Mental illness has been a global social issue on the rise recently. With many variables and factors contributing to it, it’s no surprise how challenging it is to battle against it. And the shortage of mental health workers has only added fuel to the fire. You can take advantage of this situation as an opportunity to bolster your career as a mental health professional.
Psychology professionals are critical people in society as you take care of and ensure the mental well-being of your patients. While you may do the job to earn a living or feel it’s your higher calling, it won’t hurt to advance your career. This will allow you to reach better job outcomes, stabilize your salary earnings, and help out more people.
Here are some ways to explore other routes as you advance your career in the mental health sector:
1. Acquire The Right Internship Or Practicum
Before getting licensed or certified, mental health professionals must participate in supervised clinical fieldwork for a minimum number of hours. These are often required when you pursue continuing education. You may be able to count these hours toward your fieldwork requirements, but if you wish to become a licensed counselor, you may need to complete more fieldwork hours.
Students are required to complete between 100 and 300 practicum hours. Licensed or certified counselors are available to students during supervised and independent sessions. Practicum participants will gain access to training, seminars, report makings, and clinic observation and reporting.
Aside from a practicum, you can go for a mental health internship. This usually requires you 500 to 600 hours. It involves independent work and supervision. Interns at the clinical site are held to the same standards as their professional counterparts.
2. Develop Your Soft Skills
Technical skills are imperative for mental health professionals. There are high levels of knowledge, experiences, and education that many institutions often demand. However, aside from these, inherent qualities are also needed.
Here are some soft skills you’ll need to advance your career as a mental health professional:
- Be More Open-Minded
Having a judgmental attitude won’t do you any good as you encounter diverse patients. When a client speaks, it’s essential to listen open-mindedly and avoid retaliating defensively. Any client
should feel comfortable enough to share private concerns or information with you, and you should be able to provide objective advice to them.
You shouldn’t cut them off and tell them upfront about their wrongdoings. You should be as open-minded as possible, so you can empathize and comfort them better. Suggest to them some steps to help protect their mental health.
- Be More Patient
Good mental health professionals are known for their patience. You may have to wait a while for your clients to see things your way. Try to be patient in advising them, listen to their concerns, and react positively in everything. Always be professional as you become less judging and more patient.
- Listen Proactively
Many patients approach mental health professionals so someone can lend them ears. Hence, you must know when the right time is to talk and when it’s best to listen to your patient’s concerns and worries simply. You can understand the client’s feelings by observing their body language and tone of voice. After which, you can have a better approach to dealing with them more effectively.
3. Earn A Master’s Degree
As your career progresses, one crucial ingredient is keeping up with the latest developments and expanding your knowledge. The mental health industry is ever-changing as technology, clinical studies, and other influential variables change. There are always new discoveries in this field. Unexplored counseling techniques may now be applied to mental health concerns. Continuing education and research may even be required for professional counselors in any area and specialty.
There are many reasons to pursue a master’s degree besides the paycheck. Consider earning a master’s degree to broaden your career as a mental health professional even further. After graduating from an accredited program, you’ll earn a master’s degree and pursue licensure or certification in mental health counseling.
By pursuing higher education, you’ll develop your skills and treat your patients better. A master’s degree helps make it possible to learn the current techniques and earn certifications to assure that you are handling your clients with the top level of care. If you are looking for a change of pace in your professional setting, you can always work towards a specific focus, like a master’s degree in school counseling. This will allow you to move from a clinical setting into a school district. Regardless of what type of master’s program you choose, they will all include coursework that focuses on updated theories and research, which will allow you to diagnose and treat mental health issues more effectively than conventional methods.
4. Get Licensed Or Certified
You won’t be able to practice in some states or regions without a license or certificate. In addition to a minimum level of education and supervised clinical hours, a counseling license or certificate is proof that you’re well-qualified for a job role in the mental health industry.
It’s best to conduct thorough research so you can adequately prepare for the licensure requirements in your city. You’ll need to know if internships and practicums are also required. Gather all details about the costs, dates of examinations, and their location.
Conclusion
Psychologists have the possibility of advancing their careers and finding well-paying jobs in a field that’s likely to advance in the years to come. Hopefully, you’ve garnered some practical ways, as mentioned above, so you can advance your career as a mental health professional. You can service many patients who need your help and contribute to more mentally healthy people in society.