Mental Health Careers - Comparing Your Options

Mental Health Careers - Comparing Your OptionsMental Health Careers - Comparing Your OptionsDo you want to pursue a career in mental health? To properly care for or diagnose and treat people who have mental illnesses, emotional difficulties, and behavioral problems it is essential to have excellentlistening, verbal communication, interpersonal,critical thinking, and decision making skills. These soft skills will help facilitate your interactions with individuals who are in distress. Here are some mental health careers to consider. All have excellent job outlooks with employment expected to grow at least faster than the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026. Clinical or Counseling Psychologist Clinical and counseling psychologists diagnose and then treat people who have behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders. They also help their clients and patients deal with crises, illnesses, or injuries. To become a psychologist, earn aPh.D. or Psy.D. degree in psychology. It wi ll take between five to seven years to complete either of these doctorates. MedianAnnual Salary(2018)$76,990 Number of People Employed (2016) 147,500 (also includes school psychologists) Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)14% (faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2016-2026)21,000 Marriage and Family Therapist Marriage and family therapists help couples, families, and individuals overcome or learn how to manage mental illnesses and disorders within the context of their relationships. To work in this occupation, a masters degree in marriage and family therapy is required. MedianAnnual Salary(2018)$50,090 Number of People Employed (2016) 41,500 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)23% (much faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2016-2026) 9,700 Clinical Social Worker Clinicalsocial workersdiagnose patients mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders and then provide treatment through individual and group therapy. To become a clinical social worker, you must get a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW). MedianAnnual Salary(2018)$63,140 Number of People Employed (2016) 682,100 (includes all clinical social workers, as well as those not involved in treatment) Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)16% (much faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2016-2026)109,700 Psychiatric Registered Nurse Psychiatric nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in psychiatric and mental health work. They care for patients who have mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. Nursing education programs, including those that culminate in a bachelors of science degree, an associate degree,or nursing diploma, include psychiatric-mental health education. (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse.Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow.). MedianAnnual Salary(2018)$71,730 Number of People Employed (2016) Almost 3 million Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)15% (much faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2 016-2026)438,100 Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Like RNs, Nurse practitioners (NPs) can also specialize in psychiatry and mental health. They provide assessments and therapeutic interventions to patients with psychiatric disorders and addictions in outpatient and inpatient settings. After becoming licensed as an RN, you must earn a masters degree or doctorate in nursing practice and get a state-issued NP license. MedianAnnual Salary(2018)$107,030 Number of People Employed (2016) 155,500 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)36% (much faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2016-2026)56,100 Psychiatrist Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in treating psychiatric disorders. To become a psychiatrist, you will first have to complete four years of medical schoolafter earning a bachelors degree. Then you will have to do a four-year residency in psychiatry (Association of American Medical Colleges). To practice, a medical license and certification from The American mainboard of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry are required. MedianAnnual Salary(2018)Greater than $208,000 Number of People Employed (2016) 27,500 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)11% (faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2016-2026)3,100 Mental Health Counselor Mental health counselors help people overcome emotional and mental disorders and addictions. You will need to earn a masters degree in mental health counseling or a related field of study, as well as get a state-issued license, to work in this occupation. MedianAnnual Salary(2018)$44,630 Number of People Employed (2016) 157,700 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)23% (much faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Jobs Added(2016-2026)36,500 Explore moreCareers By Field or Industry Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017 and Occupational Employment Statistics, 2018.