Counselor Jobs - Are You Interested in Becoming a School Or Educational Counselor?

Counselors will help individuals resolve personal ormental and emotional disorders, and they will work with
family problems, in addition to helping them placepsychiatrists and psychologists in order to find a
themselves in a career. The role of an counselor willprogram that will best help their clients. Substance
vary greatly depending on the profession that they areabuse counselors will frequently help individuals who
in, but the basic categories of these professionalsare struggling with alcohol, drugs, or other disorders,
include school, career, rehabilitation counselors, mentalwhile marriage and family counseling professionals will
health, behavioral, and family therapists.help individuals cope with emotional conflicts within the
School counselors will usually help students with theirfamily structure.
personal and academic development, frequently usingThe working conditions for these professionals will
counseling sessions in interviews in order to assess thevary depending on their employment, however, most
abilities of various students. They will also operatewill work a 40 hour week, with school counselors
career information centers in order to help high schoolhaving off two to three months during the summer.
students get into college, or to find their ideal area ofTraining will vary depending on the state, but it is most
employment.common for individuals pursuing this career path to
Elementary school counselors will be primarily involvedhave a bachelors degree.
in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of childrenIn 2006, they had about 635,000 jobs in America, with
by observing their classroom and play activities, whileschool counselors forming about half of this number at
high school ones will usually act in advising college260,000. The job prospects for these professionals
majors and various technical programs.are expected to grow at a very fast rate, with
Employment counselors, who may also be known assubstance abuse counselors experiencing the fastest
career aides, will help adults find their ideal career path,rate of growth at 34% over the next 10 years.
locating employment for them and helping thoseIn 2006, the middle 50th percentile of these workers
individuals who have experienced job loss deal withmade between $36,120 and $66,990, while behavioral
career transitions. Rehabilitation counselors will helpcounselors made between $27,330 and $42,650. Most
persons with disabilities cope with life, and they willare self-employed, operating private practices, which
often help them find programs and jobs that will suitmeans they will have variable earnings depending on
their strengths.their clientele.
Mental health counselors are responsible for treating