In a previous post, we’ve talked about the 10 tips you can use to find the perfect career path. There are plenty of things to consider when choosing a career, from your passion to the kind of future you want to shape for yourself.
Certain careers allow you to combine your passion with a rewarding job and a bright future. If you love helping others, for example, a career as a counselor is a good choice to make. In this part, we’re going to take a look at how you can start doing good and developing a career in counseling.
A Growing Market
The demand for experienced and professional counselors is growing rapidly these past couple of years. Experts believe that this growth will continue for several more years. A career in counseling allows you to help those who need advice and assistance like never before. By working as a counselor, you can touch people’s lives directly.
There are several counselling jobs you can pursue. You can, for example, become a school counselor and help teenagers deal with the problems they have in life. We’ve all been there; the teen years can be quite difficult to navigate through. Why not use your experience to help today’s teens be the best that they can be?
You can also work as a marital counselor, a counselor for the military, or even assume the role of community leader and have a bigger impact on the people in your neighborhood. All of these career options are available to you once you have the right qualifications to work as a counselor.
Degrees and Requirements
Getting started with developing a career in counseling is not as difficult as you think. Universities such as Wake Forest University are opening their online masters in counseling programs to more students across the country. You can review counseling programs online and pick one that suits the career path you want to have right away.
While completing the course, you will learn a number of important skills that will allow you to counsel others effectively. For starters, you can master the ten qualities every good counselor must have, including self-awareness and empathy. There are classes designed to help you develop practical counseling skills, too.
Taking the First Step
There is no better time to start than today. The best programs are waiting for you and you can acquire a master’s degree in counseling within 15 to 18 months. Since online courses are very flexible, so you can complete the program while maintaining a full-time job or assuming the role of a stay-at-home mom.
A career in counseling is one of the most rewarding careers you can go for today. The available jobs are not only rewarding financially, but also allow you to grow personally and have a high level of satisfaction. You will be affecting the lives of others; there is no better feeling than seeing the smile on other people’s faces after they get the assistance they need to solve their problems.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Diana C says
Great article, Rita. I’ve been a counselor for ten years now and it is very rewarding. I recently began a small private practice and working toward an advanced license right now. I’ve worked in a few colleges and a Catholic community center prior to the practice.