Also called: LPC, Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Provides talk therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, and life problems.
Sees six to seven clients a day at a clinic or by video, from a teen with panic attacks to a parent struggling after a divorce. Writes progress notes between sessions and talks with a supervisor about tough cases.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's in clinical mental health counseling (2-3 years) plus ~2 years supervised experience for licensure.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Counseling, Psychology.
Growing much faster than average (about 17% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI drafts notes and therapy apps help between sessions; people still want a licensed human to work through trauma and depression.
Classes: AP Psychology, Sociology, Health.
Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1018.
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