| Mental health care is a very broad field and offers a | | | | professional counselor - MEd (Master of Education), |
| wide range of mental health jobs. In general most of | | | | MA (Master of Arts in Psychology), MSW (Master of |
| these jobs involve counseling clients or patients. Some | | | | Social Work). If interested they can even complete a |
| of the mental health practitioners include psychologists, | | | | doctorate in Psychology and Education (Phd or Eed). In |
| psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, clinical social workers, | | | | order to become a licensed professional counselor, an |
| professional counselors. These professionals are | | | | individual has to have either a doctorate or a master's |
| mostly responsible for helping patients who are | | | | degree along with two years of clinical supervision and |
| diagnosed with emotional problems and mental illness. | | | | must also clear a written examination. |
| There are various professions in mental health field | | | | Psychologist - In order to take up a mental health job |
| and each of these has a lot of career options. | | | | as a psychiatrist an individual needs to have a |
| Professional Counselor - There are several jobs that | | | | doctorate in psychology or can be a psychologist with |
| fall under mental health counselor category and almost | | | | a doctorate. A doctoral degree usually requires five |
| all of these involve helping and assisting individuals by | | | | years of full time graduate studies. A specialist degree |
| providing counseling and helping them attain a healthy | | | | or any of its equivalent is mostly required in few of the |
| mind. Mental health counselors use their skills and | | | | states in order for an individual to work as school |
| knowledge in diagnosing and assessing psychological | | | | psychologist. Also, in order to obtain a license, they |
| problems, social problems and behavioral problems. A | | | | need to pass a certification exam. |
| typical diagnosis is usually based on conversation with | | | | Psychiatrist - After completing the MD program, the |
| the clients, assessment of client's education, family | | | | real psychiatry program begins. An individual trying to |
| background, work, friends, living conditions and | | | | secure a job as a psychiatrist has to complete a four |
| conducting specialized tests on them. Medical health | | | | year psychiatric residency program and has to even |
| counselors generally come from diverse educational | | | | undergo hospital training in psychiatry. |
| backgrounds but a majority of them are degree | | | | Social Worker - A bachelor's degree in social work |
| holders in nursing, psychology, human services, social | | | | (BSW) is a minimum requirement in order to qualify for |
| work, etc. They generally have to obtain graduation | | | | most of these jobs. A master's degree (MSW) is |
| from a high school and then have to complete a four | | | | usually required in order to secure a job in private or |
| year program in a reputed college in any of the above | | | | public agencies. |
| mentioned disciplines such as psychology, social work, | | | | With a lot of scope of growth in medical health jobs, it |
| human services, etc. Then they have to complete | | | | is high time, students notice the career prospects and |
| graduation ranging from one to four years in counseling | | | | make a note of the educational requirements needed |
| or psychotherapy or psychology. They have to obtain | | | | to secure a job in this sector. |
| one of the following degrees to become a | | | | |