for rehabilitation counselors has changed substantially over the years. Initially, it was limited to public sector agencies but now includes several private and non-profit opportunities. As a result, the requisite skillset has also increased. The essential skills that "stand out" include knowledge of career and occupational standards and requirements, legal and regulatory standards, physical and psychological disability, and counseling skills.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What skills stand out on Residential Counselor resumes?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Skills that stand out on Counselor resumes include multilingual, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and leadership skills.
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors possess?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Soft skills that are essential for counselors include emotional intelligence, empathy, multicultural competency, interpersonal abilities, and authenticity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Residential Counselors?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.
What skills will help Residential Counselors earn the most?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Skills that will help you earn the most include teletherapy and trauma-informed care.
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 skills stand out on Residential Counselor resumes?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: The skills that likely stand out the most on psychologists' resumes include empathy, critical thinking, knowledge of mental health and illness determinants, psychological assessment, evidence-based psychotherapy skills, and research design and implementation.
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Residential Counselors?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: -Differential diagnosis to determine whether a person is experiencing an adjustment problem related to everyday life stressors or mental illness
-Knowledge and application of developmental and personality theory to human behavior.
-Experience in using multiple evidence-based psychotherapy models
-Psychological assessment, especially in neuropsychological testing
-Research design and implementation to study
-Program development
-Curriculum design and teaching skills
What skills will help Residential Counselors earn the most?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: -psychotherapy skills
-neuropsychological assessment skills
-research design and program development skills
-teaching skills
-leadership skills
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors possess?
Alan Cavaiola Ph.D.: The type of things to emphasize would be similar to those described above in terms of soft skills. Also, applicants may want to stress if they've worked with any special populations during their Practicum or Internships (e.g., children, adolescents, people with co-occurring disorders, people with substance use disorders, veterans, first responders, people with disabilities, people of various racial or ethnic groups, homeless people, etc.) Also, any counselor working in a Joint Commission or CARF program will be required to know how to write treatment plans, so those skills are also helpful to emphasize. One student was hired because she knew how to administer and score the SASSI-3 (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory).
Dr. Robert Cantu
Associate ProfessorBrenau University
Physical therapy Department
What skills stand out on Residential Counselor resumes?
Dr. Robert Cantu: These are not necessarily skills per se, but as a hiring manager, this is what I would look at in a resume for a new grad:
Clear objective statement in the resume that matches the needs of the clinic. This shows a focus on job seeking and career path.
Clinical education experiences that match the needs of the clinic.
Skills gained in their clinical training that matches the clinic's needs: Examples: Strong manual therapy training in a clinic that emphasizes one-on-one care of patients. Strong exercise training in sports medicine clinics.
For those with some career experience:
Job stability--i.e., how long is the candidate at one place of employment. At least 18-24 months in a job or longer is good. This means they were perceptive and chose wisely. Six jobs in the first 5 years will raise red flags.
Current and frequent continuing education attendance in the area in which the clinic specializes. This shows a focus on growing and staying current in clinical skills.
What soft skills should all Residential Counselors possess?
Dr. Robert Cantu: People skills: For the workgroup: ability and willingness to work in groups and manage conflict. Flexibility: Willingness to occasionally work late or come in early to accommodate the patient load. Team player attitude. Willingness to play their assigned part on the team. Strong commitment and discipline for timely completion of tasks such as daily paperwork. This shows "discipline in the drudgery," which is critical for the smooth operation of the clinic and results in better customer service.
People skills: For patient management: Empathy, the warmth of personality, a caring demeanor, and express kindness. And absolutely, a willingness to always put the patient first. Good eye contact, firm but kind, reassuring handshake (or a kind elbow bump). The understanding is that even though they work for a company, ultimately, the clinician works for the patient.