Health Counselor
Medical Assisting Careers › 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
Colorado
Technical University
-- Healthcare Management (BS,
MBA)
Walden
University
-- Health Services, Psychology, Nursing,
Public Health, Psychology, Nursing, Mental Health Counseling
Arizona Schools
University
of Phoenix*
(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
University
of Phoenix*
(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
University
of Phoenix*
(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
University
of Phoenix*
(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
University
of Phoenix
(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
University
of Phoenix*
(Salt
Lake City) - Human Services, Nursing, Counseling
|
