Jobs / Education and social services / 21-1014.00
Mental Health Counselors
Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.
- US jobs
- Not reported by BLS
- Job family
- Education and social services
Can agents do the work of mental health counselors?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Education and social services: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)
No direct benchmark gives a success rate.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 22%Counsel others about personal mattersNot measured
- 9%Develop patient or client care or treatment plansNot measured
- 6%Develop public or community health programsNot measured
- 4%Maintain health or medical recordsNot measured
- 4%Teach life skillsNot measured
- 4%Prepare legal or regulatory documentsNot measured
- 4%Collect information about patients or clientsNot measured
- 4%Assess living, work, or social needs or status of individuals or communitiesNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in education and social services, not always this occupation's tasks.
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
- Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.
- Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
- Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
- Perform crisis interventions with clients.
- Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
- Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
- Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
- Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
- Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.
Other job titles for this occupation (36)
Behavior Analyst · Behavioral Health Counselor · Case Manager · Clinician · Counselor · Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) · Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) · Mental Health Counselor · Mental Health Specialist · Mental Health Therapist · Behavioral Health Clinician · Behavioral Health Consultant · Behavioral Health Therapist · Bereavement Counselor · BSS (Behavior Support Specialist) · Clinical Counselor · Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) · Corrections Caseworker · Direct Care Counselor · EAP Consultant (Employee Assistance Program Consultant) · Elder Counselor · Grief Counselor · Group Counselor · Group Home Counselor · Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) · Licensed Counselor · Licensed Mental Health Therapist · Licensed Therapist · Mental Health Case Manager · Mental Health Clinician · Mental Health Professional · Mental Health Program Specialist · Outpatient Mental Health Therapist · Residential Child Care Counselor · Telehealth Therapist · Treatment Coordinator