| Many people have already found rewarding careers in | | | | Social workers are required to have a bachelor's |
| the field of mental health, enhancing and treating the | | | | degree with several years experience, though many |
| emotional and psychological well being of others. There | | | | have master and PhD level degrees. Social work |
| are many types of jobs that allow people to work in | | | | involves improving the lives of those who are faced |
| the field, working with people of all ages and all types | | | | with serious issues including physical abuse, serious |
| of cases. Positions range from associates degrees to | | | | illnesses, or social problems, such as unemployment, |
| post-graduate training, with work ranging from | | | | inadequate housing, substance abuse, and domestic |
| research to patient interaction. . | | | | problems. Social workers may work in schools, for |
| Counselor-Family, child, or marital. Counseling is one of | | | | government organizations, in healthcare institutions, or |
| the most prominent fields in mental health. It requires a | | | | rehabilitation clinics. Earnings for social workers |
| master's degree in counseling and well as licensure and | | | | depends on educational background, years of |
| certification. Half of counselors are employed by local | | | | experience, and type of employer. Those who work |
| or state government, while others are employed by | | | | as child or family social workers typically earn more |
| mental health facilities. Many counselors work in school | | | | than those employed in mental or public health. |
| providing career and education services, as well as | | | | Occupational Therapy. Occupational therapy is an |
| prevention services and identifying mental health | | | | important and rapidly growing field where healthcare |
| problems in students. Counselors can work in mental | | | | professional aid those with disabilities or disorders in |
| health facilities treating mental and emotional disorders. | | | | order to be functional in daily living and working |
| In this setting, counselors work with a wide variety of | | | | environments. Occupational therapy offers |
| patients and work closely with other mental health | | | | opportunities as a therapist, requiring a master's |
| professionals to provide optimum mental health. There | | | | degree, or as aides and assistants, requiring only |
| are several other specialized counseling fields including | | | | associates degrees or a diploma certificate. |
| marital counseling, geriatric, multicultural, or genetic | | | | Occupational therapists perform a wide variety of |
| counseling. | | | | tasks including physical exercise and mental exercise, |
| Psychiatrist-Specialize, MD or DO. Psychiatry is a | | | | and make plans and strategies to be more functional |
| mental health positions that requires training as a | | | | according to the type of disability or disorder. |
| physician. Physicians complete medical school and | | | | Occupational therapy may focus on a specific age |
| specialize in psychiatry and one of several psychiatric | | | | group, or patients with specific disabilities. Occupational |
| sub-fields. Specialties include child psychiatry, learning | | | | therapy work may be found in home healthcare |
| disabilities, forensic psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, | | | | services, physician's offices, nursing homes, hospitals, |
| and addiction psychiatry. Other areas also include | | | | and also in schools. Occupational therapists can earn |
| neuropsychiatry, pharmacology, and psychoanalysis. | | | | up to $60,000 annually, while aides and assistants earn |
| Psychiatrists work in a variety of healthcare setting | | | | around $35,000 annually. |
| including hospitals, private practices, and mental health | | | | Recreational Therapy. Recreational therapists like |
| facilities. Earnings are high for psychiatrists, as with | | | | occupational therapists provide services to those with |
| most physicians, with earnings up to $180,000 annually. | | | | mental and physical disabilities, but recreational rather |
| Psychologist. People often interchange the terms | | | | than occupational activities. Activities include games, |
| psychologist and psychiatrist, but they are in fact quite | | | | sports, art, crafts, and playing with animals, which all aid |
| different. Psychologists are not physicians, but must | | | | to reduce depression, increase confidence, and reduce |
| obtain post graduate degrees as PhD or PsyD. | | | | the ailments of disability and illness. Many recreational |
| Psychologists work in several areas including clinical | | | | therapists work in nursing homes, while others work in |
| psychology, child psychology, school psychology, health | | | | mental health facilities. Recreational therapists are |
| psychology, and research psychology. Psychologists | | | | required to have a bachelors degree while many |
| are considered scientists, and use a variety of | | | | institutions also offer a masters and doctoral level |
| methods to perform research, collect data, and publish | | | | degree. Recreational therapists are also required to be |
| studies. Psychologists are subject to certification | | | | certified and licensed. |
| depending on area of specialization. They work in | | | | Angela Oliver is a contributing writer for , a site |
| schools, business, hospitals, and research centers. | | | | offering free information for healthcare training and job |
| Social Worker. Employment in healthcare and social | | | | opportunities. |
| assistance is one the fastest growing fields in the US. | | | | |