Counseling isn’t just a career — it’s a calling.
Curious whether this noble profession is calling you? It’s likely that you already have some of the personal qualities that would make you an effective, compassionate counselor. Soft skills like empathy, active listening, and strong communication all form the foundation for a successful career as a counselor.
To earn a career in this field, however, you’ll need to develop the concrete skills and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality mental healthcare for those seeking help. When you earn your Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at University of Bridgeport, you master the research-based approaches and theories that inform today’s best practices — all while harnessing the interpersonal skills required to connect with diverse patients and communities.
Continue reading to discover why it’s the perfect time to pursue a career as a mental health counselor.
#1 — Become a Sought-after Professional in an In-demand Field
Whether you’re an active news-watcher or a passive headline scroller, you likely know that Americans everywhere are struggling with their mental health. Perhaps you’ve even faced this struggle yourself — ultimately finding the insight and inspiration necessary to pursue a career helping others.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults grapple with mental health conditions every year. In fact, our country’s mental health crisis is so great that many counselors find themselves unable to accommodate the incoming flux of clients. Because America has more prospective patients than it does counselors, this career path yields endless opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others while working in a stable and secure profession.
Let’s put this into perspective. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the next decade will see a 22% increase in professional opportunities for counselors. This is over four times the average career growth rate of 5%.
Even within the landscape of mental health care, the rising demand for counselors is considerably unique. Over the next ten years, the BLS only forecasts a 6% uptick in the demand for psychologists. While the growth rate for prospective psychiatrists may be rosier at 8.7%, it barely surpasses the national average. In fact, the two fields’ combined growth rate still pales in comparison to the projected demand for qualified counselors.
By choosing a career as a counselor, you can make mental healthcare accessible to a growing population of people in need. Furthermore, you’ll be a sought-after professional in an expanding field — leading to better job security and increased earning potential.
#2 — Provide Holistic Mental Healthcare
You may be left wondering why the demand for counselors is greater than the need for other mental healthcare practitioners. This relates to the scope of services each professional can provide. Whereas psychiatrists can prescribe medication to address chemical and hormonal imbalances, psychologists and counselors use talk therapy and research-based strategies to help improve their patients’ mental well-being through personal reflection, understanding, and empowerment.
Psychologists lean heavily on science — addressing their clients’ mental health needs through cognitive evaluation and diagnosis. Although counselors incorporate some of these practices, they take a more holistic approach to caregiving. Skillful counselors use open communication and wellness-based practices to provide patients with comprehensive support and personalized guidance. Instead of diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, counselors help their clients create personalized goals, action steps, and strategies — all of which are tailored to improve and optimize the patient’s well-being by giving them the tools to understand and address their feelings.
When you earn your master’s in Counseling at UB, you gain the knowledge and training necessary to become an advocate for your future clients. Our faculty are experienced professionals with years of work in the field; they provide expert instruction and guidance, prepping you with the skills and strategies necessary to implement effective care plans and support the well-being of diverse patient populations.
“If I were to put my experience with the Counseling program at UB into one or two sentences I would say that it was great learning from expert faculty who truly cared about my growth as an individual and as a counselor. I was also supported, encouraged, and challenged by the other students in the program. In short, it was a great experience.”
– David Grant, LPCA, M.S., M.B.A.
#3 — Give Short-term Care that Makes a Lasting Difference
Because most counselors base their clients’ care around personalized wellness goals, counseling is short-term compared to traditional therapy. Whereas psychologists typically see the same clients for many years, counselors often help patients in a matter of months.
This is because, rather than directly treating an underlying condition, counselors help their clients develop targeted strategies and coping skills personalized to their mental health struggles and goals. When the implemented strategies succeed and the patient feels secure using them in everyday life, they complete their counseling. The benefit of this model is that patients are empowered to recognize and address their issues independently, while counselors are able to treat more patients.
The short-term nature of counseling doesn’t mean it’s less effective than therapy. In fact, the positive impact of an expert counselor can last well beyond a patient’s discharge date. The coping skills counselors teach their clients are often transferrable. Strategies like problem-solving, positive self-talk, cognitive reframing, and emotional management prepare patients to navigate difficult, uncertain, and unexpected situations.
In order to help others with their mental health, you’ll need to take care of yourself, too. At University of Bridgeport, the wellbeing of our students is our priority. We offer comprehensive student support services, including counseling, career development, financial aid, and more.
Discover how University of Bridgeport can help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
#4 — Customize Your Career with Flexible Opportunities
The age of telehealth is upon us. For physical, pharmaceutical, and mental health needs, many Americans are opting for flexible treatment by booking virtual appointments with their providers. Aside from offering a convenient option for busy clients, telehealth helps patients who have limited access to care.
Furthermore, the availability of telehealth offers flexible employment opportunities to practicing counselors. While finding remote work is never a guarantee, it is achievable — especially for professionals in the Counseling field. Between the shortage of mental healthcare providers and widespread efforts to address systemic barriers and inequities in healthcare, a variety of virtual positions are available to qualified counseling professionals.
Better still, counselors don’t only enjoy flexible scheduling opportunities — they also have the freedom to tailor their career path to their professional goals. For example, counselors can choose to help those in need of urgent care by becoming a crisis counselor, or they can aid those struggling with addiction by choosing to become a substance abuse counselor.
Adding to the customizable nature of this eclectic career is the variety of approaches that can be taken to caregiving. When you earn a degree in Counseling, you learn about the methodologies, theories, and schools of thought that form the foundation of effective practice. Most counselors choose to adopt the theories and approaches that speak to their professional skills and personal strengths — allowing them to personalize their unique approach to providing care.
At University of Bridgeport, students in our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program learn modern, innovative, and relevant approaches to effective practice. Our expert faculty and 14:1* class sizes guarantee that you’ll be more than a number. You’ll collaborate closely with your classmates and fine-tune your professional knowledge and skills while gaining hands-on clinical experiences. At UB, you can transform into the compassionate counseling professional you were always meant to be.
“My experience at UB and in the MS in Counseling program has been very pleasant. I love the cultural diversity of the program, because being of a Hispanic background, I want to feel welcomed in any community, and I feel welcomed and valued here. I have great professors, who are understanding and empathetic, while at the same time making sure that we graduate knowing everything we need to know and taking advantage of opportunities that are available here. I am grateful.”
– Stacey Ilona Tapia, MS
Earn Your Yaster’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Bridgeport
If empathy is one of your greatest strengths, counseling may just be the career for you. When you pursue your master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Bridgeport, you gain the technical knowledge and training necessary to turn your compassion into a rewarding career.
Learn more about UB’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program today!