Also called: Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, LMHC
Helps people work through anxiety, depression, trauma, and life challenges through talk therapy.
Sees clients one-on-one and in groups at a clinic, private practice, or online. Helps a teen manage panic attacks, a new dad with depression, and someone recovering from a breakup. Writes notes between sessions.
BLS May 2024 (substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors).
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's in clinical mental health counseling (2-3 years) plus about 2 years of supervised practice for licensure.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work.
Growing much faster than average (about 17% over 10 years). Among the fastest-growing jobs.
Low risk for 10 years. Chatbots offer coping tips between sessions and AI drafts notes; people still want a human counselor for real therapy.
Classes: AP Psychology, Sociology, English.
Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1018.
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