Name:_____________________________
Psychology Career Profiles
Virtually all careers in the field of psychology require at least a master’s degree and many require a professional (MD or
DO) or doctoral (PsyD or PhD) degree. The high level of education makes these careers in demand in certain areas and
tends to have good compensation. Following is a summary of career opportunities in the four broad areas of
occupations in psychology.
The four specialty areas in psychology are:
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Psychologist – Pages 1-30
Counselor – Pages 31 - 54
Therapist – Pages 55 - 61
Social Worker – Pages 62 - 81
Each area features a number of subspecialties that we will examine in some detail.
Psychology subspecialties include:
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Child psychologist
Clinical psychologist
Cognitive neuroscientist
Cognitive psychologist
Community psychologist
Consumer psychologist
Counseling psychologist
Developmental psychologist
Educational psychologist
Forensic psychologist
Gerontologist
Organizational-industrial psychologist
Media psychologist
Military psychologist
Neuropsychologist
Psychometrician
Rehabilitation psychologist
School psychologist
Social psychologist
Spiritual psychologist
Sports psychologist
Transpersonal psychologist
Child Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Childhood Psychology?
A person’s childhood is often a very simple yet complicated time. It is also a very influential time in a person’s life, and
most people’s childhoods will have a big impact on the type of adult they turn out to be later in life.
Childhood psychology is a specialized branch of traditional psychology that focuses on children, mainly their development
and behavior. It is one of the most commonly studied types of psychology today. This type of psychology typically covers
every child, from birth to adolescence. Some areas covered under childhood psychology include milestones, behavior
problems, social skills, mental and emotional wellbeing, and development.
What Does a Child Psychologist Do?
In general, a childhood psychologist might work with children and their primary caregivers in order to research, assess,
and possibly treat developmental issues. Depending on his preferred area of study, a child psychologist will often work
with all sorts of children.
Not every child that a child psychologist works with is considered to be abnormal. A child psychologist might work with socalled “normal” children for several reasons. He may perform a psychological examination, for instance, or just be a
sounding board for a slightly troubled child.
A child psychologist might also work with children who are considered to have slight mental, emotional, or social
problems. This can include things like anxiety or shyness.
Child psychologists might also work with children who have severe mental, emotional, or social problems as well. Violent
children, autistic children, and those who have been abused, for instance, will often benefit from the help of a child
psychologist.
No matter what type of patient that a child psychologist chooses to work with, he must always deal with them carefully and
handle them with “kid gloves”, so to speak. As mentioned above, childhood is a very influential time in a person’s life. A
child psychologist should be compassionate, understanding, and patient when dealing with children.
What Types of Treatments Do Child Psychologists Use?
A child psychologist will often use a variety of treatment method, many of which are similar to the treatment methods used
with adults. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, for instance, is often a popular form of treatment. This type of
treatment often involves helping a child learn to solve his problems in a healthy and productive manner.
However – children being children – usually have different needs than adults, and a child psychologists treatment
methods should accommodate these needs. For example, many children are easily bored, making traditional treatment
options somewhat difficult. To overcome this obstacle, a child psychologist must make interactions with his patients fun
and entertaining whenever possible. Many child psychologists will provide fun activities for their young patients, such as
coloring books and toys. Many of these activities are used during play therapy.
Where Do Child Psychologists Work?
There is a high demand for licensed child psychologists, and these professionals will often have very little trouble finding
employment.
Many organizations that regularly deal with children typically hire child psychologists. This can include schools,
orphanages, and child welfare offices. Health oriented organizations might also hire child psychologists. This can include
hospitals and mental health clinics.
In addition to working for others, a person interested in a child psychologist career can also usually choose to open his
own practice, which allows him more time to focus on each patient.
What is the Average Salary of a Child Psychologist?
A child psychologist’s salary is typically determined by such factors as his experience, location and employer. Licensed
professionals with more experience, for instance, are usually able to command higher salaries. Also, a child psychologist
practicing in a larger metropolitan area will often make more than a child psychologist in a rural setting.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a group containing school psychologists was $72,540
in 2010. Psychologists in general had an average salary of $86,510 in that same year.
Clinical Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What Does a Clinical Psychologist Do?
Individuals pursuing clinical psychology careers will often have the choice of practicing general clinical psychology or
focusing specifically on certain types of patients or disorders. For example, a clinical psychologist might focus on working
with children or the elderly, or they might focus on working only with patients who are diagnosed with eating disorders or
post-traumatic stress disorder.
Simply put, a clinical psychologist has three main duties:
1. Assess the patient
2. Diagnose disorders
3. Recommend a possible treatment
Assessing a patient typically involves speaking with and interviewing him and possibly his loved ones. During these
interviews, a clinical psychologist will often learn a great deal about what’s troubling his patients. The most common way
for a clinical psychologist to gather information about a patient is by observing him and his actions. A patient himself or his
loved ones will also be able to offer some insight as to how he acts, and what his thoughts and feelings are.
Once a clinical psychologist has assessed a patient, he will then usually diagnose him. In order to do this, the
psychologist will study any information, such as unusual thoughts and behaviors. The
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-R) can then be used to help diagnose a patient according
to his specific symptoms.
Recommending a specific course of treatment is another important responsibility of a clinical psychologist. In some cases,
a psychologist may be able to treat the patients himself. More severe or unusual cases, on the other hand, may require
the help of mental health professionals that are more experienced in certain disorders.
What Types of Treatments are Used in Clinical Psychology?
Clinical psychologists typically don’t use medication to treat disorders. If medication is needed for a particular disorder, the
patient will usually be referred to another mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist.
Different types of therapy are usually used as treatment options in clinical psychology instead. This can include cognitive
behavioral therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and hypnotherapy. These types of therapies focus more on talking
through one’s problems and trying to figure out better ways to handle life’s hurdles.
Where Do Clinical Psychologists Work?
Individuals pursuing clinical psychology careers will often find that they will be able to secure employment in a number of
different healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and mental health facilities.
Depending on their specialties, clinical psychologists might also be able to find employment with a number of other private
and government run organizations. Universities often employ clinical psychologists, for example, to perform research and
help steer eager young minds toward clinical psychology careers. Schools, police departments, and military branches are
also usually in need of professional psychologists as well.
Many clinical psychologists also choose to open their own private practices and work for no other boss but themselves.
Opening a private psychology practice can often be expensive and difficult, but it is also usually very rewarding and
lucrative as well.
What is the Average Annual Salary of a Clinical Psychologist?
As with many other psychology careers, the average salary of clinical psychologists vary depending on a number of
factors. More experienced psychologists in metropolitan areas, for instance, are often able to command higher wages.
According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, however, the average annual salary of clinical psychologists was roughly
$72,540 in 2010.
Cognitive Neuroscientist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Cognitive Neuroscience?
Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do? What makes us tick?
Human beings are utterly complicated animals, with utterly complicated thought processes. Ultimately, however, we are
controlled by chemicals and electrical impulses. This, of course, is an overly simple explanation, and the actual processes
that the brain goes through in order to produce certain reactions or thoughts are very complicated.
The enigma of what makes us tick can partly be explained by cognitive neuroscience, a very specific area of
neuroscience. Cognitive neuroscience is the study of human cognition, or thought, as it relates to neuroscience, or the
biological functions of the brain and nervous system. Basically, the goal of this type of neuroscience is to help
psychologists understand how the physical and biological parts of the brain influence or create the less tangible parts, like
thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and memories.
Cognitive neuroscience is a relatively new field, and the coining of this term actually has a very short, yet interesting,
history. In the 1970′s, a small group of scientists and psychologists planned a dinner. Besides good food and banter,
these dinner plans also included discussing how the brain enables the mind. Two attendants made a fateful decision to
share a taxi to get to the dinner. It just so happens that these two gentlemen, Michael Gazzaniga and George Miller, were
a neuroscientist and a cognitive psychologist.
Why Do We Need Cognitive Neuroscientists?
As mentioned above, cognitive neuroscientists play an important role in understanding the human mind. By better
understanding how the mind works in relation to the physical aspects of the brain, scientists are often able to devise more
effective treatment methods for certain disorders.
Not all mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders are able to be treated with counseling and psychotherapy alone.
Some more severe disorders may need to be treated with medication as well. These medications alter how the brain
functions, enabling it to work more efficiently or – in theory – how it is supposed to.
Some disorders that may benefit from medication include
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Learning disabilities
Schizophrenia
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
Bipolar disorder
What Does a Cognitive Neuroscientist Do?
A cognitive neuroscientist is primarily a researcher, on a quest to find out how our brains contribute to our cognitive
function. These professionals might conduct research a few different ways.
With today’s technological boom, scientists and researchers are using computers more and more. A cognitive researcher
is no exception. He might use computer simulations, for example, to test theories and hypotheses. A cognitive
neuroscientist career might also involve monitoring a patient’s brain activity with special equipment.
A cognitive neuroscientist might also study and test samples of brain tissue, in order to better understand the mysteries of
the human mind.
Where Do Cognitive Neuroscientists Work?
When first starting their careers, cognitive neuroscientists will first usually complete a fellowship, which are very similar to
internships. During a fellowship, a cognitive neuroscientist will work alongside experienced professionals in the field. Most
cognitive neuroscience fellowships last a couple years. After completing their fellowships, cognitive neuroscientists are
then able to look for permanent employment in a number of different facilities.
Universities will often hire cognitive neuroscientists as researchers and professors. Some other possible places of
employment might include research facilities and pharmaceutical companies.
What is the Average Annual Salary of a Cognitive Neuroscientist?
Cognitive neuroscientist salaries can vary, depending on a few different factors. Scientists with more advanced degrees
will usually be able to command higher salaries, for instance.
The type of facility that a cognitive neuroscientist works in will also have an impact on how much he makes. For example,
the average annual salary for biological scientists in 2010 was $71,310. Those that worked at educational institutes made
less than that, however, with an average salary of $59,200. The same type of scientists working for pharmaceutical
companies, on the other hand, made slightly more, with the average salary being $74,670
Community Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Community Psychology?
The health of a community as a whole often affects each individual person in that particular community. If several
individual community members suffer from a particular mental disorder, social problem, or negative economic status, the
overall health of the community will often suffer as a result. These are the types of ideas that community psychologists
focus on.
Community psychology is a branch of psychology that involves the study of how individuals relate to their communities
and vice versa. Researching unpleasant or undesirable situations in a community allows these types of psychologists to
figure out how to solve them.
In general, there are a couple ways to change a community problem.
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First-order change involves changing the individuals themselves. Treating each individual’s substance
abuse problem, for instance.
Second-order change involves researching and changing a system or structure, more or less to help
prevent problems before they start. In conjunction with the first example, this may involve researching and
understanding why so many community members are abusing drugs or alcohol and working toward
preventing it.
Community psychology started sometime around the middle of the 20th century. It was around this time that society as a
whole was becoming slightly less conservative. This, in turn, made some less common social problems more prominent.
Because of this, social psychologists at this time began to become more and more interested in certain social problems
and community well-being.
In 1965, nearly 40 psychologists met in Swampscott, Massachusetts. The purpose of the Swampscott Conference was to
discuss and consider the possibility of training professionals to focus on the mental and social health of communities. This
conference was the beginning of community psychology as we know it today.
Why Do We Need Community Psychology?
At times, the problems of the individuals in a community can quickly become the problems of the community. Problems
such as homelessness, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and AIDS or HIV can be very draining on a community’s
resources.
Community psychologists help keep prevent these problems by examining their causes. Without the help of these
psychologists, community problems would most likely be much worse.
What Does a Community Psychologist Do?
In short, a community psychologist is a problem solver. These types of professionals are often presented with problems
that are affecting certain communities. They will then research the problem and find out why it is a problem, and what the
best way to fix it would be.
When solving community problems, community psychologists will often work closely with several important community
members. This may include local government officials, law enforcement officers, social service employees, and school
officials. During their research, community psychologists will also speak and interact with all types of other community
members, from the “Average Joes” to the more down and out sorts.
Where Does a Community Psychologist Work?
A community psychologist might work in several different types of settings. In some cases, who a community psychologist
works with may be determined by the type of problem a community faces.
Some may work directly for local governments, such as city councils or town board members. Others might work at local
shelters, substance abuse treatment centers, or schools. Research centers might also have a need for community
psychologists as well.
What is the Average Salary of a Community Psychologist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a psychologist in 2010 was $86,510. Salaries of
community psychologists, however, may vary depending on a couple of factors. More experienced and better educated
psychologists will usually be able to command higher salaries, for example, as will those in urban areas.
The salary of a community psychologist is also partly determined by the type of work he does. Psychologists that work in
substance abuse clinics, for instance, made slightly less than the national average for all psychologists in 2010, with an
average salary of $69,150.
Consumer Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Consumer Psychology?
You know you’ve done it. You’ve made an impulse buy. Maybe something looked like a good deal at the time. Maybe it
was on sale. Maybe it had an eye-catching package, or was within easy reach. Or maybe you simply felt like it at the time.
Whatever the reason, don’t feel bad about it. We’ve all done it, and most likely not for the reasons you think. Chances are,
many of your purchases are influenced in some way by consumer psychology.
Consumer psychology is a specialized branch of social psychology, and it is the study of consumers and their behavior.
This includes their wants and needs, as well as what influences their purchasing habits. There are a number of things that
might influence what a consumer purchases, such as how a product is packaged, how much it costs, or how easily
accessible it is. Even a consumer’s mood might have an influence on some of the products that they purchase.
Businesses will often use consumer psychology to make consumers more willing to buy certain products or services. The
results of consumer psychology research, for instance, can help these businesses present their products or services in a
more appealing light, which may make consumers more likely to part with their hard earned money. This can include little
details, like packaging, shelf placement, and advertising.
The roots of consumer psychology began back in the 1940′s, with a psychologist named John Watson. It was Watson that
first used consumers’ emotions to help sell products. Following his advice, Johnson and Johnson’s created baby powder
ads that played on a mother’s attachment to about her baby.
What Does a Consumer Psychologist Do?
A consumer psychologist’s main duty is to get inside the mind of the consumer.
This specialize field of psychology mainly involves studying and researching consumer behavior, and what influences their
purchases. Research may be conducted a few different ways, such as through focus groups and surveys. Some
consumer psychologists might even observe consumers while they are in a store. The results of the research done by
consumer psychologists are then often compiled into reports.
Many consumer psychology careers also involve finding ways to get consumers to spend or buy more.
Where Does a Consumer Psychologist Work?
A consumer psychologist might work as a self-employed consultant or a full time employee.
These professionals might work for advertising and marketing agencies, or for businesses and corporations. Government
agencies and universities might also hire consumer psychologists as well.
What is the Average Salary of a Consumer Psychologist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a traditional psychologist was $86,510 in 2010.
Consumer psychologists, on the other hand, may make more or less than this, depending on a number of factors.
Professionals with advanced degrees will often be able to command much higher salaries, for instance, as will more
talented and experienced consumer psychologists. The location of a consumer psychologist might also have an influence
on his salary as well. In general, these professionals will be able to make more money in more densely populated areas.
Counseling Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Counseling Psychology?
At times, with all of its ups and downs, life can feel little like a roller coaster. People in general are emotional creatures.
Feeling happy, enamored, sad, angry, and scared is normal, and these emotions are part of what makes us human. At
times, however, these emotions – particularly the negative ones – can be overwhelming and take on a life of their own.
Counseling psychology is a type of applied psychology that can be used to help people gain control of their feelings. This
type of psychology focuses on treating individuals with a variety of different emotional, behavioral, and social problems or
disorders. Long with clinical psychology, counseling psychology is one of the most common and widespread
psychological specialties.
Because the two are so similar, clinical psychology and counseling psychology are often mistaken for each other.
Although these two areas are very similar, they are also somewhat different as well. Clinical psychologists and counseling
psychologists both treat wide variety of mental and emotional problems, for instance. However, Counseling psychologists
typically focus on individuals whose symptoms are less severe, such as those coping with everyday stresses and
adjusting to life’s rollercoaster ride. Clinical psychologists, on the other hand, often treat patients with more serious
symptoms and disorders.
Most psychologists and historians will agree that counseling psychology has been around for a very long time. Sigmund
Freud opened his private practice in 1886, treating his patients with counseling and therapy. Lightner Witmer opened one
of the first psychological clinics a short time later, in 1896.
What Types of Treatments Do Counseling Psychologists use?
Carl Rogers was also one of the founding fathers of person-centered therapy, which is a type of therapy that is based on
the patients’ own individual life experiences. This type of therapy is still one of the most popular and effective forms of
treatment in counseling psychology today. It involves the psychologist listening to and trying to understand his patients. In
doing so, the psychologist can then help steer his patients toward changing themselves for the better.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is another common type of treatment used by cognitive psychologists. This type of therapy
focuses on clients identifying and understanding their negative beliefs. Since these negative beliefs often affect a person’s
mood and emotions, the client and the psychologist then work towards changing them.
What Does a Counseling Psychologist Do?
A cognitive psychologist’s goal is often to help his patients overcome their negative thoughts and emotions. In general, a
psychologist will try to treat patients with a variety of different problems, including depression and anxiety. Those looking
to pursue counseling psychology careers, however, can also choose to specialize in certain areas, like grief counseling or
vocational stress. The number of patients that a counseling psychologist works with at one time can also vary. Some only
work with their patients on a one-on-one situation, while others may work with small groups of people.
The majority of counseling psychologists interact with their patients each and every day. They are often presented with a
wide range of mental and emotional problems that people face every day.
In order to treat their patients, counseling psychologists will typically create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. They
should also be understanding and non-judgmental, so that patients will open up to them. Cognitive psychologists will then
encourage their patients to talk about their feelings and behaviors, possibly asking questions occasionally. By getting to
know their patients, cognitive psychologists can then work to help them deal with and remedy their problems.
Where Do Counseling Psychologists Work?
A counseling psychology career can often lead a person in several different directions. In general, counseling
psychologists should have no trouble finding work. For example, they can often find employment in places like mental
health clinics, hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and schools.
For those looking for a little more control over their counseling psychology careers, opening their own practice is another
option.
What is the Average Salary For Counseling Psychologists?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of clinical and counseling psychologists was
$72,540. Depending on a counseling psychologist’s specialty, however, they may make more or less than this amount.
Those that worked in health practice offices made an average salary of $86,700, for example, and those that worked in
employment services made an average salary of $96,700. On the low end of the scale, however, those working in
educational support services made an average salary of $66,420.
Development Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Developmental Psychology?
Throughout their lives, humans go through a number of developmental changes, from birth to death. These changes are
usually marked by milestones, which signify a turning point of some sort in a person’s life. The majority of notable
milestones occur in our childhood and adolescence, such as first words and puberty. Adults, however, also go through a
number of developmental milestones as well. Some milestones in an adult’s life might include getting married and retiring.
Developmental psychology is the study of human growth and development. This may include physical, mental, emotional,
intellectual, and social changes and milestones. By studying these developmental changes, psychologists can have a
better understanding of how people change and grow during different stages of their lives.
Why Do We Need Developmental Psychology?
Developmental psychology helps us understand how a person grows, ages, and develops during different stages in his
life. Understanding this allows us to live our lives to the fullest potential possible.
On average, most people develop or hit certain milestones at certain ages. By knowing what age a child is expected to hit
a certain milestone, psychologists are able to tell whether he is on track or not. Babies that are not sitting up on their own
by nine months of age, for instance, may not be developing properly or they may have a more serious health condition.
Catching a possible problem early, however, can help parents and doctors get a child back on track to so-called normal
development.
What Do Developmental Psychologists Do?
A developmental psychologist will usually specialize in certain ages and stages during people’s lives. For instance, a
developmental psychologist might focus on childhood development, or he may focus on the Golden Years in a person’s
life.
The duties and responsibilities of a developmental psychologist will often vary, depending on his specialty. A professional
specializing in childhood development, for example, may evaluate children to determine whether or not they have
developmental disabilities. On the other hand, a developmental psychologist specializing in older adults may try to find
ways that make it easier for elderly people to live more independently.
Where Do Developmental Psychologists Work?
Pursuing a developmental psychology career may seem daunting at first, but there are a number of places that hire these
professionals.
Developmental psychologists often work in schools and learning centers, for instance, along with children’s homes.
Hospitals and mental health facilities often work with developmental psychologists as well, as do nursing and retirement
homes.
Universities and other educational institutes also hire developmental psychologists to perform research and teach. Some
government agencies and research facilities also work with these professionals.
What is the Average Salary for a Developmental Psychologist?
The average salary for a developmental psychologist in the United States can vary, depending on a few different factors.
For instance, more experienced developmental psychologists with advanced degrees are often able to command higher
wages than professionals with less impressive resumes.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, psychologists in general made an average salary of $86,510 in
2010. Developmental psychologists may make slightly more or less than this, depending on their specialty and where they
work. Professionals that worked in substance abuse clinics and psychiatric hospitals, for example, made an average
salary of $69,150, while those working in physicians’ offices made an average salary of $109,600.
Educational Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Educational Psychology?
Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn and retain knowledge, primarily in educational settings like
classrooms. This includes emotional, social, and cognitive learning processes. Areas of focus in this branch of psychology
might include teaching and testing methods, classroom environment, and learning, social, and behavioral problems that
may impede learning.
The majority of educational psychology is geared toward children, from infancy to adolescence. With more adults
continuing their education in recent years, however, many educational psychology studies have also focused on adult
learners. This research can help adult learners overcome obstacles, such as learning disabilities.
Why Do We Need Educational Psychology?
Many of us might take learning and education for granted. Going to class and being taught is or was just something that
we did. For others, however, learning in a classroom isn’t so simple. For these people, school is an annoying and
frustrating torture, which can often lead to behavioral issues or even the lack of an education.
Learning disabilities often contribute a great deal to being unable to retain knowledge in a classroom setting. Educational
psychology, however, can be used to help people understand and overcome learning disabilities, so they are able to live
up to their full potential in life.
What Does an Educational Psychologist Do?
An educational psychologist will conduct research and studies that are relevant to education. They may conduct research
on how well people learn in certain settings or with a certain type of instruction. With this research, they can then try to
develop new and improved teaching techniques and learning methods in order to help those that are struggling with their
education.
Another common duty of an educational psychologist is to evaluate and analyze certain teaching methods, testing
methods, and educational programs. Studying these areas of education allows the psychologist to gain insight into any
flaws or problems that may make it difficult for some people to learn.
Along with evaluating existing educational resources, an educational psychologist might also create and develop new
ones, which make it easier for certain groups of people to learn. These resources might include textbooks, worksheets,
lesson plans, tests, and instructional videos.
Many educational psychologists will specialize in the educational developments of a certain group of people. Some might
focus of the education of children, for instance, while others might focus on adult learners. It is also not uncommon for an
educational psychologist to focus on a particular type of learning problem or disability, such as dyslexia.
Where Does an Educational Psychologist Work?
There are job opportunities for educational psychologists all over the country.
Schools and educational institutions often work with these professionals in order to help improve their learning systems.
Community organizations and learning centers also often work with educational psychologists as well. Educational
psychologists might also work at government and private research centers.
What is the Average Salary For an Educational Psychologist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a group containing school psychologists made an average annual salary of
$72,540 in 2010. Those that worked in elementary schools made an average salary of $71,070, and those that worked in
individual and family services made roughly $69,540.
Forensic Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Forensic Psychology?
Crime is often a major problem in many areas, particularly densely populated areas. As much as we may wish for
peaceful, crime-free lives, this is most likely not going to happen anytime soon. Punishing criminals or preventing them
from committing crimes in the first place is typically necessary for protecting ordinary criminals from crime.
Forensic psychology often plays a role in punishing and preventing crimes. The word forensic is defined as “the scientific
method for investigation of crime”. Forensic psychology is often described as the merger of the merger of law and
psychology.
This field of psychology is often focused on the criminals themselves. Professionals in this field are often given the
ominous responsibilities of trying to figure out why certain types of people commit crimes; what type of person committed
a crime; and how to prevent people from committing crimes.
Before 1940, psychologists weren’t revered as expert witnesses in a courtroom, and medical doctors were preferred. In
1940, however, the court case People v. Hawthorne ruled that an expert witness’s title was less important than the
breadth of his knowledge. Another court case in 1962, Jenkins v. United States, ruled that psychologists were acceptable
expert witnesses in a courtroom.
Why Do We Need Forensic Psychology?
Forensic psychology can sometimes be a very important piece of the puzzle when trying to solve a criminal case.
Professionals in this field are often able to help narrow down the suspect list, or at least provide a motive for a crime. In
some cases, the expert testimonial of a respected forensic psychologist might be the last piece of the puzzle when trying
to convict a criminal.
The field of forensic psychology is also a very important part of crime prevention as well. Professionals in this field might
be called upon to participate in the rehabilitation of criminals, for instance, to help ensure that they become law abiding
citizens. Research in this field can also help pinpoint certain types of people who might possibly commit crimes before
they actually do.
What Does a Forensic Psychologist Do?
Research is often a big part of a forensic psychology career. Forensic psychologists will often study and analyze research
from other professionals, as well as conduct their own research. They might study criminals and their crimes, for instance,
to determine what traits certain types of criminals have. These tasks may involve interviewing criminals, along with their
loved ones and victims.
A forensic psychologist will also often study crime scenes. Evidence, or even the lack of evidence, at a crime scene can
often be used to develop a criminal profile. This can then be used to narrow down a list of suspects.
Many forensic psychologists also act as expert witnesses during criminal trials. They will often give testimonies about why
a crime may have occurred, or whether or not they believe a defendant was likely to have committed the crimes in
question. A forensic psychologist might also have an influence on a criminal’s sentencing.
Where Does a Forensic Psychologist Work?
Those pursuing forensic psychology careers will often be able to find employment in police stations, courthouses, and law
firms. Prisons, jails, and juvenile detention centers also hire forensic psychologists.
Individuals pursuing forensic psychology careers might also have opportunities to become self-employed. Some may work
as consultants, for instance, or they may choose to receive compensation for testifying as expert witnesses.
What is the Average Salary of a Forensic Psychologist?
The salary for a traditional psychologist in 2010 was $86,510, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS does
not record salary data on forensic psychologists in particular, though. According to PayScale.com, however, forensic
psychologists made between $35,333 and $103,576.
Gerontologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Gerontology?
As we grow older, our minds and bodies begin to change slowly. Some of these changes might sneak up on us so slowly
that we may not even notice them at first, but they do happen. These changes may include typical physical problems that
come with old age, such as wrinkles, hair loss, diseases, and loss of muscle and bone loss.
Psychological problems also become more common as we age, and many older adults typically experience some sort of
mental and emotional disorders. Some of these problems might be caused by physical changes, like mood swings that
accompany menopause or depression caused by chronic illness. Other psychological problems, however, might be
caused by life experiences, such as grief over losing their close friends or spouses.
Gerontology is the study of the aging process and the problems that elderly individuals might encounter. Professionals in
this field typically study and find ways to treat physical, mental, emotional, and social problems.
This field of gerontology is very broad, and there are many subfields. Social gerontology and biogerontology are two of the
most common subfields of gerontology. Social gerontology is the subfield of gerontology that deals with the social aspects
of aging, and biogerontology is the subfield of gerontology that deals with the biological aspects of aging.
It was in the beginning of the 20th century that the term “gerontology” was coined by Elie Metchnikoff. In the 1940′s,
James Birren began organizing the field of gerontology. One of his most important accomplishments was the theory of
primary, secondary, and tertiary aging.
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Primary aging refers to the natural physical deterioration of the body over time.
Secondary aging refers to the illnesses and diseases that can hasten the aging process, such as Alzheimer’s
disease and cancer. These diseases and illnesses are often caused by lifestyle choices and a person’s
environments.
Tertiary aging refers to the increase in cognitive and physical deterioration of a person in the short time before
death.
Today, gerontology is still a growing field. As scientists create more wonder drugs and treatments, more and more people are living to
ripe old ages. This means more demand for gerontological professionals.
Why Do We Need Gerontology?
Because there are more effective medical treatments in the world today, the number of elderly individuals in the world
today is higher than ever. Of course, as the field of medicine continues to advance, that number is only expected to
increase even more.
These older adults need a different type of care than their younger counterparts – the kind of care that gerontologists
specialize in. Research and advancements in this field make the prospect of living to a ripe old age a little less scary and
a little less intimidating. Professionals in this field can help meet the needs of older adults on a mental, emotional, social,
and physical level.
What Does a Gerontologist Do?
Individuals interested in a gerontology career might go on to work as researchers, or they may choose to work directly
with older adults.
Gerontology research careers typically involve conducting research to study and better understand some of the things that
may affect the aging process. Some gerontological researchers might study why some people get more wrinkles than
others, for instance, or how to cure or slow the progression of certain diseases associated with old age.
Gerontologists might also work directly with older individuals. They may provide help with day to day activities, such as
meal preparation, transportation, or even just nice conversation.
Some gerontologists might specialize in emotional or mental disorders that may be experienced by older adults. They may
offer counseling or therapy for things such as depression, anxiety, and grief.
Advocacy is another common responsibility of gerontologists, namely social gerontologists. Senior advocates may act as
links between older adults and the world around them. They may help them with the long and difficult paperwork
associated with such things as health care or insurance. Social gerontologists also usually work to help dispel some of the
myths that surround old age and work to set older adults up with employment, education, volunteer opportunities, or social
activities.
Gerontologists may also work with other health care professionals to help meet the unique needs of older adults. They
may help design the best health care programs for older adults, for instance.
Where Do Gerontologists Work?
Gerontologists can often find employment in nearly any facility that treats or caters to older adults. They might work in
hospitals and nursing homes, for instance, designing and overseeing proper care procedures. Gerontologists might also
be able to find employment in residential retirement communities, attending to the physical and emotional needs of older
adults.
Programs and activities geared toward older adults – such as those found in community senior centers – are also usually
organized by gerontologists.
What is the Average Salary of Gerontologists?
The salary of a gerontologist is usually determined by where he works, as well as the highest level of education that he
completed.
Typically, the field of gerontology falls under the broad area of social work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
social workers made a median salary of $42,480 in 2010. Home health care aides, which usually require slightly less
education, had a median salary of $20,560 in that same year.
Neuropsychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Neuropsychology?
The human brain is arguably the most complicated and astonishing organs in the human body. It can even be called the
master organ, since it regulates all of the other organs in the body. For instance, it tells the lungs when to inhale and
exhale; it tells the skin when it there’s a sensation, such as an itch or pain; it helps regulate digestion; and it tells the heart
to keep pumping. The brain is also master and commander of our cognitive functions and behaviors. Injury to any part of
the brain can cause malfunctions in the body, along with unusual thoughts and behaviors.
Understanding how the brain influences our cognitive functions and behaviors falls upon the shoulders of
neuropsychologists. Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with how the brain and the rest of the
nervous system influence a person’s cognition and behaviors. More importantly, professionals in this branch of
psychology often focus on how injuries or illnesses of the brain affect cognitive functions and behaviors.
Modern neuropsychology has roots back in the late 19th century, when animals and humans with brain and nervous
system injuries were studied by some of the first neuropsychologists. Unfortunately, the research papers were unreadable
for some, partly because they were written in German, and this field came to a halt in the early 20th century.
The field of neuropsychology began to make a comeback after World War II, when doctors found the need to treat
veterans with head injuries. In the 1960′s, psychologists revisited the studies done in the late 19th century, and the field
has grown rapidly since.
Why Do We Need Neuropsychology?
Imagine having a brain injury. Now, imagine that your injury has made it so that you’re unable to function normally.
Neuropsychology helps doctors understand how brain malfunctions occur, and what happens when they do. By
understanding these neurological problems, doctors can help possibly treat and prevent them.
What Does a Neuropsychologist Do?
The duties and responsibilities of neuropsychologists may vary, depending on their specialties.
Some neuropsychologists, for instance, work primarily as researchers. This might involves studying both healthy humans
and animals, and those with brain injuries or illnesses.
Neuropsychologists might also work in clinical settings as well. This typically involves assessing and diagnosing patients.
This can be done by observing specific symptoms and using sophisticated technology, such as brain scans. After
successfully diagnosing a neurological problem, neuropsychologists can then often recommend a course of treatment,
which can include therapy, medication, or surgery.
Where Do Neuropsychologists Work?
As with a neurologist’s duties, a neuropsychologist’s place of employment might vary, depending on his specialty.
Neuropsychologists that are primarily concerned with research might work in private or government research facilities.
Some universities might also hire these professionals to conduct research and teach.
Clinical neuropsychologists might work in a number of different healthcare settings. This can include hospitals, clinics, and
physicians’ offices. Some neuropsychologists might also choose to open private practices, and treat patients in their
offices or work as consultants.
What Is the Average Salary For a Neuropsychologist?
The average salary of those in neuropsychology careers is often influenced by the number of years of experience.
According to a study done by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology in 2011, the average salary of
neuropsychologists in the United states was $94,100. Starting salaries for these professionals ranged from $77,500 to
$80,700. Those with 11 to 15 years of experience in the field had an average salary of $130,600, and those with over 25
years of experience in the field had an average salary of $185,200.
Psychometrician - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Psychometrics?
In our world obsessed with constant competition, placement, and proper development, testing has becoming a very
common procedure. We have tests designed to determine how intelligent we are, as well as tests that group students
together in classes that are within their mental capacity. We also have tests that tell us which jobs would be best for us,
and we even have tests that claim to reveal our personalities.
Chances are you’ve encountered at least one of these types of tests at some point in your life, but have you ever
wondered where these tests come from and who designs them?
Psychometrics is the science of measuring people’s mental capacities and thought processes through a systemized
manner. In other words, it’s a way to create tests to determine how smart we are or what are personalities are like.
Psychometricians are the scientists behind those interesting – and sometimes nerve wracking – aptitude and personality
tests. The tests that these professionals create help to better understand how the mind works. They are able to measure
the how a mind functions and how it compares to other groups of people.
Alfred Binet was one of the first and most recognizable people to come up with the idea of a workable intelligence scale.
He worked to help create the Binet-Simon Intelligence test in 1908, which was one of the first tests used to measure a
person’s intelligence. Later, in 1916, this test was improved upon by Lewis Terman, a professor at Stanford University,
and it was called the Stanford-Binet Intelligence (IQ) Test.
Throughout the years, the original intelligence test has been changed slightly and adapted throughout the years. Today,
this test is still used to measure a person’s IQ, or how smart he is compared to his peers. Other tests have also been
created, which can measure everything from a person’s personality traits to what type of career he would excel at.
What Types of Tests Do Psychometricians Create?
In general, there are two main types of tests that psychometricians might help to create.
The first types of tests are aptitude tests. These measure people’s knowledge and reasoning in areas such as language,
mathematics, patterns, and spatial awareness. After a person takes an aptitude test, his raw score is figured based on
how many answers he got right and wrong. This raw score can then be examined next to the raw scores of other
individuals in a certain group of people. A person’s raw score from an IQ test, for instance, can be compared to the raw
scores of others in his age group. The average IQ for most age groups is usually between 90 and 110.
Personality tests might also be created by psychometricians. As their name suggests, these types of tests help measure
and reveal certain parts of a person’s personality. Questions on these types of tests usually ask about certain situations,
and how a person feels about them or would handle them. Unlike aptitude tests, there are no right or wrong answers on
these tests. Rather the answers that a person gives are compared to certain personality traits, and the dominate trait are
picked out and revealed.
What Does a Psychometrician Do?
Research is a large part of a psychometrician career. These professionals will spend a great deal of time gathering data
and calculating statistics from that data. Psychometricians are also responsible for determining the reliability of certain
tests as well.
Psychometricians also design and create tests that collect data used to measure mental capacity and thought processes.
When creating these types of tests, psychometricians will first decide which format to use for each test. This can include
multiple choice questions, short answer questions, or true and false questions. Other aspects of the tests will also be
decided, such as the number of questions, the difficulty level of the questions, and the rime limits for the tests
After the tests are created, psychometricians might also administer the tests, since they are familiar with them and
understand how they work and how they should be administered.
Once the tests have been completed by the test takers, psychometricians will then score them. The results of the tests
can be compiled into reports or they can be compared to other groups of test takers. For instance, let’s say someone
takes an IQ test and scores 140. By comparing that score to the scores of other people in the same age group, a
psychometrician would be able to deduce that that person is highly intelligent.
Evaluating current tests and testing systems to ensure accuracy might also be in a psychometrician’s job description.
After determining the accuracy of tests, these professionals might make changes that will make them more accurate or
effective.
Where Do Psychometricians Work?
Psychometricians might work at research facilities, testing companies, and universities, performing research and creating
tests.
Hospitals, mental health clinics, social service offices, and private psychological practices might also hire
psychometricians. Companies and corporations also seek the expertise of psychometricians to create and administer
aptitude and competency tests, as do many public and private schools.
The military uses tests created by psychometricians to test the intelligence and mental stability of new recruits, and
criminal justice facilities also use similar tests to research the mental state of criminals and inmates.
What is the Average Salary of a Psychometrician?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect specific salary data for psychometricians. Statisticians, however, made an
average salary of $72,830 in 2010. This is right in line with a report done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011, which
states that psychometricians made between $50,000 and $100,000 each year.
Rehabilitation Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Rehabilitation Psychology?
Most people deal with all sorts of problems throughout the course of their lives. Depending on the person and the type of
problem, these problems can usually be worked through with relative ease.
Some problems, however, aren’t so easy to work through, and they make it hard to function in everyday life. These can
include emotional problems, cognitive, developmental and social problems, as well as physical addiction. Overcoming
severe forms of these problems will often require professional help and guidance.
Rehabilitation psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on treating individuals dealing with disabilities and
problems that make living normal lives difficult. Professionals in this field try to help people with these types of problems
adjust and work toward leading happy and healthy lives.
This area of psychology involves treating a broad range of problems. Some of the problems that rehabilitation
psychologists treat may be mental or emotional, and they may include such things as depression, anxiety, developmental
disabilities, and learning disabilities. Other problems that rehabilitation psychologists treat might be physical, such as
addiction or chronic pain. Problems that rehabilitation psychologists treat might be chronic or acute, and they might also
be congenital or acquired.
Division 22 of the American Psychological Association, the rehabilitation psychology division, was founded in 1958. Two
years later, in 1960, Beatrice Wright published Physical Disability: A Psychosocial Approach, which is considered today to
be one of the first and most influential books written in the area of rehabilitation psychology.
Today, the field of rehabilitation psychology continues to grow. Rehabilitation psychology careers are highly sought after,
especially considering that people are starting to realize even more the importance of rehabilitation.
Why Do We Need Rehabilitation Psychology?
Imagine living your life with an illness or disability that you can’t control, or imagine that your loved one had an illness or
disability that made living life difficult. Imagine how agonizing it would be, how helpless you would feel.
Rehabilitation psychology can help with some of these problems. Professionals in this field can help some individuals deal
with and eliminate their problems, and get back on track with their lives. Patients who enlist the help of rehabilitation will
often learn to make better choices and adapt to new challenges that they may face.
The answer to the question of why we need rehabilitation psychology is simple. Everyone deserves a chance at a normal,
happy life, and rehabilitation psychologists can work to help some people achieve this.
What Do Rehabilitation Psychologists Do?
Rehabilitation psychology is a very broad area of psychology, and it covers a wide range of different psychological
problems. Many rehabilitation psychologists specialize in certain areas of this field, and they only work with certain types
of patients. These professionals must also take into account that all patients are different, and what works for one may not
necessarily work for another.
Despite these facts, there are a few common duties that a rehabilitation psychologist might have.
Rehabilitation psychologists are often responsible for assessing their patients to determine what is wrong with them. This
usually involves observing their behaviors, interviewing them, and possibly interviewing their loved ones.
If the situation warrants it, loved ones might also ask a rehabilitation psychologist to help with staging an intervention. An
intervention is a process used to intervene in a patient’s life to stop him from participating in harmful behavior.
Interventions are particular common in cases of addiction.
After assessing and diagnosing a patient, a rehabilitation psychologist is also usually responsible for recommending a
course of treatment. In most cases, these psychologists will be able to help the patients. Treatment often includes
different types of therapy, including one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. During therapy sessions, a
rehabilitation psychologist will usually lend a compassionate and non-judgmental ear. He will also help his patient and
guide him toward overcoming future hurdles in life and become more self-reliant.
Rehabilitation, however, is not something that can be accomplished solely by the psychologist and the patient. It is a team
effort. These professionals will often help their patients discover and set up a support network of trusted family and friends
that have the patients’ best interests in mind. Support networks such as these are excellent for when patients are feeling
discouraged or even hopeless in their progress.
Where Do Rehabilitation Psychologists Work?
Rehabilitation psychologists might work in a number of different health facilities. This can include hospitals, physical
therapy centers, long-term care centers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, psychiatric hospitals, and mental health
clinics.
These professionals might also be employed by halfway houses, detention centers, and social service offices. Some
rehabilitation psychologists also choose to open their own practices.
What is the Average Salary For Rehabilitation Psychologists?
Where a rehabilitation psychologist works and his experience in the field will often have an impact on how much he
makes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for instance, psychologists who worked in substance abuse facilities
in 2010 had an average annual salary of $69,150. Those who worked in physicians’ offices, on the other hand, had an
average annual salary of $109,600 in that same year.
School Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is School Psychology?
School is a very influential part of a child’s life, and for good reason. Children typically spend a large amount of times
attending school, starting at the age of five or even younger. Besides getting their first tastes the world of academia,
children will also experience a number of other first while in school – first friends, first enemies, first loves, and first
heartbreaks. It is also in school when children first begin to really learn about their strengths and weaknesses.
These sudden changes can be hard to adjust to for some students. Other situations and problems, like family discord and
learning disabilities, can also make doing well in school very difficult for some students.
School psychology is a branch of psychology that concentrates on students and how to help them make the best of their
education. This area of psychology focuses not only on the students’ academics, but also social, behavioral, emotional,
and personal factors that might also influence their education.
The main purpose of school psychology is to help create happy, health, safe, supportive, and effective learning
environments for all children. Professionals in this field are adamant about making sure that the needs and welfare of
students are put first at all times.
This branch of psychology was first discussed in 1954, when the American Psychological Association (APA) held a
conference at the Hotel Thayer in West Point, NY. This conference was appropriately called the Thayer Conference.
During this conference, members of the APA met to discuss the purpose of school psychologists, as well as the roles that
they would play in the school systems. Necessary education requirements and credentials of school psychologists were
also discussed at this conference. Finally, in 1968, school psychology became an official division of the APA.
Today, school psychology careers are as important as ever. In fact, this profession was deemed to be one of the top ten
professions by U.S. News and World Report in 2002.
Why Do We Need School Psychology?
Young students’ minds are very impressionable, and the events that they experience in school will often stick with them
for the rest of their lives. For this reason, it is very important to mold our young future leaders to become relatively
emotionally stable, socially adept, and intelligent – not sociopaths.
Students who have a rough time in school may be impacted for the rest of their lives, or they might have trouble learning
like they should. This can cause problems later on in life or impede them from being accepted at a good college.
School psychologists can help the students adjust better to their schools and peers, which can help them become happier
and more successful adults.
What Do School Psychologists Do?
School psychologists typically work with students, teachers, families, and school administrators to help ensure that
students are getting the best education possible.
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Students: School psychologists typically have a lot of contact with students. These professionals are typically
responsible for assessing and evaluating students for such things as learning disabilities, social problems,
emotional problems, and mental problems. School psychologists can also usually help students with problems in
their lives, such as home life problems – such as abuse – and social problems – such as bullying.
Family: Schools and school officials are not the only responsible parties when it comes to children’s education. To
make the most of a child’s education, that child’s parents or guardians should also be actively involved. School
psychologists will often help parents and guardians understand their children’s educational needs and work to
help them make the most of their school years.
Teacher: Teachers are the faculty members that students interact with the most while they’re in school. School
psychologists and teachers can work together to create pleasant and effective learning environment for children.
A school psychologist might also be called upon to help create discipline systems for unruly students or work out
misunderstandings between students and teachers.
School Administrators: Besides teachers, school psychologists will also work closely with other faculty members,
such as school administrators. School psychologists might offer advice on how to improve school policies or
create outreach programs.
Where Do School Psychologists Work?
One would probably think that school psychologists work at…well, schools. And one would generally be correct.
School psychologists work in all types of schools, including public schools and private schools. They work with students of
all ages, including students in elementary schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and technical schools. Some
school psychologists might also work in day care centers, juvenile detention centers, and orphanages.
What Is the Average Salary of a School Psychologist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists made an average salary of
$73,090 in 2010. General psychologists who worked in elementary and secondary schools made an average salary of
$89,570 in that same year.
Social Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Social Psychology?
Social psychology is the study of how the presence of people can affect one individual’s behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.
The group of people that can influence a person is often real, but the imagined or even the implied presence of other
people can sometimes alter an individual’s behavior or thoughts. Social psychology is often thought to be a combination
between sociology and psychology, since it utilizes research and analytical methods from both areas. Although social
psychology is similar to sociology, it is also very different. For instance, professionals in both of these fields have a
particular interest in groups of people. Sociology, however, focuses on group behavior, while social psychology focuses
on how a group of people influences each individual in that group.
This special field of psychology began in the early 20th century, and it was spurred on by experiments on social facilitation
performed by Norman Triplett in 1898. Social facilitation is the phenomenon that causes the majority of people to do better
at certain things when other people are around. Social psychology became even more popular in the 1930′s, when
German psychologists who were fleeing from their country started studying prejudice and the spread of Nazism.
Since its beginnings, social psychology has been used to study everything from hate crimes to bullying to marketing
tactics. Today, it is still a growing field, and it can be applied to many areas.
Why Do We Need Social Psychology?
The world, unfortunately, is teeming with all different sorts of social problems. All it takes to see this is watching the
evening news or skimming the morning paper. Understanding these problems and how a group can influence each of the
individuals in that group is one of the first steps toward putting an end to these problems. Some of the problem areas that
social psychology can be used to study include
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prejudice
bullying
criminal activity
community health problems, like HIV and AIDS
substance abuse
family and domestic problems
Not all group influences on individuals is negative, however. Some individuals that are in the presence of certain people,
for example, might feel more inclined to react positively to the world around them. Social psychology can be used to study
these types of situations and possibly be used to help create more.
What Does a Social Psychologist Do?
Social psychologists might analyze previous social psychology research results, or they might conduct original research.
Reading research papers and social psychology journals is often the best way to study research conducted by other
social psychologists, and original research can be conducted a few different ways.
First, social psychologists can create environments that are replicas of real world environments. Individuals and groups of
individuals can be put in these environments, and social psychologists can then observe their behaviors and actions.
Social psychologists might also ask interview a person while monitoring brain activity with sophisticated equipment
Since the presence of social psychologists and medical equipment can influence how a person behaves, however, many
social psychologists prefer to do their research “in the field”. This typically involves watching “real” people in “real”
environments and situations.
The research that psychologists conduct can be applied to solve a number of real world problems, from minor problems to
major problems. For example, social psychologists might be able to help advertisers and marketers figure out how to use
group influence to help get more individuals to buy certain brands. Social psychology studies can also be applied to help
put a stop to or lessen the spread of certain social problems. Professionals that work toward this goal will usually help
create such things as community programs and public awareness campaigns. Some social psychologists might also
provide counseling for individuals affected by social problems.
Where Does a Social Psychologist Work?
Social psychologists will often be able to find employment in a number of different facilities and organizations. Those that
focus on research, for instance, will often be able to find employment in private and government research facilities. They
might conduct research in controlled environments, such as laboratories, or in natural environments, such as urban
settings. Other facilities might also hire social psychologists, like schools, correctional facilities, and social welfare
organizations.
Marketing and advertising firms also sometimes hire social psychologists for marketing research. Social psychologists that
work at universities will often be hired to teach, but they will also usually be able to conduct research as well.
What is the Average Salary For Social Psychologists?
The Bureau of labor Statistics does not record salary data specifically for social psychologists, but it does record salary
data for a number of similar professions. Sociologists made an average salary of $79,460 in 2010, for instance, and
psychologists made an average salary of $86,510 in that same year. Psychologists that worked at elementary and
secondary schools, however, made $89,570 and those in scientific research and development made an average salary of
$100,790.
Sports Psychologist - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Sport Psychology?
For many people, playing sports is a fun way to stay fit, and compete with friends and peers. A select few might also make
a pretty decent living by playing professional sports. But what makes some strive to play sports, to compete? What makes
some push themselves to their limits for nothing more than the satisfaction of winning? How does playing sports affect
people mentally and emotionally?
These are just a few of the questions that sport psychologists try to answer. Sports psychology is a branch of psychology
that focuses on how individuals are affected by playing sports as well as how to improve a person’s mindset in order to
excel at sports. A sport psychologist understands that individuals who play sports must be healthy in both their bodies and
minds in order to succeed. At times, some athletes need help overcoming psychological issues that do not allow them to
play to their full potential. Reducing stress and extreme anxiety before events often leads to better performances by
athletes.
Sport psychologists often work with several different types of athletes, from amateurs to professionals. Athletes might
seek out these professionals on their own, or coaches might seek the help of these types of psychologists when they
notice that the athletes under their tutelage seem to be off. According to one study, the majority of Olympic athletes have
used several different types of psychological treatments to reduce anxiety before performances.
Athletes aren’t the only ones that can benefit from sport psychology, however, although they are the most likely. Some
individuals who are in the middle of high stress and highly competitive careers might also benefit from a few counseling
sessions with sport psychologists. This can include professionals such as business people, performing artists, and
politicians.
Why Do We Need Sport Psychology?
Sport psychology can be used to help understand what motivates athletes and what makes them perform better.
Professionals in this field are very knowledgeable and compassionate regarding the challenges and pressures that most
athletes face today. Athletes that take advantage of counseling from a sport psychologist will often be better contenders
and have more fulfilling careers.
So, what’s that mean for the Average Joes glued to their television sets every Sunday afternoon? Well, it gives us more
reasons to cheer on our favorite athletes and sometimes makes us want to get up and compete ourselves.
What Does a Sport Psychologist Do?
A sport psychologist might spend his time n two different aspects of this field – research or counseling.
Research in sport psychology involves studying and observing athletes in order to find out what motivates them to keep
pushing on, and what gives them the thirst for landing in the winner’s circle. A sport psychology researcher might also try
to find ways for athletes to perform better and with fewer obstacles. The knowledge gained through this research can then
be applied during counseling sessions with athletes.
In order to help an athlete, a sport psychologist must be able to first identify the problem that the athlete is facing. An
athlete might benefit from a counseling sport psychologist in a number of situations. Some athletes, for instance, may be
having trouble concentrating due to a number of personal issues, such as family problems or relationship problems.
Contrary to what some may think, athletes also suffer from such things as confidence issues, low self-esteem, and body
image. Performance anxiety and burnout are other common problems faced by many athletes, no matter how talented
they are.
Depending on the situation, a sport psychologist might work with athletes one-on-one or in groups. Teams, for instance,
will often benefit from group therapy, since the members of the team must work together in order to win.
A sport psychologist might use a number of different methods to help athletes who need to overcome certain problems.
For instance, they will often lend a non-judgmental ear to frustrated and overwhelmed athletes; sometimes, just the act of
talking about certain negative situations can be all that’s necessary to overcome them. Most times, however, a sport
psychologist will offer advice and guidance on how to overcome these problems. He may recommend a little rest and
relaxation for the burnt out athlete, or he might teach an overly anxious athlete several different relaxation exercises to
perform before each game or match. He might teach an athlete visualization techniques or how to tune out distractions.
Some sport psychologists might also work closely with once enthusiastic athletes that have suffered injuries as well.
Depending on the severity of the injury, a sport psychologist may attempt to help a recovering athlete segue back into his
career with as little stress as possible. Some athletes don’t have this choice, however, and they may need the help of a
sport psychologist to help them deal with the fact that they may not be able to play their sport with as much talent and
drive as they had at one time.
Where Do Sport Psychologists Work?
Sport psychologists typically work in facilities that cater to and accommodate athletes of all different shapes, sizes, and
ages.
High schools and colleges might hire a sport psychologist to talk with and counsel their student athletes, for instance.
Some sport psychologists may even work exclusively with professional sports teams and other professional athletes.
Sport psychologists can also usually find employment at hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, and gyms.
Sports psychologists can also choose to open their own practices, much like most other psychologists.
What is the Average Salary for Sport psychologists?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a psychologist in general was $86,510 in 2010.
Psychologists that worked in hospitals made an average salary of $91,810 and those in individual services had an
average salary of $90,220.
Salaries for sport psychologists can vary, though, depending on a number of factors, such as location and demand. Those
in larger metropolitan areas with a proven track record of getting results, for instance, will usually be able to command a
higher wage.
Counseling careers:
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Career counselor
Child/pediatric counselor
Child abuse counselor
Community mental health counselor
Depression counselor
Domestic violence counselor
Geriatric counselor
Grief counselor
Mental health counselor
Rehabilitation counselor
School counselor
Spiritual counselor
Substance abuse counselor
Suicide intervention counselor
Transformational counselor
Veterans’ counselor
Child Counselor - Educational requirement: bachelor’s degree (to start)
What is Child Counseling?
When most people think of mental illness, they think of adults. The stress of juggling a career and family obligations, along
with bills, can be extremely stressful at time, sometimes manifesting itself into mental disorders.
The mental health of children, however, is sometimes overlooked. Most people assume that childhood is a happy time,
and they may dismiss the fact that children often deal with stress and psychological disorders as well. In fact, according to
the Surgeon General, roughly 20% of children in the United States suffer from some sort of mental illness each year.
Because children typically think differently than adults and have a different way of looking at the world, traditional adult
psychologists and counselors might find it somewhat difficult to treat mental disorder in children.
Child counseling, or youth counseling, however, is a type of counseling that focuses on children that are diagnosed with
mental disorders.
Children can experience the same mental and emotional problems that adults do, including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and grief. Symptoms of these disorders may manifest themselves differently in children, though.
For instance, instead of becoming quiet and sullen, a child suffering from a mental disorder such as depression might
have emotional outbursts or exhibit behavioral problems.
There may be a number of causes for mental and emotional problems in children. These may include such things as
meeting new people, divorce, death of a loved one, abuse, poverty, trouble in school, and trouble with peers. There is also
evidence that some mental disorders are hereditary and caused by genetic factors.
Why Do We Need Child Counselors?
Childhood should be a happy time in a person’s life. Dealing with mental and emotional illness, however, can put a
damper on this carefree time. It can also lead to more problems during adulthood.
Child counselors can help children become more mentally and emotionally stable, which can help them become healthier
and happier adults.
What Do Child Counselors Do?
Child counselors typically work with children to help them become mentally and emotionally stable and happy. Some child
counselors specialize in certain areas, like childhood depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or abuse. Others,
however, treat a wide range of mental and emotional problems in children.
They may help treat a number of mental and emotional disorders and illnesses, for instance. This is often done through
something called “play therapy”. During this type of therapy, children are encouraged to play games or play with toys that
they enjoy. Child counselors will then oversee the children’s activities, which can reveal a great deal about their emotions
and feelings.
Individuals counseling might be used by child counselors as well. During this type of therapy, children are often
encouraged to talk about and explore their feeling. Counselors can also help children cope with and work through past
problems and current challenges that they may make them feel scared, angry, or generally uneasy.
Child counselors might also organize mental health workshops for children as well as small therapy groups.
In order to ensure success when treating children with mental and emotional disorders, child counselors must also have
open communication with the children’s caregivers, such as parents or other guardians. They will often educate
caregivers on what to expect during a child’s recovery, for instance, as well as give them tips on how they can help during
the recovery process.
Where Do Child Counselors Work?
Child counselors often work in facilities where there are children in need of mental health services. This often includes
schools, hospitals, children’s homes, juvenile detention centers, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, and social
service offices.
Like many other counseling professionals, child counselors can also usually choose to open their own private practices. In
doing so, they may counsel children in their offices, or travel to the children’s homes or schools.
What is the Average Salary of a Child Counseling Career?
According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, mental health counselors made an average salary of $42,590 in 2011. Mental
counselors that provided individual and family services made $42,160, which is very close to the average salary of all
mental health counselors.
Child abuse counselor - Educational requirement: doctoral degree
What is Child Abuse Counseling?
For many of us, the thought of our childhood brings back happy memories. We may remember icy dips in a backyard pool
on hot summer days, or a raucous snowball fight of a nippy winter afternoon. The thought of childhood might bring back
memories of family gatherings, holidays, and important milestones. Even the times that we got in trouble as a child, like
when we carved our brothers’ initials into the new coffee table, we can laugh about years later.
Some children, however, may not be lucky enough to have such happy memories. Thought of their childhood may bring
back traumatizing thoughts of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
Child abuse counseling is a special field of counseling that focuses on treating children that have suffered at the hands of
a trusted loved one. Patients of child abuse psychologists might be victims of abuse themselves, or they might have
witnessed a loved one being abused, such as a parent or sibling.
As a career, child abuse counseling can be as difficult as they come. Professionals will often witness the marks and scars
on children – visible or otherwise – on children each and every day of their professional lives. They might recognize signs
of a few different common types of child abuse. Here are a few examples of the atrocities that child abuse counselors may
bear witness to…
Physical Abuse
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Hitting
Kicking
Punching
Pushing
Emotional Abuse
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Derogatory statements
Screaming
Name calling
Exposure to disturbing images or situations
Unreasonable expectations
Sexual Abuse
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Fondling
Intercourse
Oral sex
Taking pornographic photographs or movies
Exposure to sexual material or acts
Neglect
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Rejection
Inadequate medical attention, food, clothing, or shelter
Leaving a young child unattended
Why Do We Need Child Abuse Counseling?
Child abuse can be one of the most detrimental experiences that can happen to a child. Research has shown that children
who are abused are more likely to have low self-esteem, be more emotionally detached, and have substance abuse
problems. In many ways, abuse also begets abuse. This means that children – particularly males – who have been
victims of abuse are more likely to either become abusers themselves. Female child abuse victims, on the other hand, are
more likely to get trapped in abusive relationships as adults.
Child abuse counseling, however, is a method that can be used to reverse the negative effects of child abuse, and stop
the vicious cycle.
What Do Child Abuse Counselors Do?
Child abuse counselors typically work closely with child victims of abuse. They are often called upon to help recognize
possible signs of abuse in a child. These signs may vary, depending on the type of abuse.
Physical Abuse
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Unexplained bruises, cuts, or other injuries
Child flinches when touched
Emotional Abuse
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Withdrawn or overly shy
Behavior extremes
excessively low self-esteem
No attachment to any caregiver
Sexual Abuse
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Inappropriate touching or fondling of other children
Age inappropriate knowledge of sex
Trouble sitting or walking
Pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection
Neglect
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Clothes ill fitting, dirty, or inappropriate for weather conditions
Poor hygiene
Inadequate medical treatment
Frequent truancy from school
Child left alone for long periods of time
Once a child abuse counselor has an idea of the type of abuse a child has suffered, she will then attempt to get the child
to open up about his experience. This is often a difficult task, since abuse is traumatizing to many children, and it can
make them leery to trust any adults. Before this next step can be achieved, a child abuse counselor must be able to earn
the trust of the abused child. This often takes copious amounts of compassion and patience. A child must usually feel
comfortable in the presence of a child abuse counselor.
There are a few ways that a counselor can get an abused child to open up about his experience. First of all, she must be
friendly, approachable, and non-judgmental. Many child abuse counselors will also use a concept known as play therapy.
This process involves encouraging children to play, which can lead to them opening up about their experiences. A child
may be asked to play with a doll, for instance, or draw pictures. More often than not, a child will reveal his experiences
while “playing”. For example, a victim of sexual abuse might touch a doll inappropriately, much as his abuser touched him.
Once a child abuse counselor knows more about the type and severity of the abuse, she can then begin treatment. While
recovering from abuse, one of the most important things that a child abuse counselor can communicate to her patient is
that the abuse was not his fault. She may also need to treat any psychological and emotional problems caused by the
abuse, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress syndrome.
A child abuse counselor will also usually work with caregivers, like parents, foster parents, or other legal guardians. She
may instruct them on how to act around the child and what to expect during the recovery process.
Where Do Child Abuse Counselors Work?
Child abuse counselors are often employed where abused children need them the most. This might include hospitals,
social service offices, domestic violence shelters, foster care centers, children’s homes, and schools. Some child abuse
counselors might also choose to open their own private practices as well.
What is the Average Salary of a Child Abuse Counselor?
Child abuse counselors generally fall under the broad category of social workers. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, social workers had a median salary of $42,480 in 2010.
Depression counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Depression Counseling?
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the world. Millions of Americans are diagnosed with depression
each year. However, the actual number of individuals with depression is most likely higher than we realize, since many
cases of depression go unannounced.
One of the main symptoms of depression is a general feeling of sadness, but there are also other symptoms as well.
These symptoms may include:
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Feelings of hopelessness
Changes in eating habits, which can also result in either weight loss or weight gain
Changes in sleeping habits
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
A mental illness such as depression can be very difficult to get over. Unlike what some may believe, most people can’t
just “snap out of it” or “cheer up”. There is so much more to depression recovery than this, and this recovery can take
weeks, months, or even years. In most cases, professional help is needed to get over depression.
Depression counseling is usually needed in order to recover from depression. This type of counseling is often very
effective, especially when combined with medication. Professionals in this field are typically prepared to treat all different
types of depression.
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Clinical Depression: Also known as major depressive disorder, clinical depression is one of the most common types
of depression. It is characterized by symptoms of depression that last for two weeks or more.
Manic Depression: Manic depression is also sometimes referred to as bipolar disorder. Individuals suffering from this
mood disorder often experience periods of depression, followed by “manic” or elated moods.
Chronic Depression: Chronic depression is a type of long term depression. Symptoms of depression typically last for
two years or more in individuals suffering from chronic depression.
Postpartum Depression: After giving birth, many women will often battle bouts of postpartum depression. Symptoms
of this type of depression can last anywhere from a few days to several months, and it can interfere with the bonding
process between mother and child.
Seasonal Depression: Another very common type of depression is seasonal depression, or Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD). This type of depression begins to affect people in the early winter months and ends in the spring.
However, it is much worse than the typical “winter blues” that most people experience.
Situational Depression: Situational depression occurs when stressful life events cause a depressed mood and
symptoms of depression.
Counseling individuals with different types of depression often takes a very special person with certain traits and qualities.
Depression counselors should be accepting and non-judgmental, for instance. They should also be excellent listeners with
a genuine interest in helping people.
Why Do We Need Depression Counseling?
True depression is much more serious than a simple case of the blues. Depression can have a crippling effect on a
person’s life, and it can also be very dangerous and life threatening. Many people suffering from severe depression will
contemplate taking their own lives at one point or another. Some of those people will actually attempt to commit suicide,
and others might even be successful.
Depression counseling is necessary in order to treat this debilitating disorder. Individuals who seek this sort of counseling
are much more likely to learn to deal with their problems using healthy methods, which will usually lead to a happier, more
satisfying life. It can even be said that depression counseling can save lives.
What Do Depression Counselors Do?
Since depression does not discriminate, as a depression counselor, you will work with all sorts of different people. This
includes people of all different races, ages, and socioeconomic statuses. Some depression counselors, however, might
choose to work only with certain demographics or treat only certain types of depression.
If a patient has not already been diagnosed with depression, a depression counselor will typically need to assess and
diagnose him. In order to do this, a depression counselor will usually interview the patient and require him to fill out a
questionnaire. The answers to the interview and questionnaire inquiries can then be used to determine the type and
severity of depression.
Once a depression counselor better understands his patient’s situation, he can then begin to work toward treating him.
Several types of treatment methods might be used to help patients pull out of a depressed state. Usually, however,
depression counselors will used treatment methods such as psychotherapy, talk therapy, and cognitive-behavioral
therapy. Using these counseling methods, a depression counselor can help his patients get a better understanding of their
conditions. They might also offer guidance on how to cope with or deal with life’s challenges.
In some cases, simple therapy or counseling might be enough to treat depression. In cases of severe depression, a
depression counselor may be required to refer his patients to psychiatrists or psychiatric hospitals.
Where Do Depression Counselors Work?
Depression counselors work in all sorts of different medical facilities. They might work in hospitals or mental health
facilities, for instance. Depression counselors might also work for non-profit organizations, schools, rehabilitation centers,
and crisis hotline centers as well.
Many depression counselors also choose to open their own private practices as well.
What is the Average Salary For a Depression Counselor?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mental health counselors made an average salary of $42,590 in 2011. There
are a number of factors that might influence a depression counselor’s salary, however, such as experience, education,
and location. For example, depression counselors in California made an average salary of $48,710 in 2010, which is
slightly higher than the national average.
Domestic violence counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Domestic Violence Counseling?
For some people, the thought of “happily ever after” might seem like a nice idea, but it’s far from reality. For these people,
the term “happily ever after” simply does not apply. There are millions of people in America that find themselves in
domestic violence situations each year. These types of situations are not only unhappy and uncomfortable, but they are
also downright dangerous.
Domestic violence is a type of domestic abuse that involves physical violence. This type of abuse can consist of several
actions, including hitting, punching, kicking, restraining, and shoving, as well as threats of these actions.
However, violent individuals in these situations will often spew their poison in all forms of abuse. For instance, along with
being physically abusive, they might also be emotionally, financially, and even sexually abusive as well.
Domestic violence situations are also not always what one would typically think of. For example, the classic domestic
violence situation is often thought of as being a situation in which a man strikes his wife. Domestic violence can happen
between married and unmarried couples, as well as gay and lesbian partners. Women are also not the only domestic
violence victims, either, and they may even be the abusers.
Understanding why a domestic violence victim does not leave their abuser can be one of the hardest things for onlookers
to understand, particularly if they themselves have never been in that sort of situation before. In reality, leaving an abusive
partner can be one of the most difficult things that a domestic violence victim ever has to do. These types of situations
often make victims feel powerless, scared, hopeless, weak, humiliated, and ashamed.
Domestic violence counseling, however, is a type of counseling geared toward helping domestic violence victims cope
with their situations. Although other counselors may be able to help these types of victims, domestic violence is a very
complex and delicate situation, which domestic violence counselors are specifically trained to understand and handle.
At one time, domestic violence was something of a taboo topic. It was not spoken of and was even considered to be the
norm. Today, however, more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of this type of abuse, making domestic
violence counseling a growing field.
Why Do We Need Domestic Violence Counseling?
As mentioned above, domestic violence is very dangerous. It can leave both physical and emotional scars. It is also not
unheard of for abusers to murder their partners in fits of rage.
Domestic violence counseling is necessary, because it helps victims escape their abusers and cope with the devastating
effects of the abuse.
What Do Domestic Violence Counselors Do?
The first step that a domestic violence counselor will usually take when attempting to help someone is to assess the
situation. This usually involves interviewing the subject – and possibly anyone else in the household – in order to
determine the extent and severity of the abuse.
When working with victims, domestic violence counselors will often do more listening than talking, especially at first. This
enables the victim to feel more in control, something she most likely was not able to feel while with her abuser. It also
helps the victim voice her concerns and feelings, and it helps the counselor gain the victim’s trust.
Education is another primary responsibility of a domestic violence counselor. For instance, if a counselor is working with a
victim that has not yet left her abuser, he will usually educate her on all aspects of domestic violence. In doing so, the
counselor is supplying the victim with information she can use to see her situation more clearly.
During their counseling sessions, domestic violence counselors will often try to help victims understand that the abuse
was not their fault. They will also try to help a victim become more empowered and independent. If a victim is still with an
abuser, the counselor might also gently try to persuade her that life without the abuser is not only doable, but also in her
best interest.
In some cases, a domestic violence counselor will also act as a victim advocate. This might involve helping victims find
legal and medical help, get protection orders, or find a temporary place to live. Counselors might also accompany victims
to court and possibly act as witnesses in criminal cases involving their clients.
Besides helping domestic violence victims with abusive situations, domestic counselors will also usually help them work
through emotional and mental damage they may have suffered during their ordeals. For example, they may need to treat
disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Where Do Domestic Violence Counselors Work?
Domestic violence counselors might work in a number of different settings. They may be employed by hospitals, for
instance, and be called upon to assess possible domestic violence cases. Battered women’s shelters and non-profit
organizations might also hire domestic violence counselors, as will social and human service offices.
As with many other psychology and counseling professionals, domestic violence counselors can also usually choose to
open their own private practices.
What is the Average Salary of Domestic Violence Counselors?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect data specifically regarding domestic violence counselors. It does,
however, collect salary data on a number of related careers.
Marriage and family counselors, for instance, made an average salary of $48,710 in 2010. Social workers, on the other
hand, made an average salary of $42,480.
Geriatric counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Geriatric Counseling?
The physical and cognitive changes that occur during the aging process can make life very difficult for many people. This
is especially true for individuals who are used to being independent during the first part of their lives.
This time in a person’s life can be extremely overwhelming for a number of reasons. Geriatric counseling is a type of
counseling that is meant to offer assistance to older adults during this difficult transition period in their lives. Professionals
in this field typically assist elderly individuals with a number of problems, from mental health issues to finding
transportation. In general, they are typically there in order to help make the lives of older adults easier and more
comfortable.
In today’s modern world, people are living to older ages than ever before. Because of this, the field of geriatrics is growing
faster than ever before.
Why Do We Need Geriatric Counselors?
It’s no secret that many older adults need help with their day to day activities. However, it can be very difficult for family
members to be there whenever their loved ones need them, no matter how much they wish they could be.
Geriatric counselors, on the other hand, can provide the assistance that older adults need. The help that these
professionals provide often makes the lives of older adults and their families much easier, convenient, and more
comfortable. In short, these counselors help provide a better quality of life for those in their “golden years”.
What Do Geriatric Counselors Do?
Geriatric counselors will often work closely with all types of people, including older adults as well as their family members
and health care providers. These professionals typically have a number of different responsibilities, depending on their
situations.
Before a geriatric counselor starts working with a new client, he will usually attempt to understand the needs of the client.
This often involves reviewing a client’s medical history to become aware of their past and current medical problems, along
with any medications the client might be taking. A geriatric counselor will also need to be aware of any limitations of their
client. In some cases, a geriatric counselor will also be made aware of a client’s financial situation and family status. All of
this information can be used to better serve the needs of the client.
After obtaining this information, a geriatric counselor will then attempt to put together a plan to help make their client’s life
easier. This may involve performing daily tasks such as managing the client’s money, shopping for groceries, or arranging
for transportation. A geriatric counselor will also usually help set older adults up with social service and assistance
programs as well.
A geriatric counselor may also act as a liaison between an older adult and the people around him. For instance, the
counselor might help set up doctor’s appointments and fill out any necessary paperwork.
It is also often the responsibility of a geriatric counselor to keep abreast of his clients’ current situations. For instance, a
client’s needs may change in the event of a serious illness or accident.
Geriatric counselors will also usually keep a close eye on the mental and emotional state of their elderly patients as well.
During this time in a person’s life, dealing with psychological problems in not all that uncommon. For example, an elderly
individual may suffer from depression or a similar problem. A geriatric counselor can often help his clients cope with these
types of disorders and offer guidance on how to deal with life’s challenges.
Where Do Geriatric Counselors Work?
Geriatric counselors can often be found in a variety of facilities and organizations that cater to the needs of elderly
individuals. They might work in hospitals, long and short term care facilities, retirement homes, and community senior
centers, for instance.
Geriatric counselors can also usually be found working in government and private social service offices.
What is the Average Salary For a Geriatric Counselor?
The average salary of a geriatric counselor can be hard to determine, but it is often influenced by the type of services
these professionals perform. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual salary of home
health and personal care aides was $20,170 in 2010. Social and human service assistants, on the other hand, mad an
average salary of $28,200.
Grief counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Grief Counseling?
Grief is an emotion that is very common in humans, and possibly some animals as well. This emotion is often associated with a
devastating loss, such as the death of a loved one. However, as humans we might feel grief after the loss of nearly anything that we
loved dearly, including our relationships, homes, jobs, or even pets.
It is quite normal for us to feel some sort of negative emotion after losses such as these. Grief is a normal process that all of us will
experience at some point in our lives. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the author of On Death and Dying, theorized that there are five stages of
grief that each of us go through. These stages might last anywhere from a few minutes to several years. In fact, many people may not
even realize that they are going through these stages. These five stages are:
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Denial- During the denial stage of grief, people will usually be unwilling or unable to admit their loss. The effects of grief will
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usually not hit them during this stage, and in fact, they will often feel just fine.
Anger- As the realization of the loss sets in, most people will then become angry. They may be angry at themselves for not
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preventing a loss, at their god for taking away their cherished item or loved one, or even at a loved one that has passed on.
Bargaining- The bargaining stage is next. During this stage of grief, an individual will often try to “bargain” with whoever or
whatever they can – including themselves, a loved one, or even their god – in order to restore the missing piece to their life. For
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example, a husband who has lost her husband might promise her god that she’ll do whatever he or she wants, if only she could
have her husband back.
Depression- It is during the fourth stage of grief that feelings of depression will finally start to set in. During this stage, individuals
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will typically feel very sad or even hopeless.
Acceptance- It is during the fifth and final stage of grief that most people will finally begin to accept their loss and finally move on
with their lives.
Reaching the final stage of grief – acceptance – is one of the most important and healthiest things that a person can do after suffering a
terrible loss. Unfortunately, accepting that you’ll never see a loved one ever again can be a pretty difficult thing to face. Although most
people will often reach this stage on their own eventually, some people may have a very difficult time with this.
This is where grief counseling comes in.
Grief counseling is also sometimes referred to as bereavement counseling. It is typically used to counsel and comfort individuals who
are dealing with loss, usually the death of a loved one. This type of counseling can help some people adjust to and cope with loss and
the grief that comes with it.
Usually, grief counseling is recommended for individuals who are having trouble grieving, or moving through the different stages of
grief, after a loss. Generally, most people who seek grief counseling do so because their grief is
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interfering with their daily activities,
causing relationship problems,
making it hard to go on with their own lives, or
causing intense guilt or depression.
Even individuals who are not experiencing these types of problems, however, can often benefit from grief counseling.
Why Do We Need Grief Counseling?
A normal, healthy grieving process is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone grieves differently,
though, and some may find it harder than others to cope with loss and grief. Living with the pain of unresolved loss and
grief is a terrible thing for the human psyche. It can cause feelings of guilt to swell up, for instance, along with feelings of
depression.
Grief counseling, however, can be used to help make the grieving process much easier and shorter. The purpose of grief
counseling is not to forgot a loss, rather than to accept it. Individuals who are able to accept the loss of someone of
something that they loved will typically find it much easier to move on and live happier lives themselves.
What Do Grief Counselors Do?
The main goal of a grief counselor is to help people cope with grief. These professionals might work with all types of
people experiencing all different types of loss. Some grief counselors, though, might focus on counseling individuals that
lost loved ones in specific ways, such as after a battle with cancer or during military service.
A counseling method known as “active listening” is one of the most common types used by grief counselors. During this
type of counseling, a grief counselor will usually do much more listening than talking. He will encourage or allow the
grieving person to talk about their feelings and emotions, for example, and try to empathize with them. Many times,
individuals suffering from grief might only need to get their feelings out in the open in order to move forward with their
lives. On the other hand, a grief counselor might also need to help their patients develop strategies and methods for
coping with their loss.
Grief counselors will also usually watch their patients closely for signs of mental or emotional problems that are often
associated with grief. This might include such things as anger, depression, or even suicidal thoughts. If necessary, a grief
counselor might also try to help grieving individuals deal with these feelings as well.
Where Does a Grief Counselor Work?
A grief counselor might work in a number of different places where they can offer their services to the grieving and
bereaved. They might work at hospitals, mental health clinics, and funeral homes, for instance. Because elderly adults will
often deal with grief due to loss of loved ones and friends, these professionals might also work at senior centers,
retirement homes, and long-term care facilities. The military might also work with grief counselors to help families and
soldiers deal with loss.
Some grief counselors might also choose to open their own private practices.
What is the Average Salary For a Grief Counselor?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect salary data on grief counselors specifically, but they do collect salary data
for related fields. Mental health counselors, for instance, made an average salary of $42,590 in 2011.
Mental health counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Mental Health Counseling?
Life is full of frustration and difficult times. Most adults will usually have to deal with such things as balancing family and
career life, and paying bills that they can’t afford. These stressful times can be very hard to get through and extremely
overwhelming for some. Not coping with this type of stress in a healthy manner, however, can lead to mental and
emotional strain.
Mental health counseling can be used to pull some people out of their mental din. Professionals in this field offer
counseling, support, and guidance to individuals that are having trouble coping mentally or emotionally.
There are a number of mental problems that mental health counselors might encounter during their careers, from people
dealing with everyday stress to those with diagnosable mental illnesses and disorders. For instance, they might counsel
people that are having had times due to family, job, or social issues. They might also offer counseling to individuals that
suffer from disorders such as:
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Depression
Bipolar disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Phobias
Eating disorders
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Addiction
Chronic pain
Mental disorders are sometimes considered to be the most common disability in the United States. In fact, research
conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown that over a quarter of all adults suffers from a mental
illness each year. More and more people are finally realizing the importance of not only their physical well being, but also
their mental well being. Health insurance companies are even more apt to offer coverage for mental illness services as
well. Because of this, there will not be a shortage of mental counseling jobs in the coming years, and mental health
counseling is a rapidly growing field.
Why Do We Need Mental Health Counseling?
Trying to cope with a mental disorder – or even extreme everyday stress – can be very difficult and overwhelming for
most. These disorders are often very scary, confusing, and frustrating. Some people suffering from mental illnesses and
disorders may even feel ashamed of their conditions.
Mental health counselors, however, can help people learn to cope with their disorders and anything else life throws their
way in a healthy manner. The guidance and skills that these professionals provide can often help people lead normal,
happy lives.
What Do Mental Health Counselors Do?
Mental health counselors typically work directly with clients, and sometimes their families as well. As mentioned above,
professionals in this field might help with a variety of mental and emotional issues.
Before counseling or treating their clients, mental health professionals will usually assess them first. This usually involves
interviewing the clients and possibly having them fill out questionnaires. Depending on the severity of their conditions,
mental health counselors may diagnose them with any number of mental illnesses.
Traditional psychotherapy is often the preferred method of treatment for mental health counselors. This type of therapy
usually consists of allowing the client to talk freely to the counselor with little interjections from him. Clients can talk about
anything that concerns them, which allows them to explore their emotions and feelings. At times, the counselor may ask
questions or offer comments.
A mental health counselor might also help his clients with setting and achieving goals. They may offer encouragement
and advice on how to reach certain goals. To keep clients from getting overwhelmed or frustrated, a counselor might also
teach them stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
Overall, mental health counseling is meant to be a short-term solution to help people get through rough patches in their
life. Clients suffering from more severe and long-term mental illnesses will usually be referred to another mental health
professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Where Do Mental Health Counselors Work?
Mental health counselors often work in all different types of health facilities, where individuals that need them will have
easy access to their services. For instance, they might work in regular hospitals and psychiatric hospitals, along with
mental health clinics, hospice care centers, and home health care centers. Mental health counselors might also work for
schools, detention centers, adoption agencies, law enforcement agencies, and even branches of the military.
Many mental health counselors, however, typically choose to open their own private practices.
What is the Average Salary of Mental Health Counselors?
The salaries of the different types of mental health counselors typically vary, depending on their specialties and
experience. Mental health counselors that have worked for the military for several years, for instance, will often make
much more than those starting out in entry level positions with non-profit groups.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, the average salary for mental health counselors in general was
$42,590 in 2011.
Rehabilitation counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Rehabilitation Counseling?
“…men value their independence in a weird way, above practically everything.”
This quote by George Weinberg, a clinical psychologist from Manhattan, most likely sums up the majority of people’s
lives. Men, along with women, typically crave independence. Even as most children grow up, they are constantly testing
their boundaries, yearning for their independence. Many of us get our first tastes of independence after we move away
from home, and enjoy it from that moment on.
However, some people might find it difficult to live independent lives, due to a number of different problems. These may
include physical, emotional, mental, or social disabilities. Individuals with these problems will typically need to rely on
others for their daily needs, which can put a strain on their psyche as well as their friends and families that need to cater
to their needs.
Rehabilitation counseling is a type of counseling that focuses on helping individuals become more independent in their
lives. Professionals in this field may help individuals that suffer from disabilities that make it difficult to live normal
independent lives. They may help people establish employment, travel to where they need to go, or even forge through
temporary rough patches in their lives.
One big part of rehabilitation counseling is setting goals. By setting goals and working toward them, many disabled
individuals will find that – with a little hard work – they can accomplish nearly anything. This boost in confidence and
independence can give them the push that they need to work toward accomplishing more goals, which will help them be
on their way to a more independent life.
Professionals in the field of rehabilitation psychology might focus on helping individuals with several different disabilities.
This may include physical and mobility issues, mental or emotional issues, social issues, and employment issues. Some
individuals that rehabilitation counselors help may suffer from disabilities such as deafness, chronic pain, mental
retardation, learning disabilities, autism, depression, and substance abuse.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of rehabilitation counseling is expected to experience faster than
average job growth. This is most likely due to more people seeking these types of services and more health insurance
companies covering these types of services. Therefore, in coming years, there will be more and more job openings for
those seeking to pursue rehabilitation counseling careers.
Why Do We Need Rehabilitation Counseling?
Contrary to what some people believe, nearly every person can be a productive and contributing member of society,
regardless of their disabilities. Some people, however, may need some guidance on how to become more independent.
Rehabilitation counseling can help point these individuals in the right direction on becoming more independent. Having
more independent individuals in our society not only helps the moral of the society in general, but it also reduces the strain
on government assistant and other resources.
What Do Rehabilitation Counselors Do?
”Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”
This quote can be thought of as the motto of the field of rehabilitation counselors.
However, before teaching a person to do anything, a rehabilitation psychologist will first usually need to determine where
that person’s strengths and weaknesses lie. A rehabilitation counselor will usually interview his clients first in order to
determine what they are capable of doing as well as what their limitations are.
After determining what a client is able to do, a rehabilitation psychologist will then be able to implement an individual
therapy and counseling plan that can help them become more independent.
A rehabilitation counselor might help his clients work through several different types of problems that may be holding them
back in life. Many times, solving the right problem might also solve several other smaller problems. Problem solving during
counseling sessions is often accomplished by setting goals.
Goals are often a big part of rehabilitation counseling. The main goal for individuals in need of rehabilitation psychology is
usually to live as independently as possible. This is usually accomplished by setting and working toward several small
goals. For instance, counselors working with people with limited mobility might work to help their clients gain access to
transportation, such as public transportation. This small step would enable clients to run errands, go shopping, and find
and keep a job, making them much more independent.
Where Do Rehabilitation Psychologists Work?
Rehabilitation counselors might work in traditional hospitals, physical therapy clinics, assisted living facilities, independent
living facilities, and nursing homes. They can also be found working in social and human service offices, schools,
detention centers, disability centers, and unemployment offices.
Like many other counselors and psychologists, rehabilitation counselors can also choose to open private practices.
What is the Average Salary of a Rehabilitation Counselor?
The average annual salary of all rehabilitation counselors in general in 2011 was $37,070, according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. However, the salaries of these professionals are often determined by their experience and place of
employment. For instance rehabilitation counselors offering vocational rehabilitation services made an average salary of
$32,890, while those working in general and surgical hospitals made $51,900.
School counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is School Counseling?
A person’s school years are often very influential on the rest of his life. It is during these years that a child will grow into
adolescence, then into his teenage years. During this time, a person will often further develop his personality, make and
break friendships, and decide what he wants to do for the rest of his life.
School, however, can also be a very stressful time in a person’s life. Students today have to worry about getting good test
scores, completing copious amounts of homework on time, excelling in extracurricular activities, and getting along with
their peers. Being pulled in so many directions and having this much on their plates can be very overwhelming for just
about anyone, regardless of their age.
Depending on his experiences, a person’s school years might be either the best years of his life, or the worst.
School counseling, however, is a type of counseling that focuses on helping students make the best of their education.
Professionals in this field are typically referred to as either school counselors or guidance counselors. They typically work
with several different students over the course of a school year, and help them with a variety of different problems, from
class scheduling to substance abuse.
Today, school counselors are some of the most important and prominent members of a school’s faculty. They’re caring,
compassionate, and genuinely concerned with the well-being of the children they deal with. if you’re looking to make a
difference in a child’s life and want to help him form his future, a school counseling career might be exactly what you’re
looking for.
Why Do We Need School Counselors?
While in school, it can be very easy to feel lost, confused, alone, and overwhelmed. School counselors, though, exist to
help students through the maze of academia.
The main goal of a school counselor is to help mold today’s young minds into tomorrow’s productive members of society.
These professionals work with students on a daily basis in order to help them make the right decisions, meet challenges,
and move in the right direction. Without school counselors, a large number of students might slip through the cracks as
they struggle with academics or make less than wise decisions.
What Does a School Counselor Do?
A school counselor has a number of different job duties and responsibilities; perhaps more responsibilities than any other
member of a school faculty. On any given day, these professionals will usually work closely with students, teachers,
parents, and school administrators.
Students are typically a school counselor’s first priority. In general, these professionals are trained to keep the best
interests of each and every student in mind.
A school counselor will often start by evaluating a student’s skills, strengths, weaknesses,career goals, and interests.
From there, the counselor can then help the student choose which classes to take. The counselor is also usually
responsible for creating each student’s class schedule, which needs to include all of the necessary classes that are
required for graduation.
Career counseling is also another important responsibility of a school counselor. These professionals can help students
who are unsure of their career goals choose some possible careers that are right for them. They can also help students
take courses and participate in activities that will help them get into good colleges or career programs after graduation.
Social, behavioral, mental, and emotional problems are also often addressed by school counselors as well. For instance,
school counselors will often help students who are struggling academically; being bullied by peers; abuse drugs or
alcohol; or experiencing abuse or other problems at home. School counselors might also help students who are dealing
with issues such as low self-esteem and time management.
School counselors will also usually stay in close contact with the parents of each student. Parents are usually informed of
any problems that students may be having in school, for example. School counselors may also send parents periodic
progress reports and give them advice on how to help their children succeed in school and in life.
Teachers may enlist the help of school counselors at times as well. They may ask for help with a problem student, for
instance, or work with a school counselor to help a student with a particular problem. School counselors may also be
asked to help with ho to discipline students as well.
The advice and concerns of school counselors are also usually taken into consideration when school administrators are
creating or reorganizing school policies.
Where Do School Counselors Work?
As their title suggests, school counselors work in educational institutes of all types. They are employed at both public and
private schools, from the elementary levels to college levels.
What is the Average Annual Salary of a School Counselor?
According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, the average salary of all school and career counselors was $53,380 in 2011.
However, your actual salary may vary, depending on your location and the budget of your school system.
Substance abuse counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Substance Abuse Counseling?
Imagine yourself sitting on a busy park bench. Now, imagine yourself watching all of the people walking by. Chances are
many of those people are dealing with a substance abuse problem, whether they know it or not. Research has shown that
millions of people suffer from substance abuse each year. In fact, it is one of the most common problems in America.
Substance abuse refers to the habitual use of a mind altering substance, whether it’s alcohol or drugs. Although most
substance abusers may find that they are seemingly blessed with a number of positive side effects of these substances,
the reality is that these substances are ultimately very harmful. For instance, these substances not only harm a person’s
body, but they can also fracture their soul.
Abusing substances such as alcohol or drugs will often inflict a person’s mind as well. A person suffering from substance
abuse will usually not act like himself. For instance, a person that is normally mild tempered could possibly become violent
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons why a person might abuse alcohol or drugs, and some of these reasons
may be extremely powerful. Some may abuse drugs or alcohol because they are looking for a way to escape from their
realities, for instance. Others may abuse alcohol or drugs because they’re trying to fit in with their peers. Unfortunately, no
matter why people experiment with drugs or alcohol, there is a chance that they will become dependent upon them.
Substance abuse counseling, however, is a type of counseling that can be used to help people overcome and conquer
dependencies on substances, such as alcohol and drugs.
Today, dealing with substance abuse is more important than ever. There are more and more drugs being created each
and every day, not just in large cities, but also in smaller outlying suburbs. The boundaries of substance abuse have been
dissolved, and no one is safe from its negative effects.
Why do we need Substance Abuse Counselors?
No one can deny that substance abuse, in all of its forms, is a growing problem. Individuals that suffer from substance
abuse often suffer from a number of physical problems as well. Most addictive substances contribute to illnesses and the
general breakdown of the human body.
Substance abuse doesn’t just affect the people it inflicts, however. Everyone around the abuser is also usually affected as
well. For instance, a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs will often exhibit behavioral changes. They may not
“be themselves”. They may become irritable or violent, for example, or just “spaced out”. many times, substance abuse
contributes to such problems as joblessness, homelessness, financial problems, family discord, and criminal activity.
Substance abuse counselors can help prevent these problems, by leading people away from substance abuse.
Professionals in this field can help people overcome their addictions and start living a healthier life, complete with better
choices.
What Do Substance Abuse Counselors Do?
”How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?”
“Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change.”
Despite the corny joke, there is a lot of truth to this statement. In short, a person has to truly want to change the way they
are before they can actually be changed. This is particularly true for substance abusers.
Substance abuse counselors must make sure that their clients truly want to stop their patterns of substance abuse before
starting any type of counseling or therapy. Otherwise, both the substance abuser and the counselor will have
accomplished nothing more than wasting time. Most of the time, afflicted individuals seek the help of substance abuse
counselors when they are ready. Other times, though, they may be forced to see counselors, either by loved ones or the
law. A substance abuse counselor may be asked to help a family with an intervention, for instance, where a person’s
loved ones confront him about the negative effects of his substance abuse. This type of counseling might also be a
stipulation of a person’s prison stay, probation, or parole.
In order to create a counseling plan for a client, a substance abuse counselor will first try to determine the type and
severity of a person’s substance abuse. This is usually done by interviewing the client and encouraging him to be
completely honest about his actions. Certain physical and behavioral actions might also give substance abuse counselors
some idea of what they are dealing with.
A substance abuse counselor will also usually help his clients identify their “triggers”, which are certain situations that
make people want to drink alcohol or do drugs. Triggers are often different for everyone, and what triggers one person
may not trigger another. Some people might drink or do drugs more when they are stressed, while others might drink or
do drugs more when they are around a certain crowd of people.
Once a substance abuser and his counselor can pinpoint these triggers, they can both work on ways to avoid them. By
avoiding these triggers, substance abusers can start taking the first steps toward recovery.
During the recovery process, a substance abuse counselor will typically offer encouragement and guidance. He will also
usually help a substance abuser set up a support network, consisting of caring individuals that will help the substance
abuser work toward recovery. Counselors may also help substance abusers repair existing relationships as much as
possible, if necessary.
Where Do Substance Abuse Counselors Work?
Substance abuse counselors will often work in hospitals and substance abuse rehabilitation centers, along with detention
centers, schools, and social and human service facilities.
Some substance abuse counselors might also choose to open their own private practices as well.
What is the Average Salary For a Substance Abuse Counselor?
The average annual salary of substance abuse counselors was $41,030 in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. However, your actual salary as a substance abuse counselor may vary, depending on such things as your
location and education.
Suicide intervention counselor - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Suicide Counseling?
Depression is never a pleasant feeling, but some people suffer from depression so severe that they contemplate taking
their own lives. Unfortunately, thousands of people in the United States attempt to commit suicide each year. Sadly
enough, a certain percentage of these individuals will actually succeed. According to a study done by the Center For
Disease Control, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States in 2009, up one spot from previous
years.
What many suicidal people don’t seem to realize in their last moments of despair, however, is that suicide is a drastic
move, and one that cannot be taken back. Death is permanent, unlike the problems that many people who contemplate
taking their own lives face. After a person commits suicide, there is no going back. There are no “redos”. There is no fixing
that mistake. In the end, there is just…the end.
Suicide often leaves nothing but devastation in its path. Family members and loved ones are forever tortured with
questions like “Why?” and “Could I have stopped it?” Many of them will often be tortured with grief, remorse, and guilt for
years after the act.
Suicide counseling, however, can be beneficial to anyone contemplating taking their own lives. This type of counseling
can help people work their way out of the deep depressions that plague them and realize that there is something worth
living for.
It takes a special type of person to become a suicide counselor. These professionals must be non-judgmental,
compassionate, empathetic, and caring. Most importantly, though, a suicide counselor must have a genuine desire to
reach out and help those in need.
Why Do We need Suicide Counseling?
Research suggests that suicide – particularly teen suicide – has become more common in recent years. In fact, some
would argue that it was an epidemic sweeping this nation. Despite the number of suicide prevention measures in place,
the number of people the attempt and commit suicide is still climbing.
Suicide counseling can be used as a method to help suicidal people get their lives back on track, and step away from the
ledge, so to speak. Individuals that seek the help of suicide counselors will usually get to enjoy the truly joyous moments
that await them in the future, instead of depriving the world of their presence.
What Do Suicide Counselors Do?
A suicide counselor should first be able to recognize those that are at risk of taking their own lives. Although there are no
suicide symptoms cut in stone, there are often a number of risk factors and warning signs that may precede suicide or
suicide attempts.
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The majority of individuals that contemplate suicide suffer from some sort of diagnosable mental illness, usually
depression. Substance abuse can also contribute to suicidal thoughts or actions as well.
Thoughts of suicide or dying are obviously big red flags to any suicide counselor evaluating a client or patient.
Exposure to suicide or a family history of suicide can also increase a person’s risk of attempting to commit suicide
himself. This is particularly true of teenagers, as some of them may actually romanticize death.
Previous suicide attempts are another red flag for suicide counselors. In general, a person that attempted to take her
own life in the past is often more likely to try again in the future.
Threats, promises, or wishes of suicide should never be ignored. Individuals who express a wish or an intention to
die should always be taken seriously.
Anyone that could possibly suicidal and appears to be “tying up loose ends” should also be taken very seriously. This
may include behavior such as giving away prized possessions, finding homes for pets, creating wills, or saying
goodbye to loved ones.
Determining how much of a danger a suicidal person is to herself is often very difficult, but it can be done. For instance, a
person with a complete and detailed “suicide plan” is generally considered to be more of a danger to herself than a person
with no plan. However, whether a person is considered to be a low suicide risk or a high suicide risk, steps should be
taken to keep her safe from herself. This is usually accomplished by a suicidal person being put under suicide watch,
which can last anywhere from 24 hours to much longer. During this time, the suicidal person will be kept in a safe
environment under the constant surveillance of medical and mental health professionals, including suicide counselors.
The suicidal person might also be urged to speak with suicide counselors during this time as well.
There is no clear cut method for treating suicidal tendencies in people. Allowing these desperate individuals to talk about
and explore their feelings, however, is sometimes all that’s necessary. During sessions with a suicide counselor, a suicidal
person is often gently encouraged to talk about any problems they might be having in their life. At times, the suicide
counselor may ask questions or offer encouragement, but it is usually the counselor’s duty to just listen during this time.
Certain types of therapy have also shown to be very promising for individuals contemplating suicide. Cognitive behavioral
therapy, for instance, is often used to help people change their negative thoughts.
Along with counseling and therapy, a suicide counselor will also usually help a suicidal person come up with a safety plan
that can be put into motion when they start to contemplate taking their own lives. These plans are often more effective
when written down in “suicide prevention contracts”. For instance, when a person is feeling suicidal, she can promise to
contact her counselor, talk with someone she trusts, go to the hospital, or call a suicide prevention hotline. A suicide
counselor can also help a person in despair set up a support network of caring, non-judgmental individuals that she can
lean on when times get tough.
Because suicide counseling can be such stressful and heartbreaking work sometimes, suicide counselors should also not
neglect to tend to their own mental health regularly. Although they are the counselors, they themselves may sometimes
need to seek the help of other mental health professionals in order to cope with things like stress, anxiety, grief, and
depression.
Where Do Suicide Prevention Counselors Work?
Suicide counselors might work in a number of different areas. They are often employed by general hospitals, psychiatric
hospitals, and mental health clinics. Branches of the military, schools, and social and human service offices also usually
have suicide counselors on staff as well.
One of the most well-known places for a suicide counselor to work, however, is at a suicide prevention hotline. These
positions may be paid or voluntary, and they typically involve answering phones and talking to suicidal individuals.
What is the Average Salary of Suicide Counselors?
The salaries of suicide counselors can vary drastically. Some, for instance, work as volunteers and make no money at all.
Others may work for non-profit groups or hotlines, making little more than minimum wage. In general, suicide counselors
that are employed by larger facilities, like hospitals, usually have the highest salaries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not record salary data for suicide counselors specifically, but it does record salary
data for professionals in related fields. Mental health counselors in general, for instance, made an average annual salary
of $42,590 in 2011.
Therapy careers:
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Art therapist
Existential therapist
Marriage and family therapist
Transpersonal therapist
Music therapist
Life coach
Physical therapist
Art therapist - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Art Therapy?
Art is one of the oldest forms of communication and self-expression. Even in the earliest days of our world, humans
created works of art, first in the form of cave paintings and later in less “primitive” manners.
Today, many mental health professionals now believe that creative expressions such as art are often linked to our
subconscious minds. For example, even if we aren’t consciously aware of certain feelings and emotions, they will often
show themselves in our artistic creations. Examples of this can include the tortured writer writing macabre poetry or the
abused child creating dark and unhappy looking pictures. The reasoning behind this is that many people often find it
easier to express themselves through more artistic means rather than through verbal communication.
Art therapy is a form of therapy that uses art as the primary form of therapeutic expression. Therapists in this field can
help their clients interpret and understand their feelings and emotions through the art that they create. Oftentimes, the
actual process of creating art is therapeutic in and of itself.
This form of therapy has a number of different positive effects on most people. Art therapy, for instance, can help people
feel more in control of their lives. it can also raise self-esteem, help them express themselves better, help them
communicate more effectively, and gain a better insight on their lives.
Improving a person’s well being is typically the primary goal of art therapy. Clients who seek art therapy might suffer from
a wide range of mental or emotional problems. This form of therapy can be used to help clients cope with every day
stress, chronic pain, terminal illnesses, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and abuse. Individuals suffering from mental
disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome, might also benefit from art therapy.
As with most other mental health careers, an art therapy career generally requires certain characteristics and traits.
Professionals in this field should be excellent communicators and great listeners, in addition to being compassionate and
non-judgmental. However, as one would expect, an art therapy career also usually requires a certain degree of artistic
talent as well. For example, art therapists should be good at painting, drawing, sculpting, or some other form of art. They
should also be open to different forms and styles of artwork as well.
Who Can Benefit From Art Therapy?
The short answer to this question is everyone can benefit from art therapy. Professionals in this field often treat all
different types of people, from lonely older adults to powerful executives to poverty stricken children. The long answer to
this question, however, is a little more complex.
Although everyone can benefit from art therapy, there are certain types of people that may respond better than others to
this type of therapy. For instance, individuals that may find it difficult to express their feelings or communicate verbally
may find that they will have more success with art therapy than traditional talk therapy. Also, while artistic talent is not
usually necessary, creative individuals will often find that they are more comfortable with art therapy than non-creative
individuals. Art therapy clients should also be comfortable not only with creating works of art, but also with sharing them
with their therapist.
Also, while art therapists cater to people of all ages, children generally seem to respond to this type of therapy the best.
There may be a couple reasons for this. First of all, children – particularly young children – often find it difficult to express
their feelings and emotions verbally; talking to a traditional therapist may even intimidate them. Art therapy, however,
enables them to simply create a picture, which is usually fun and much less threatening than just talking to a therapist.
Children are also usually much less inhibited when it comes to creating art. Crayons, markers, and other art supplies are
often a staple in most children’s toy boxes, and creating art is often associated with play, which children obviously
perceive as fun. Many of them don’t give a thought to whether or not their art is considered “good”. They simply create,
losing themselves in their masterpieces.
What Does an Art Therapist Do?
An art therapist will usually work closely with his clients as well as other health professionals. He may consult with his
clients’ medical doctors, nurses, caregivers, or mental health professionals. Some art therapists might specialize in
treating specific types of clients also, such as children or elderly adults, while others might specialize in treating patients
suffering from specific problems, such as grief or chronic pain.
Before an art therapist starts working with a client, he will usually assess the client first. This usually involves determining
whether art therapy is right for the client, and whether the client will respond well to this type of therapy. Of course,
determining whether art therapy is right for a particular client isn’t an exact client, and as mentioned above, some clients
may respond better than others.
Choosing a form of art is usually the next step in the art therapy process. Usually, an art therapist will allow his clients to
choose which type of art they would like to create, but he will also offer guidance and advice during this process. The form
of art that a client chooses should be something that the client is comfortable creating and has easy access to. Popular
forms of art may include painting, drawing, and sculpting with such mediums as paints, pencils, pastels, chalks, clay, and
found items. The supplies needed to create pieces of art work are often supplied by the therapist.
Once a client chooses a type of art to pursue, an art therapist will then simply encourage him to start creating. In general,
an art therapy client is usually given artistic freedom, but in certain situations, an art therapist might provide ideas and
guidance.
After creating the art, the client will often share the art work with his therapist. An art therapist can usually help the artist
interpret his pieces, which can help him gain valuable insight on certain aspects or issues in his life.
An art therapist’s job is not to teach art or critique a client’s work, however. Instead of teaching or criticizing a client or his
work, an art therapist will typically just keep encouraging him to create as much art as he feels comfortable with during the
course of his therapy. The goal of art therapy is not to create “good” art – at least in the traditional sense. The goal of this
therapy is to help clients express themselves. In fact, many clients will often find that the process of creating the art is
therapeutic in and of itself.
Where Do Art Therapists Work?
Art therapists might work in very similar settings as more traditional therapists. This might include health facilities such as
general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and mental health centers. Art therapists might also be able to
find employment in detention centers, children’s homes, and schools.
The majority of art therapists, however, typically works independently, and eventually opens their own private practices.
They may work from art studios or offices, depending on their preferences. Those that work from studios often find that
this type of setting helps their clients be more creative and artistic. On the other hand, some art therapists may find that
office settings help their clients focus more on the therapy aspect.
What is the Average Salary of an Art Therapist?
Art therapists often have wide salary ranges. As an art therapist, your salary might be influenced by such things as your
your education, experience, talent, and location. If you choose to open a private art therapy practice, your income might
also be influenced by your rate as well as the number of clients you have.
The field of art therapy fits into the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ category of recreational therapy. According to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, recreational therapists had a median salary of $39,410 in 2010, and an average salary of $41,440 during
that same year.
Marriage and family therapist - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Marriage and Family Therapy?
No marriage or family is perfect. In fact, many people may even admit that their families are downright dysfunctional.
Traditional families are not the only types of families that seem to have problems, however. Because marriages and
families today come in all shapes and sizes, marital and family problems can affect all sorts of non-traditional families as
well, including blended families, extended families, single parent families, and families with same-sex parents.
All different types of families might be affected by all different types of problems. There are, however, a few very common
arguments that arise in many families, causing undue stress and problems. Some common arguments may be about
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infidelity,
jealousy,
financial disagreements,
child rearing,
household responsibilities,
substance abuse,
mental illness,
teenage rebellion, and
career paths.
Catching and resolving marriage and family problems early is usually best. Resolving these issues as soon as possible
can help minimize most of the negative effects down the road. Married couples that do not resolve their issues, for
instance, may end up getting divorced, which will affect their children as well as themselves. In fact, many parenting
experts agree that separations and divorces are generally rougher on the children in a family than the adults.
Marriage and family therapy is available for individuals who need help working out issues that affect their home lives.
Working together with a therapist can help families minimize the possibility of divorce, and it can help them argue less and
communicate better. This results in a more harmonious home life and less stress on everyone involves.
Professionals in this field might help work out issues that have arisen between all different members of a family. They
might try to help work out issues between couples, for example, as well as between siblings, parents and children, and
step-parents and step-children. Depending on the type of family they are working with, they may also work to improve
other familial relationships as well. If a teenager is living with his grandparents, for example, a therapist might help them
work on their grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Becoming a marriage and family counselor does require a few particular characteristics. Aside from a genuine interest in
helping families, marriage and family therapists must be excellent listeners and communicators. They should be able to
listen to each individual’s concerns with an unbiased and non-judgmental ear. They should also be able to help each
member of a family communicate peacefully and effectively with each other. If you’re looking into becoming a marriage
and family therapist, you should also be comfortable with listening to couples and families “air their dirty laundry”, so to
speak. When in therapy, most individuals will eventually begin to feel very comfortable, and open up about their most
personal and intimate problems. If hearing about issues such as a couple’s sexual problems does not make you
uncomfortable, then you just might have what it takes to have a successful marriage and family career.
Why Do We Need Marriage and Family Therapy?
Unfortunately, today, research has shown that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, which can be very devastating
for everyone involved. However, even if couples don’t get divorced, the consequences of a volatile home life can also
have very devastating long-term results as well.
Marriage and family therapists serve to help married couples and families communicate more effectively and work out
their differences. For many families, marriage and family therapy is often time well spent, reducing the time spent fighting
as well as the risk of divorce.
What Do Marriage and Family Therapists Do?
Although most families have problems and many of them have frequent arguments, it can often be hard to pinpoint the
underlying causes of these arguments. This, however, is often one of the first duties of a marriage and family therapist. In
order to do so, a marriage and family therapist will first need to meet and talk with all members of a family involved in the
therapy. Most of the time, the therapist will meet with the couple or family together. Depending on the nature of the
problem and the family situation, they may meet just with a married couple or with the family as a whole. This can help
them see how each family member reacts to the others. In some circumstances, however, a therapist may choose to meet
with members of a family separately.
During therapy sessions, talking is usually the job of the family members rather than the therapist. A marriage and family
therapist will often do more listening than talking during these meetings. The therapist will also watch the members of a
family closely for non-verbal body language, or clues to where certain problems may lie. For instance, a marriage and
family therapist that witnesses a teenager rolling her eyes might deduce that actions such as these might make her
parents feel disrespected.
After discovering some possible underlying causes of major problems in a family, a marriage and family therapist can then
help the family as a whole work through their issues. The therapist will often offer guidance and advice to frustrated family
members, for instance, or he might teach them how to communicate more effectively.
If you’re looking to become a marriage and family therapist, keep in mind that you won’t be the magic cure that ends all
arguments in a household. Arguing is part of being in a family; it just comes with the territory. Instead of teaching families
how to stop arguing, as a marriage and family therapist, you’ll help them learn to communicate more effectively, work
through their differences, and become a stronger family unit – even if that does involve an occasional argument.
Where Do Marriage and Family Therapists Work?
Marriage and family therapists might work in a number of different settings. This might include social service offices, or
community and mental health facilities.
Many marriage and family therapists, however, choose to open their own private practices. In doing so, married couples
and families can seek out their services and meet in the therapists’ offices. A few marriage and family therapists might
even make house calls, which involve visiting a household to observe the living situation.
What is the Average Salary For a Marriage and Family Counselor?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marriage and family therapists made an average salary of $48,710 in 2011.
Those the worked in state government offices had the highest salaries, with the average salary being $62,150.
Music therapist - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is Music Therapy?
Music has an effect like no other form of art. Unlike paintings or sculptures, music often affects nearly every person that
listens to it, in some way.
From a very young age, humans usually associate music with something pleasant and soothing. For example, consider a
young mother singing to her fussy newborn. More often than not, the harmonious sound of his mother’s voice is enough to
calm the newborn. Children are also usually surrounded by music as they grow up, in the form of television shows,
games, and school classes. Teenagers are notorious music lovers, and some may go on to surround themselves by
music when they become adults.
Music therapy is a type of expressive therapy that uses music exposure to help people improve their well being. This type
of therapy can be used to help individuals that suffer from mental or physical ailments or disorders. All sorts of musical
experienced can be integrated into music therapy, from listening to music to playing music to writing music.
As a form of therapy, music has been used since ancient times. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, used music to
help his mental health patients feel better, for instance. Over the years, many medical institutions and hospitals have
regularly exposed patients to music.
However, the first music therapy degree programs were founded in the United States during the middle of the 1940’s.
Since that time, the field of music therapy has been steadily growing, making music therapy careers excellent choices for
individuals interested in mental health with a passion for music.
How Does Music Therapy Work?
In general, music affects most people’s feelings and emotions. Listening to certain songs, for example, can often bring
back good memories of our childhoods, loved ones, or other memories that are just as pleasant.
Listening to music has a number of subtle physical effects on our bodies. For instance, listening to the right music can
temporarily lower blood pressure and heart rate. Music also affects our brains’ neurological processes as well. Scientists
have discovered that listening to music can cause the brain to release less cortisol, a hormone that has been dubbed the
“stress hormone”. On the other hand, listening to music can also cause your brain to release more endorphins, which are
attributed to feelings of happiness and satisfaction.
Some scientists also theorize that music affects our brainwave activity as well. This theory suggests that upbeat music
with a fast rhythm can stimulate faster brainwaves, while music with a slower rhythm can help calm those same
brainwaves.
What Does a Music Therapist Do?
A music therapist might work with clients suffering from a number of different problems, whether these problems are
mental, emotional, or physical. For instance, they may work with individuals that suffer from illness or disorders such as:
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depression,
anxiety,
grief,
abuse,
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),
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schizophrenia,
cognitive disabilities,
poor motor function,
autism,
strokes,
Alzheimer’s disease,
dementia,
chronic pain,
heart disease,
cancer, and
seizure disorders.
A music therapist career might involve treating individual clients or groups of clients. Some music therapists might even
work specifically with family units.
Like most other therapists, a music therapist will usually assess his clients first. During this initial assessment meeting, the
therapist might try to gauge how much certain types of music impact the clients emotionally or physically. The therapist
will also usually determine the best type of music therapy for each client. Some clients may be more comfortable with
music therapy that involves simply listening to therapy, while other clients may be comfortable with and benefit more from
music therapy that involves creating music. Keep in mind that a client does not have to be musically talented in order to
participate in music therapy; he simply needs to enjoy music and be receptive to its healing qualities.
A music therapist will then meet with his clients regularly, usually once a week. During these sessions, the therapist might
engage his clients in a number of musical activities, which will often vary depending on the clients interests, abilities, and
goals. The therapist might encourage his clients to simply listen to and discuss music, for instance, or he may encourage
them to participate more actively. Clients might also sing, play instruments, dance, or even write music as well.
Clients are also often encouraged by their music therapists to integrate music into the everyday lives – outside of sessions
– as well. They might be encouraged to listen to soothing music after a particularly stressful day, for example, or they may
be encouraged to practice an instrument regularly.
Where Do Music Therapists Work?
Music therapists might work as volunteers or as salaried employees in certain institutions. They can often be found in
medical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, and retirement
homes. Because children are particularly receptive to music therapy, these professionals can also sometimes be found in
schools as well.
If you choose to pursue a music therapy career, you also have the option of opening your own private music therapy
practice. In doing so, you can meet with clients in either and office setting or a music studio setting.
What is the Average Salary For a Music Therapist?
Music therapists fall under a broader category of recreational therapists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that
these types of therapists made an average salary of $39,410 in 2011.
Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is social work?
Nobody’s life is perfect – nearly everyone realizes that. However, issues in some people’s lives may be extraordinarily
difficult to straighten out, and these people may need help doing so.
Social workers are professionals that can help people resolve difficult issues, and improve their well-being and their
quality of life. These professionals typically work with individuals and groups of individuals that are experiencing crises in
their lives.
Crises and issues that social workers help people resolve may vary. These professionals might help individuals cope with
problems such as
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Poverty and unemployment
Addiction and substance abuse
Medical problems
Disabilities
Mental health disorders
Unplanned pregnancy
Abuse
Behavioral disorders
Depending on their specialties, social workers might also work with several different demographics and types of people.
For instance, some work directly with children and teens, while others might work with adults and the elderly.
Since the main duty of social workers is to improve the quality of people’s lives, these professionals typically have several
responsibilities. Primarily, though, social workers act as advocates for their clients, speaking for them in their time of need.
Why do we need social workers?
In order to cope with life’s hard times, some people may need a little hand up. Thankfully, there are a number of programs
and services that are designed to help those in need. Unfortunately, many people may have a difficult time accessing
these programs and services, and some may not even know that they exist.
social workers, on the other hand, can help people during their times of need. These professionals offer a helping hand
and support when people need it the most. As a social worker, you will have the rare opportunity to work out their issues
and help them take steps to move in the right directions in their lives.
What do social workers do?
The exact duties of social workers may vary and will typically depend on what types of social workers they are. Here are
just a few common examples.
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Child and family social workers typically only have children as clients. These types of social workers act as advocates
for children who might need help coping with any number of problems, such as poverty or abuse.
Geriatric social workers ly help elderly clients, who may be having trouble adjusting to such things as failing health
and decreased income opportunities.
Mental health social workers work with individuals who have mental health issues that may be interfering with their
everyday lives.
Addiction social workers attempt to help individuals struggling with addictions overcome their vices. They may arrange
for addicts to check into rehabilitation centers, for instance, or refer them to addiction counselors.
No matter what type of social workers they are, however, most social workers do perform similar tasks.
First of all, a social worker will meet with and interview clients. This enables them to assess their situation and determine
what needs to be done to make their lives better. Most social workers will also help develop goals and plans for their
clients, outlining the steps that they need to take for this to happen. They will also help them find services and assistance
that they may need. For instance, a family social worker trying to help a poverty stricken mother feed her children after a
recent job loss may help her apply for welfare benefits, such as cash assistance, housing assistance, and food stamp
benefits. The social worker will also help the woman take steps to find employment, so she can work toward becoming
more self-sufficient.
In , a social worker also acts as a rock for clients during their times of need. He may offer counseling services, for
instance, as well as moral support and encouragement.
Where do social workers find employment?
If you are interested in pursuing a social work career, you will often be able to find employment in a number of different
settings.
Social workers are often employed by government agencies, at the local, state and federal levels, for instance. They also
work in medical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, child welfare agencies, assisted living home, and
schools, among other facilities.
What is the salary of a social worker?
The U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics estimated that social workers had a median salary of $53,900 in 2011. However,
your salary as a social worker may be more or less than this, depending on your specialty and where you find
employment.
Addiction Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
Every true addiction has negative effects. Individuals addicted to substances, like drugs or alcohol, will often suffer
physical ramifications of their addictions. Those who are addicted to certain acts, like shopping or gambling, may not have
to deal with physical ramifications, but they will often have other problems, such as financial problems. Most addicts will
also eventually have problems in many areas of their lives, including their careers and relationships. Addiction does not
only affect just the addict, however. It also affects the addict’s loved ones. An addict’s family and friends might feel
frustrated and hopeless when their loved one is suffering from an addiction. Many family members and friends will often
try to help an addict with his problem, but since they lack the knowledge and proper training, they will ultimately fail.
Addiction social workers, on the other hand, are trained to deal with all sorts of addictions. These professionals can help
individuals overcome their addictions and go back to living normal healthy lives. To succeed in an addiction social work
career, you must possess a few important traits and characteristics. For instance, you must have excellent communication
skills, and you should be compassionate and non-judgmental. The road to recovering from an addiction is often long and
bumpy, riddled with relapses and other misfortunes. If you choose to become an addiction counselor, you should be
patient, understanding, and determined.
Why do we need addiction social workers?
Like many other mental health problems, addiction does not discriminate. Although images of low-income gang riddled
neighborhoods come to mind when many people think of addiction, in truth this problem can affect anyone.
As mentioned above, addiction affects not only the addict, but those around him as well. Problems of all different sorts
also seem to surround addicts. In order to fix these problems and prevent future problems, addicts must usually enlist the
help of addiction social workers and other similar professionals. Only after getting proper treatment can most addicts start
traveling down the road to recovery and away from the devastating effects of their vices.
What do addiction social workers do?
An addiction social worker often has a number of different duties and responsibilities.
Case management is one very important duty of an addiction social worker. This involves keeping all of the details of an
addicts treatment well documented and organized. It might also involve recommending or collaborating with other
professionals. As an addiction social worker, for instance, you will often work closely with a team of other addiction,
mental health, and medical professionals. Your team might include counselors, therapists, doctors, and nurses.
Assessing a patient or client is usually one of the first duties of an addiction social worker, however. Addiction assessment
involves figuring out what type of addiction a person suffers from, the severity of the addiction, and what it might be
caused or exacerbated by.
After the initial assessment, an addiction social worker can then outline a treatment plan. When creating this plan, an
addiction social worker will often take into account such things as what types of treatments will work for the patient based
on such things as the type of addiction he suffers from and his lifestyle. Treatments may include stays in rehabilitation
facilities, counseling, and therapy.
An addiction social worker will also help addicts set goals during their treatment and recovery. Examples of goals for an
addict during recovery may include checking himself into an addiction facility or staying away from his vice for a certain
amount of time. Goals are an extremely important part of the addiction recovery process, because they give addicts
something to work toward as well as a sense of accomplishment.
Monitoring an addict’s progress is another important duty of an addiction social worker. These professionals will keep
track of the accomplishments that addicts make during their treatment. An addict’s progress can help an addiction social
worker determine whether or not the treatment plan is working, and it can help keep the patient going down the road to
recovery.
Where do addiction social workers find employment?
Addiction social workers can often find employment in facilities such as inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment
centers. Medical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, mental health centers, and community health centers will also typically
hire addiction social workers.
What is the salary of an addiction social worker?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the median salary for social workers in general was $42,480 in 2010.
In comparison, the median salary of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors was $38,120 in 2010.
Child Welfare Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is child welfare social work?
Childhood should be a happy time, filled with memories of warmth, love, and carefree times. Unfortunately, not every child
is blessed with loving parents and stable home lives. Some children are forced to cope with upheaval and problems at
home, such as abuse, neglect, alcoholism, drug addiction, and poverty. Even in the United States, one of the most
advanced countries in the world, some children still want for even the most basic of necessities, including food, shelter,
health care, and appropriate clothing.
Child welfare social work is a field of social work that involves making sure children’s needs are taken care of. First and
foremost, professionals in this field keep the best interests of all children in mind. They work hard to protect them from
deplorable situations and make sure that their needs are met.
Working as a child welfare social worker can be both rewarding and very heart wrenching at times. In most cases, for
example, you will be assisting children and families in need of assistance and support. On the other hand, however, you
will inevitably run across at least a handful of heartbreaking cases in your career. These are the cases in which you may
have to remove children from their homes, or worse yet, cases in which you witness children tolerating deplorable and
even dangerous living situations.
Why do we need child welfare social workers?
Children, who grow up in happy homes where all of their needs are met, typically grow up to become happy, stable, and
well-adjusted adults. On the other hand, those that grow up surrounded by unpleasant and dangerous situations often
grow up suffering from mental and emotional unrest. They are plagued by the memories and images from their childhood,
and some may even repeat the behavior that they witnessed, thinking that it’s normal. For example, studies show that
children that grow up with abuse either goes on to become abusers themselves or find themselves trapped in abusive
relationships.
Although some families may see child welfare social workers as nothing more than nuisances, they serve a very important
service. These professionals help ensure that troubled children are cared for properly and have their needs met, so they
can grow up to become happy and well-adjusted adults.
What do child welfare social workers do?
If you pursue a child welfare social work career, you will find yourself working with children and families in need. Many
times, you will deal with children that are in poor living conditions, but you will also find yourself working with children with
special needs and behavioral problems as well.
One of the first duties of a child welfare social worker is to identify children or families that may be in need of their
services. This might happen when the social worker receives a report of possible problems from such sources as
mandated child abuse reporters, teachers, or simply anonymous citizens. In some cases, a child welfare may be able to
spot a possible child in need, particularly if she works in a school or other facility that caters to children.
Signs that a child may be in need of the intervention of a child welfare social worker may vary. Children who are frequently
getting in trouble, dealing with behavioral issues, or show signs of neglect or abuse are often the children that catch the
eye of these types of social workers.
Abuse and neglect, however, are major concerns for most child welfare social workers. The signs of both neglect and
abuse can be very subtle at times and difficult to spot to the untrained eye. As a child welfare social worker, you will be
trained to recognize signs of neglect and abuse in children and investigate. Below are a few examples of identifying signs
of neglect and different types of abuse.
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A child comes to school on a cold snowy day dressed in shorts, a t-shirt, and without a warm coat for the third time in
a week. Upon further investigation, a child welfare social worker notices that the child has not bathed. After
interviewing teachers and other school faculty members, the social worker also finds out that the child rarely has a
packed lunch nor does he have money to buy lunch. The child welfare social worker then has reason to believe that
the child is being neglected.
A child that often comes to school with bruises and cuts misses school because she has a broken wrist. During the
interview with a child welfare social worker, the child seems withdrawn and fearful, as if she’s going to get in trouble.
At one point during the interview, she flinches when the social worker tries to put her arm around the child’s shoulder.
By observing the physical injuries and actions of the child, the social worker has reasonable suspicion that the child
may be being physically abused.
Teachers report that a child has extreme behavioral problems in the classroom. Also, although he is very intelligent,
the child constantly states that he is “stupid” or an “idiot”. A social worker notices that there seems to be little
attachment and warmth between the child and parents during an interview, and that the parents seem to be overly
critical. After witnessing this, the social worker might be able to assume that emotional abuse might be taking place.
Other boys in a class report that one boy has been repeatedly touching them in their “private areas” during recess.
During an interview with a child welfare social worker, the child exhibits sexual knowledge that is inappropriate for his
age, and “playing” with dolls involved taking their clothes off and positioning them sexually. This behavior might
indicate to the social worker that the child is being sexually abused.
After determining the possible problems that a child may be having, a child welfare social worker will then usually assess
the child’s home life. This is usually done by interviewing the child, teachers, and family members, and most importantly,
by visiting the child’s home. Home visits can also give a social worker insight on possible causes of problems in the child’s
life. A thorough assessment can also give the child welfare social worker an idea of how at risk a child is in his current
living conditions.
If a child is at a low risk of being immediately injured or otherwise hurt, the social worker will work closely with the child
and family to remedy problems in the home. This usually involves setting goals and making a plan to better their situation
and fix any problems that may be present. A poverty stricken family that can’t afford proper housing or food, for example,
may be given help to find and utilize different government assistant programs.
Periodic evaluations are very important in child welfare cases. Child welfare social workers will frequently meet with
children and their families in order to monitor their progress. If few or no positive changes are made, the social worker
may then change the original plan and goals.
There may be some cases, however, in which a child welfare social worker may determine that a child’s health or general
well-being is at risk. This may happen when the child is being abused, for instance, or when the parents deny that there
are any problems in the household. In these situations, the social worker may need to make the decision to remove that
child – and possibly any other children – from the home. When this happens, the social worker will arrange for a safe
place for the child to stay, such as a foster home, and monitor his progress. In many cases, the social worker will also
work with families who try hard to change their situations in hopes of being reunited with their children.
Where do child welfare social workers find employment?
The majority of child welfare social workers find employment in government social work facilities, at the local, state, or
federal level. Child and youth service offices and family services offices, for example, often hire these professionals.
Community health centers and schools might also hire child welfare social workers.
What is the salary of child welfare social workers?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that social workers that worked with children, families, and schools had a
median salary of $40,680 and $19.56 median wage in 2011.
Family Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is family social work?
The family unit is often one of the most influential and important aspects in a person’s life. Families typically help lay a big
part of the foundations of people’s lives. They are usually the source of a person’s morals, values, and interpersonal skills.
Family structures also provide emotional and financial support, along with security, for most individuals.
Since children learn a number of their habits and behaviors from their parents and other family members, it is imperative
for them to grow up in strong and healthy families. Family dynamics don’t only affect just the children in a family, however.
They often affect every single member of a family.
Individuals who grow up in a dysfunctional family will often have family problems themselves as adults. They may repeat
their family members negative behaviors, for instance, and possibly have problems forming healthy relationships with
those around them. Family problems can also put an excessive amount of stress on adult members of a family.
Although every family experiences problems at one point or another, some problems are worse than others. Oftentimes,
families experiencing crises will need help picking up the pieces and rebuilding their lives.
Family social workers provide services to families in crisis that need help fixing problems that interfere with family
harmony. Typically, families that need the services of family social workers have severe problems that they can’t sort out
on their own. These problems often hinder the normal functioning of a healthy family and may include such things as:
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Financial problems
Unhealthy relationships
Addictions
Mental illnesses
Medical problems
Stress
By making plans and helping families utilize services available to them, family social workers will often have the
satisfaction of witnessing these families get back on the right track.
Why do we need family social workers?
Healthy and functional families are the cornerstones of our societies. Broken and dysfunctional families often leave
negative shrouds around people that follow them for the rest of their lives. Living with such things as mental illness,
extreme poverty, addiction, and abuse typically make it hard for people to carry on with normal lives.
Family social workers, however, assist families in crisis. They help them find assistance and services that they can use to
overcome obstacles and repair their lives.
What does a family social worker do?
The first step that a family social worker must take when working with a new family is to assess that family. This is usually
done by observing and interviewing the family members, both separately and as a whole. By doing this, a family social
worker will typically be able to get a good idea of the family dynamics, and identify the family’s strengths, weaknesses,
and problems.
Once a family’s problems have been identified, a family social worker will then typically help the family set goals and make
a plan to overcome these problems. This often involves the participation of the family as a whole, regardless of whether or
not the family’s problems stem from just one member or the whole family. The family social worker can then help connect
the family to organizations and agencies that can help them with their specific needs.
The goals and plans that a family social worker might help families develop will be influenced by the types of problems the
families are trying to work past. Here are a few examples:
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A family is having severe financial problems due to a recent job loss. Not only do they find it difficult to pay for daily
necessities, like food, they are also at risk of losing their home. A family social worker can assist them by helping the
family make a plan to beat poverty, which may involve sticking to a household budget and applying for public
assistance benefits. The social worker will also refer adult family members to local employment service offices and
help them find suitable childcare.
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Since his aging mother-in-law moved in with them, a husband is finding it harder and harder to spend time with his
wife, leaving him feel resentful and angry. This new arrangement has also put a financial strain on the family. Lately,
he often picks fights with his wife and is also often short with his children, which is very out of character for him. A
family social worker can help this family find affordable medical care and home health care aides for the mother-inlaw, and possibly refer the family to a marriage and family counselor.
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Although she was once a happy straight A student, a father has begun to notice a decline in his daughter’s mood
and grades. Lately, she has been sulky and disrespectful, and she frequently stays away from home for several days
at a time. Her last report card showed that she is already failing two classes in school and at risk of failing several
others. In addition, her mother has also found what she believes to be drug paraphernalia in her daughter’s room
while putting laundry away. A family social worker can refer the family to a teen addiction counselor, and help them
find family counseling services as well.Setting goals, making plans, and hoping families will follow through with them
is typically not enough to spur the necessary change. In general, family social workers will also stay in
communication with each family, to make sure they are taking the necessary steps toward positive change.
Where do family social workers find employment?
Many family social workers will often be able to find employment with government agencies, along with different types of
health facilities. For instance, as a family social worker, you may be able to find employment in medical hospitals, mental
health clinics, and community health clinics. Schools might also hire family social workers as well.
What is the salary of family social workers?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the median salary for social workers in general was $40,680 and the
median hourly wage was $25.91 in 2011. Family, child, and school social workers had a median salary of $40,680 in that
same year.
Geriatric Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is geriatric social work?
Adjusting to old age is somewhat difficult for most people. Elderly individuals often have to find ways to cope with all sorts
of changes in their lives, including health, financial, and social issues.
Geriatric social workers, however, can help elderly individuals adjust to and cope with problems they may experience.
These professionals help make sure the needs of their elderly clients are met, each and every day. They might help them
with financial issues, medical care, mental disorders, and social problems.
There are a number of problems that geriatric social workers might help their clients overcome or cope with. Some of
these problems may include, but are certainly not limited to:
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Financial problems, such as living on a fixed income or finding employment.
Medical problems, such as finding adequate care or applying for medical benefits.
Mental health issues, such as depression or grief.
Social issues, such as loneliness or finding social activities.
Helping elderly individuals is typically the most rewarding aspect of a geriatric social work career. However, not everyone
is a good fit for geriatric social work careers. If you’re looking to start a career in this field, you should truly enjoy working
closely with elderly individuals. You should understand their unique needs, and respect all that they have to offer. You
should also be a patient and organized person, with excellent communication skills.
Why do we need geriatric social workers?
According to the Administration on Aging, the number of elderly Americans over the age of 60 jumped from 378 million in
1980 to 759 million in 2010. That’s over twice as many elderly individuals in this country today, as opposed to around
twenty years ago. Because of medical advances and a higher quality of living, the average life expectancy of Americans is
expected to continue rising in the coming years.
Due to the increasing number of elderly individuals in this country, individuals interested in geriatric social work careers
are needed more than ever.
What does a geriatric social worker do?
The main goal of a geriatric social worker is to make sure that the needs of his clients are met. Before he can do this,
however, he must first assess each client in order to determine exactly what their needs are.
Assessing elderly clients is often achieved a few different ways. Typically, a geriatric social worker will meet with and
interview a new client. He might also interview family members and care givers, such as doctors and nurses, and possibly
look at the client’s medical records as well. If the client still lives at home, the home visit is another very important part of
this assessment. The geriatric social worker will typically visit his clients at home to ensure that they live in a safe
environment and that they have everything that they need.
Assessing their elderly clients can help geriatric social workers determine what they may need. It also helps them
determine what their clients’ abilities and limitations are. The social workers can then work on a plan to help meet the
needs of their clients. This usually involves helping clients utilize services that they may not have known about or that they
may have found confusing or complicated. For example, a geriatric social worker who finds that a client is struggling
financially may help that client either find part-time employment or apply for financial assistance, depending on that
client’s abilities and limitations.
One of the most common mental disorders that elderly Americans may be treated for is depression. Elderly individuals
account for nearly 15% of suicides in this country. A geriatric social worker will also look out for his clients’ mental wellbeing as well. They may offer counseling services, for instance, or refer clients that need mental health services to
counselors, therapists, or psychologists.
Geriatric social workers will also keep their eyes out for signs of elder abuse and neglect. This form of abuse might occur
in facilities such as nursing homes, or in the elderly clients’ own homes. If a social worker discovers that an elderly client
is being abused, he will often remove the client from the situation and find her a suitable and safe environment.
Periodic evaluations for each client are another very important part of a geriatric social work career. These types of social
workers will often check on each of their clients on a regular basis. This allows them to determine if their clients’ needs
have changed.
Where do geriatric social workers find employment?
Many geriatric social workers find employment with government agencies, either at the local, state, or federal level. As a
geriatric social worker, you might also be able to find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, senior
centers, community health centers, and mental health clinics.
What is the salary of a geriatric social worker?
Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the median salary of social workers in general during 2011
was $53,900, your salary as a social worker will most likely be influenced by where you work and the industry involved.
Medical Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is medical social work?
Today, the medical and healthcare system in this country can be utterly overwhelming and confusing for many people, not
to mention extraordinarily expensive. In fact, today’s healthcare system is enough to intimidate and frighten even the
strongest and most competent people. Serious illnesses and injuries are sometimes even enough to devastate and ruin
some patients for years.
Medical social workers, however, are there to help patients navigate the world of healthcare. These social workers can
help individuals do everything from find medical care to help pay for medical care to recover from an illness or injury. This
might include offering advice, acting as a patient advocate, or referring a patient to facilities or programs.
In general, medical social workers work with all types of patients. Individuals that may benefit from the help of medical
social workers might be any age and from all walks of life. If you choose to start a medical social work career, you will
generally work closely with children and their parents, adults, and the elderly. You might also work with poverty-stricken
patients, along with those with average to high incomes as well.
Knowledge of medical procedures, such as diagnosis and treatment methods, is generally recommended if you’re looking
to become a medical social worker. In addition, you should also be able to communicate effectively with patients, families,
doctors, nurses, and healthcare facility bureaucrats. Organizational skills, patience, and an understanding disposition are
also excellent traits to have when pursuing a medical social worker career.
Why do we need medical social workers?
The medical and healthcare world can be confusing and intimidating, both emotionally and financially. In fact, some
individuals in need of healthcare may even avoid going to the doctor or the hospital purely for these reasons. Leaving
serious injuries or illnesses untreated is often dangerous, and can even be fatal at times.
Instead of floundering around in the dark, stressing about the quality of their medical care, or wondering how they’re going
to pay for it all, patients can seek the help of medical social workers. These professionals work hard to help ease patients’
minds by acting as patient advocates and supporting them every step of the way. In short, a medical social worker can
help simplify the medical world for patients and their families.
What do medical social workers do?
A career in medical social work also often involves informing patients of their rights. In general, a patient’s rights typically
include – but, aren’t limited to – such things as
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the right to be treated with respect and dignity,
the right to make decisions regarding healthcare,
the right to choose a doctor that can give adequate care,
the right to ask questions and have them answered in easy to understand terms,
the right to be free of abuse, neglect, or exploitation,
the right to know how much medical treatment will cost before undergoing any procedures,
the right to access one’s own medical information, and
the right to emergency medical treatment regardless of the ability to pay.
Medical social workers typically work closely with a number of different individuals, including doctors, nurses, patients,
and patients’ families. Assessing the needs of a patient is usually the first step that a medical social worker will take. This
might involve interviewing the patient, his family, and his doctors. A thorough patient assessment will help a medical social
worker determine what a patient’s needs are, and how these needs can be met. The social worker will also answer any
questions and address any concerns that a patient and his family may have. Besides offering advice and support, a
medical social worker will also help patients overcome any obstacles or hurdles regarding their medical treatment.
Financial issues are some of the most common issues that medical social workers are faced with each day. These social
workers will often be charged with attempting to ease the financial burdens of medical care. They will often work with
patients with inadequate or non-existent health insurance. In these cases, a social worker might help patients figure out
how to pay for medical treatments, by helping them apply for assistance programs or setting up payment arrangements.
Adequate care and understanding medical caregivers are also concerns that many patients may have during treatment. A
medical social worker can help patients find the proper care, by referring them to medical facilities and specialists that
cater to their needs. If a doctor is not a good fit for a patient, a medical social worker can also help the patient find a
different doctor or caregiver that may be more understanding of the patient’s specific condition.
A medical social worker’s job doesn’t always stop after a patient is discharged from the hospital either. Once a patient
returns home, a medical social worker might also make sure that the patient’s needs are being met at home as well. A
medical social worker may be responsible to coordinate post-treatment resources, if a patient needs additional help at
home because of his medical condition. For instance, he might help set up necessary services, such as home healthcare
services or assisted living services.
Where do medical social workers find employment?
If you’re interested in pursuing a medical social work career, you’ll most likely be able to find employment in facilities such
as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, emergency clinics, and rehabilitation centers. Some medical social
workers might also be able to find employment in government offices as well.
What is the salary for a medical social worker?
Social workers in general had a median salary of around $53,900 in 2011 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. However, those that worked in specialty hospitals had a median salary of $66,640.
Mental Health Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is a mental health social worker?
Living with a mental illness is difficult, to say the least. For many individuals, mental disorders make it difficult to function
normally in everyday life. In severe cases, nearly all aspects of people’s lives are affected by the disability, including their
careers, families, and social circles.
No one is safe from the looming shadow of mental illness either. These types of problems can affect anyone, including the
young and old, men and women, and the rich and poor. In fact, the Surgeon General has estimated that nearly a quarter
of Americans are living with a diagnosable mental illness.
For some individuals suffering from mental disorders, living a “normal” life may seem very difficult, or even impossible.
Recovery from mental illness is typically the main goal of mental health social work. Professionals in this field try to ensure
that their clients’ needs are met while they are coping with their mental illnesses.
A mental health social worker provides support and resources to these individuals, so they can start working on
recovering from their mental disorders. Generally, a mental health social worker will provide clients with everything from
counseling services to referrals to services that may benefit them.
Recovery from a mental illness is often a long and bumpy road, with several obstacles. Care and support from a mental
health social worker, however, can help make this road smoother, resulting in less frustration and problems on the road to
recovery.
Why do we need mental health social workers?
The number of individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses each year has been on the rise since the 1970’s. Although the
reason for this is ultimately unclear, many experts agree that we have something of an epidemic regarding mental
illnesses.
Because mental illness diagnoses are on the rise, the need for mental health professionals, is also on the rise. Mental
health professionals, such as mental health social workers, help ensure that mentally ill individuals get the care that they
need, as well as help make sure their needs are met. These actions are extremely important to the recovery process and
essential for self-sufficiency of these individuals.
What do mental health social workers do?
Mental health social workers typically work very closely with a number of individuals. First of all, they typically work in a team with other
mental health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and therapists. Most importantly, though,
mental health social workers also work closely with mentally ill individuals and their loved ones.
The first step that a mental health social worker will usually take with a new client is the assessment. This usually involves
interviewing and talking with the client, and possibly his family members, friends, and doctors as well. An assessment not
only helps the social worker determine what mental illnesses a client has, but also his strengths and weaknesses as well.
Once a mental health social worker has completed the assessment, he can then help put together a care plan for his
client. This care plan typically involves figuring out the best methods of recovery for the client.
If necessary, most mental health social workers are trained to counsel their clients on some minor issues. They might also
need to educate their clients on mental health in general, and the importance of treating these issues. However, for more
serious mental health issues, a mental health social worker will usually refer clients to more qualified mental health
professionals, such as psychologists or therapists. A mental health social worker might also help clients find treatment
facilities and in-patient mental health care centers, if necessary.
A mental health social worker might also need to help his clients attend to their daily needs. For example, we all know that
money is a veritable necessity in today’s modern world. Since some mentally ill individuals may find it difficult to find or
keep a job, a mental health social worker may help his clients find employment. If employment is not an options, however,
a mental health social worker may help his clients find and apply for certain types of assistance, such as welfare benefits
or disability benefits.
In some cases, a mental health social worker might also be called upon to act as a legal representative for his clients as
well. This is usually necessary when a mentally ill individual is being discriminated.
Monitoring his clients’ progress is also an important duty of a mental health social worker. During periodic evaluations, the
social worker will try to determine whether or not a client’s treatment plan is working or not. If current treatments aren’t
working, the social worker may need to help clients find different doctors or facilities that can better cater to his client’s
needs.
Where do mental health social workers find employment?
Individuals interested in pursuing mental social work careers can typically find employment in medical hospitals,
psychiatric hospitals, mental health facilities, community health centers, and rehabilitation centers. Facilities such as
schools, detention centers, and government agencies might also hire mental health social workers as well.
What is the salary of a mental health social worker?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that social workers in general had a median salary of $53,900 in 2011.
However, in 2011 social workers that were employed in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals had a median salary of
$51,710.
Public Health Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is public health social work?
A person can often only be as healthy as his environment. Also, the well-being of a community is directly affected by the
well-being of the majority of its citizens.
Public social work is a type of social work that concentrates of the general well-being of communities and their inhabitants.
Social workers in this field might deal with small communities, medium communities, and large communities. This may
include villages, boroughs, cities, states, and nations.
A public health social worker’s job is to make sure that these types of communities and the individuals in them are as
healthy as possible. This goal may be achieved by implementing community-wide programs, or helping individuals
suffering from prevalent problems in the communities.
There are typically a number of different types of problems that can plague a community. Some of these problems may
include joblessness, poverty, homelessness, poor education, teen pregnancies, crime, and addiction.
Why do we need public health social work?
As mentioned above, a community’s people are only as healthy as their community as a whole. When a community is
plagued with problems, whether they are health related or not, the individuals in that community are typically plagued with
the same problems.
A healthy community helps create a good quality of living for the individuals in that community. Public health social
workers can help solve many of the problems that plague the residents of most communities, large and small. By helping
solve these problems, public health social workers can help create a better quality of life for communities and their
residents.
What does a public health social worker do?
The first thing that a public health social worker will do when trying to help a community is to examine that community
closely. This may include studying community statistics, interviewing community members, and meeting with community
leaders.
Examining a community in this way can help the social worker determine what major problems plague the community, as
well as what might possibly cause these problems. Recognizing and defining these problems can then help a public social
figure out how to fix them and improve the general well-being of the community.
After defining some problems that are prevalent in a community, a public social worker will then often develop a plan to
solve or prevent these problems. Depending on the severity and type of problems that these social workers encounter,
they might try to fix the problems at the community level or the individual level.
Community outreach and prevention programs are common tactics that public health social workers might use to help
solve some community health issues. If a high number of community members suffer from a certain problem or ailment,
for instance, a public health social worker might create outreach and prevention programs informing community members
of these problems and how to prevent them. One example of this is the United States’ battle against childhood obesity.
A public health social worker will also usually help community members get the individual help that they need. They might
help set up clinics that offer free or affordable healthcare, for instance, or they may counsel community members on
where to find such care or how to afford it.
Where do public health social workers find employment?
A large percentage of public health social workers are hired by government agencies, either at the local, state, or federal
levels. They might also be able to find employment in facilities such as public and community health centers.
What is the salary of a public health social worker?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that all social workers in general made a median salary of $53,900 in 2011.
School Social Worker - Educational requirement: minimum bachelor’s degree
What is school social work?
The majority of schools in this country consist of a mix of all different types of students who come from all sorts of racial,
ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Students in these schools also have all different personalities and
learning abilities as well. Although this type of diversity is often considered to be good for the students during these
formative years, they can cause problems at time.
Children that attend school from an early age also learn many of their behaviors and habits in these institutions as well,
either from other students or from their own experiences.
Today, more and more schools and parents are putting pressure on students to excel, in both academic settings and
extracurricular activities. Students today typically need to juggle activities such as homework, practices, studying for
important tests, preparing for college, and problems at home. Needless to say, this type of pressure and responsibility
placed on children can be very overwhelming for their young minds.
School social work is an area of social work that focuses on creating a safe and efficient school environment.
Professionals in this field concentrate on helping students cope with the problems and pressures that they may face every
day, both at home and in school. The main goal of a school social worker is to help each student succeed in school to the
best of their abilities.
There are a number of problems that a school social worker might help a student cope with or work through. The main
type of problems that these social workers try to help students with are the problems that they may face in school. For
instance, students that may seem to be struggling academically or socially may be approached by school social workers.
Severe behavior problems might also be addressed by school social workers.
In some instances, the problems that students experience at school may be directly linked to their experiences at home.
Because of this, school social workers are trained to recognize when students are possibly experiencing problems, such
as abuse or poverty, at home.
Why do we need school social workers?
Our school years are supposed to be the best years of our lives. These are the years when we begin to learn
independence – along with reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic – and begin to make friends and form relationships.
Unfortunately, for some students, their school years are anything but their best years.
These students may encounter any number of problems that might inhibit their learning experiences or social interaction.
Problems in these areas will often lead to more serious problems and complications later on in life. The problems that
students may experience during their school years can have a strong influence on their adult years.
School social workers, however, can help address these problems early in a student’s life. Helping a student learn to cope
with and deal with these problems can make the difference between that student become successful or not.
What does a school social worker do?
On any given day, a school social worker might have a number of different duties. First of all, a school social worker tries
to identify students that may be having all sorts of problems. Identifying these students might occur during direct
observation on the social worker’s part, or when other school faculty members, like teachers or guidance counselors,
report that a student may be having a problem.
Students might experience a number of different problems during their years in school. Academic problems, social
problems, behavioral problems, and problems at home are typically the most common types of problems students will
encounter. In many instances, these problems may be directly related to each other.
Academic Problems
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Failing grades
Low test scores
Attendance problems, resulting in incomplete work
Learning problems
Social Problems
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Being a victim of bullying
Not being able to make friends
Not “fitting in”
Peer pressure
Behavioral Problems
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Dismissing school policies
Fighting
Substance abuse
Not getting along with teachers
Problems at Home
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Abuse
Neglect
Substance Abuse
Poverty
Once a school social worker identifies a problem, he will then typically try to determine the cause of the problem. This
might be done by observing, interviewing, or testing the student. If a school social worker suspects a problem at home,
such as neglect or poverty, the social worker might also visit the student’s home.A school social worker will then put
together a plan to help a student cope with and overcome his problems and obstacles. This plan typically requires action
on the parts of the students, teachers, and families. Here are a few examples….
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A school social worker that discovers a student struggling with a learning disability will arrange for that student to
enroll in special classes or receive extra tutelage. The social worker will also educate the parents on what the
learning disability is, and how to help the student at home.
A school social worker might create a school wide bullying prevention program.
A school social worker might also attempt to counsel a student or teacher that don’t “see eye to eye”.
A school social worker that discovers problems at home will often work with the family to help them overcome their
issues in order to help their child succeed academically. If abuse is suspected in a student’s home, a school social
worker might also bring in child welfare social workers.
Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders are becoming more and more prevalent in our nation’s schools,
particularly because the students are pressured more than ever to succeed. A school social worker will work with and
counsel students who are suffering from these types of disorders. Students with more severe mental disorders are
typically referred to other mental health specialists, such as licensed counselors or psychologists.
Some school social workers are also called upon to help create or update school policies and outreach programs. These
may include such things as behavior policies, discipline policies, and prevention programs.
Where Do School Social Workers Find Employment?
As their name suggests, school social workers work in schools. They may be hired by pre-schools, elementary schools,
middle schools, and high schools, as well as some colleges. Both public and private schools typically hire school social
workers.
What is the salary of school social workers?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, child, family, and school social workers had a median salary of
$40,680 in 2011.