Career Profile:Health Counselor

See Available Health Counselor Schools

Job Description:

Are you passionate about helping people? Are you a good listener? Do you want to dedicate your career in making people lives better? If so, then you should consider becoming a health counselor. A health counselor is someone who provides professional advice on coping problems, addiction, depression, nutrition, or stress management. Health counselor experts create individualized treatment plans for their patients by gathering relevant information through observations, interviews and tests.

Health counselor experts have different areas of specialization. They can opt to specialize in a particular area (i.e. career counseling, substance abuse, marriage counseling), or stick to general counseling. Duties and responsibilities of health counselors are usually based on their area of specialization and the type of patients that they are dealing with. Some of the general duties that they perform may include:

• Planning, conceptualizing, implementing structured counseling programs for clients
• Conducting group and individual counseling sessions
• Regular monitoring of patient's progress
• Developing effective treatment plans depending on the needs and diagnosis of the patient
• Work closely with other medical staff to come up with thorough clinical assessments
• Offer counseling to family members as part of the patients' treatment program
• Identify underlying cause of the patient's problem
• Develop and modify patients' treatments as necessary

Work Environment:

Many health counselor professionals work in counseling centers, hospitals, HMOs, and government agencies. Meanwhile, others choose to render private and independent counseling services. They usually work 40 hours a week, and they also provide special consultation arrangements to accommodate the availability of the client. They generally enjoy a comfortable, relaxing, and pleasant work setting.

Education and Training Requirements:

To legally practice as a health counselor, it is vital that health counselor aspirants earn a graduate degree and get certified. That being said, they have to get formal training and education from accredited schools. Moreover, it is highly advised that they pursue a master's degree program since this one of the requirements to get a license and certification. Health counselor aspirants must also have a 2-year supervised clinical experience, and must pass the examination that will be issued by the National Board of Certified Counselor.

Salary Range:

Income rates of health counselor are based upon years of experience, area of specialization, skills, and geographical location. Here is a breakdown of the annual earnings of health counselor professionals according to their work experience:

• Entry Health Counselor Professionals - $29,637 - $40,536
• Experienced Health Counselor Professionals - $33,603 - $50,329
• Top-level Health Counselor Professionals – $54,530 and up

Job Outlook:

It is anticipated that the demand for health counselor professionals will grow faster than other profesions. The growing number of people requiring rehabilitation care and counseling services will prompt the generation of more job opportunities for qualified professionals.

So, begin a meaningful career as a health counselor by browsing through our extensive list of health counselor schools!

Online Medical Schools
Capella University	Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Educational Psychology, General Psychology, General Human Services, Health Care Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Family Counseling/Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Sport Psychology
	Healthcare Management (BS, MBA)
	Health Services, Psychology, Nursing, Public Health, Psychology, Nursing, Mental Health Counseling

Arizona Schools
	(Phoenix, Southern Arizona - Ft. Huachuca) - Health Administration, Nursing, Counseling, Family Nurse Practitioner, Counseling: Family and Child Therapy, Human Services, LPN to BSN, Nursing Informatics, School Nurse, Counseling: Family and Child Therapy
Argosy University	(Phoenix) - Psychology, Counseling

California Schools
	(Northern California - Bay Area, Northern California Central Valley, Sacramento, San Diego, Southern California) - Health Administration, Health Care Services, Human Services, Nursing, Counseling: Family and Child Therapy, Family Nurse Practitioner
Argosy University*	(Inland Empire, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego) - Psychology, Counseling, Clinical Psychology
California Lutheran University	(Thousand Oaks) - Psychology Graduate Programs

Colorado Schools
	(Aurora, Southern Colorado) - Human Services, Nursing, Counseling, Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Florida Schools
Argosy University	(Sarasota, Tampa) - Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling

Hawaii Schools
	(Wailuku) - Health Administration, Human Services, Nursing, Health Care Management, Counseling, MS in Nursing
Argosy University	(Hawaii) - Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling

Illinois Schools
Argosy University	(Chicago, Schaumburg) - Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling

Minnesota Schools
Argosy University	(Twin Cities) - Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound), Histotechnology, Medical Assisting, Radiologic Technology, Veterinary Technology, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiation Therapy, Health Services Management, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy

New Mexico Schools
	(Albuquerque) - Human Services, Nursing, Counseling - Marriage and Family Therapy, MBA in Health Care Management

Tennessee Schools
Argosy University	(Nashville) - Psychology, Counseling

Texas Schools
Argosy University	(Dallas) - Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling

Utah Schools
	(Salt Lake City) - Human Services, Nursing, Counseling

* Program Availability Varies By Location and Often Changes. To get the most up-to-date information, use the links we provide to request additional information from a local campus representative.

* DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211 Program availability varies by location.©2010 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved