Counselors assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems. Their duties depend on the individuals they serve and the settings in which they work.
Rehabilitation Counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel people with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life. They evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling, and arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement.
Mental Health Counselors emphasize prevention and work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. They help individuals deal with addictions, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, family, parenting, and marital problems. Mental Health Counselors work closely with other mental health specialists, including psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors.
An applicant for certification to practice as a professional counselor must be at least 19 years of age, be licensed or qualify for licensure as a mental health practitioner, have a masters degree from an approved program, have three thousand (3,000) hours of experience in professional counseling, and have passed a national counselor exam.
An applicant for a license to practice as a mental health practitioner must be at least 19 years of age, have a master’s degree, have three thousand (3,000) hours of supervised experience in mental health practice, and have passed the mental health practitioner exam.
- Auburn University – Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling
- Troy University
- University of Alabama – Department of Psychology