Careers in Counseling & Human Services
The counseling and human services industry focuses on enhancing individual and community well-being through prevention, intervention, advocacy, and support services. Professionals in this sector work in diverse settings such as healthcare organizations, community-based agencies, educational institutions, and governmental programs to address mental health, social, and behavioral challenges. These career paths often emphasize collaboration, cultural competence, ethical practice, and evidence-based approaches that promote empowerment and resilience within our communities. Whether you’re in a school, hospital, counseling office, non-profit, or health care agency, you will be providing meaningful support to those in need.
What Can I Do With a Career in Counseling & Human Services?
There are a variety of career options available to those in the Counseling and Human Services industry. Focus areas in Counseling and Human Services include:
- Clinical Psychology Career Overview: Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.
- Mental Health Counseling Career Overview: 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.
- Psychiatry Career Overview: Diagnose, treat, and evaluate patients that may have emotional, mental, and/or behavioral disorders and can prescribe medication when needed.
- School & Educational Counseling Career Overview: Utilizes counseling techniques to educate, advise, and support students at the K-12 levels or in college. This includes academic support, post-graduation advising, career development, and mental health support.
- School Psychology Career Overview: Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families.
- Social & Human Services Career Overview: Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services.
- Social Work Career Overview: Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children, families and other individuals and to maximize well-being. Emphasis on connecting individuals with resources in their community.
- Substance Abuse Career Overview: Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs
For more info on the variety of career pathways available in the Counseling & Human Services industry, check out the “Education and Human Services” and the “Health and Wellness” major categories within What Can I Do With This Major?
Gaining Experience in Counseling and Human Services
Students can gain meaningful experience in the Counseling and Human Services industry through a variety of experiential learning opportunities both on and off campus. Many begin by volunteering or interning with community organizations, nonprofits, social service agencies, or healthcare providers that support mental health, youth development, or family services. On campus, students can build skills through roles in peer mentoring, student support programs, residence life, wellness programs, or by joining clubs that focus on mental health support.
These experiences help students better understand future client needs, develop interpersonal and problem solving skills, and gain exposure to social, emotional, behavioral, and community obstacles.
