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Counseling and Mental Health
Counselor
Psychologist
Social Worker
 Health maintenance and restoration can be affected by social, economic, and
environmental factors. Social workers, through direct counseling and
referral services, deal with the emotional, cultural, social, and physical
needs of the elderly, homeless, unemployed, disabled, seriously ill, and
handicapped. Medical social workers frequently care for the mentally ill.
Social workers help their clients to accept situations that cannot be
changed or to rebuild their lives by making constructive and meaningful
changes. Social workers must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Counselors
aid people with social, educational, or personal problems. School and career
counselors help students to evaluate their interests and abilities and to
plan a career, as well as counsel them about social and personal problems.
Employment counselors evaluate an individual’s education and skills and help
the person locate and apply for a job. Rehabilitation counselors help those
who are physically or mentally impaired to become more self-sufficient and
productive. Mental health counselors deal with personal, family, or work
problems, or with criminal behavior. Psychologists provide counseling and
therapy to groups and individuals who suffer emotional, learning, or
behavioral problems. They may work in a variety of settings, including
schools, clinics, hospitals, or private practice. Psychologists and
counselors are required to have a graduate degree.
Counselor
 Counselors
assist individuals and groups with mental health issues concerning
self-understanding, self-esteem, life roles, and relationships. Counselors
work with many issues, including mental health, school, college, career,
employment, rehabilitation, aging, substance abuse, and marriage and family.
Counselors help people to make decisions and accept responsibility for them,
to accept responsibility for their behavior, and to adjust to or change life
situations.
Work Activities
* Conducting intake
interviews with an individual or a group to determine the problem area and the
focus of the counseling (This procedure can include testing—personality,
aptitude, achievement, and psychological—observation, and interviewing.)
* Formulating a treatment
plan to accomplish the client’s goals
* Counseling individuals,
groups, marriage partners, or families
* Assisting others in
understanding and overcoming social, emotional, and psychological problems
* Using appropriate
therapies that improve the functioning of the client
* Referring clients to
other professional or community resources
* Conducting workshops in
special subjects, such as assertiveness, career development, job search
skills, interpersonal relationships, relaxation and stress management, coping
skills, and wellness
* Maintaining records of
tests and counseling sessions.
* Teaching counselor
education classes at universities and colleges
* Conducting research and
reporting results in professional journals
Career Specialties
Counselors may specialize
in the following areas:
Mental Health
Counselors work with individuals and
groups to promote optimum mental health. They work therapeutically with
individuals to deal with such concerns as: addictions and substance abuse;
family, parenting, and marital problems; suicide; stress management;
self-esteem; issues associated with aging; job and career concerns;
educational decisions; and issues of mental and emotional health. Mental
Health Counselors work closely with other mental health specialists, including
psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.
Genetic Counselors provide information and support to individuals who have birth defects
or genetic (inherited) disorders, or who are at risk for such conditions.
Genetic Counselors may conduct scientific research on factors that cause
disorders and on possible treatments, or they may counsel families and
individuals on coping with the disorders.
Marriage and Family
Counselors work with individuals,
partners, and families to promote the highest level of functioning within the
family unit. While focusing mainly on family and marital problems, Marriage
and Family Counselors may deal with the same issues as mental health
counselors.
Rehabilitation
Counselors help persons deal with
the impact of their disabilities on their personal lives and in their jobs.
They evaluate the clients’ disabilities and potential for employment by
interviewing the clients and their families, reviewing school and medical
reports, and conferring with physicians, psychologists, occupational
therapists, employers, and others. The goal of these counselors is to work
toward increasing their clients’ capacities to adjust and live independently.
School and College
Counselors help students to
understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems. They
provide students with life skills necessary to deal with problems before they
occur, and to enhance personal, social, and academic growth. Another primary
goal for School and College Counselors is to help students understand their
abilities, interests, talents, and personality traits so that students can
develop realistic academic and career options. In addition, these Counselors
may manage career information centers and educational programs. High School
Counselors provide advice on college admission requirements, entrance exams,
financial aid, and trade/technical school and apprenticeship programs.
Elementary School Counselors concentrate on developmental counseling, with a
social behavioral emphasis. They confer with elementary teachers,
administrators, and parents on developmental issues and special needs of
children.
Career and Employment
Counselors help individuals make
wise career decisions. They help clients explore and evaluate personality
traits, interests, skills and abilities, education, training, and work history
through counseling sessions and testing. They also help people to develop
job-seeking skills and assist them in locating and applying for jobs.
Work Settings
Counselors work in a
variety of public and private establishments, including mental health clinics,
social agencies, health care facilities, job training and vocational
rehabilitation centers, correctional institutions, residential care
facilities, halfway houses, group homes, and elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary schools. Counselors also work in federally- and state-funded
agencies that engage in community life improvement, such as public assistance
agencies, and in substance abuse facilities. A growing number of counselors
are employed in private practices, health maintenance organizations, and group
practices.
Special Requirements
Employment as a Counselor
usually requires a minimum of a master’s degree. The most common requirements
to enter a graduate program in counseling include completing a bachelor’s
degree with an acceptable grade-point average, taking the Graduate Record
Examination, and having teaching or other professional experience. State
certification is also required.
Educational Institutions
Counseling:
ASUJ, SAUM, UAF, UALR (all M); ASUJ, UAF (S); UAF
(D)
Rehabilitation
Counseling: ASUJ, UALR (M); UAF (D)
Genetic Counseling: UAMS (M)
For more information,
contact:
Arkansas State Board of
Examiners and Counseling
Hwy. 19
Magnolia, AR 71753
(501) 234-1842
American Counseling
Association
5999 Stevenson Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304
(800) 347-6647
E-mail:
nrcaoffice@aol.com
National Association of
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors
1911 N. Fort Myer Dr., Suite
900
Arlington, VA 2209
(703) 741-7686
www.naadac.org
National Society of
Genetic Counselors
233 Canterbury Drive
Wallingford, PA 19086-6617
(610) 872-7608
www.nsgc.ord
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Psychologist
Psychologists
study the behavior of people and animals in order to understand, compare, and
explain the way that they act and respond. They collect and apply knowledge
related to the mental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of individuals
and groups.
Work Activities
* Diagnosing and treating
psychological problems
* Collecting data through
interviews, case histories, and observational techniques
* Developing, selecting,
administering, and interpreting psychological tests, questionnaires, surveys,
and experiments
* Counseling individuals and
groups
* Conferring with parents,
teachers, counselors, administrators, and others
* Determining the
effectiveness of treatments through follow-up procedures
* Conducting research and
developing and evaluating mental health programs
* Serving as a consultant to
social, educational, medical, or other agencies
* Writing for professional
and trade journals or other media
* Teaching in colleges and
universities
Career Specialties
Clinical Psychologists
evaluate, diagnose, and treat mentally and emotionally disturbed people. They
also are concerned with the prevention of mental and emotional disorders.
Educational Psychologists
design, develop, and evaluate techniques and materials to solve problems in
training programs.
School Psychologists evaluate the needs of average, gifted, and physically or mentally
challenged students. They make suggestions about placing disabled and/or
emotionally impaired students within an educational system, and they recommend
implementation of the appropriate programs.
Developmental
Psychologists investigate the
emotional, mental, physical, and social growth and development of humans.
Social Psychologists study human relationships to gain understanding of individual and group
thought, feeling, and behavior.
Industrial and
Organizational Psychologists develop
and apply psychological techniques to personnel administration, management, and
marketing problems.
Psychologists
may specialize in teaching, research, therapy, or community service. Other
specialties include: counseling, rehabilitation, community health, physiology,
and psycho-pharmacology. They may specialize in working with specific age groups
or persons with certain psychological problems.
Work Settings
Psychologists work alone,
with other Psychologists, or with psychiatrists and other physicians. Employment
settings include college classrooms and laboratories, hospitals, correctional
institutions, clinics, private offices, industries, schools, businesses, and
government agencies.
Special Requirements
A doctoral degree is
generally required for employment as a Psychologist. Psychologists with
doctorates (Ph.D or Psy.D-Doctor of Psychology) qualify for a wide range of
responsibilities, such as research, clinical and counseling positions in
universities, private industry, school settings, and government.
Persons with a master’s
degree can administer and interpret tests as Psychological Assistants. Under the
supervision of psychologists, they can conduct research in laboratories, conduct
psychological evaluations, counsel patients, or perform administrative duties.
They may teach in 2-year colleges or work as school psychologists or counselors
with appropriate state certification.
A bachelor’s degree
qualifies a person to assist psychologists and other professionals in community
mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, and correctional
programs, or work as a research assistant.
Educational Institutions
School Psychologist:
UCA (M &D)
Family Psychologist:
WBC (B)
General Psychologist:
ASUJ, ATU, HC, HSU, HU, JBU, LC, PSC,
OBU, SAUM, UAF, UAFS, UAM, UALR, UAPB, UCA, UO, WBC (All B); UAF (M & D)
Applied Psychologist:
UALR (M)
Counseling Psychologist:
UCA (M)
For more information,
contact:
Arkansas Psychological
Association
1123 South University
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 614-6500
www.arpapsych.org
American Psychological
Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5500
www.apa.org
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Social Worker
Social Workers
assist individuals and groups with problems, such as poverty, illness, drug
abuse, child and spousal abuse, financial management, and inadequate housing.
Social Workers apply their knowledge and skills to form relationships that use
an individual’s capabilities as well as community resources.
Work Activities
* Interviewing and
counseling individual clients and families regarding their physical, social, and
psychological concerns
* Evaluating information to
determine the nature and degree of the client’s problems
* Compiling records of the
client’s activities, reactions, progress, and indications of accountability
* Assisting clients in
improving personal and social functioning by helping them to secure services,
education, and training
* Improving services through
community and organizational changes
* Organizing job clubs and
making referrals to job placement agencies
* Referring clients to other
professional or community resources
* Coordinating or working
with civic, religious, business, and union organizations to combat social
problems through community programs
Career Specialties
Social Workers
usually specialize in casework, group work, or community organizations, but some
are involved with all three. They may specialize in addressing specific
problems, such as substance abuse, or in working with special groups, such as
the elderly.
Medical Social Workers
and Psychiatric Social Workers
help patients and their families with problems that accompany illness or inhibit
recovery and rehabilitation. They collect patient information to help other
health professionals understand social, emotional, and environmental factors
underlying patients’ illnesses.
Work Settings
Social Workers often work
independently, but may work as part of a team that includes physicians,
psychologists, lawyers, nurses, therapists, teachers, the clergy, and other
professionals concerned with a client’s welfare. They also consult and work with
members of a client’s family.
Working conditions vary with
the nature of the work, the type of employer, and the location. Social Workers
are employed in agency offices, hospitals, clinics, schools, prisons,
reformatories, or courts of law. Some of their duties may require travel. Social
Workers may visit homes of clients in neighborhoods where conditions are
unpleasant or dangerous. They may try to help persons who do not feel that they
need help.
Special Requirements
A bachelor’s degree is the
minimum requirement for most positions. Besides the bachelor’s degree in social
work (BSW), undergraduate majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields
satisfy hiring requirements in some agencies. BSW programs prepare graduates for
direct service positions such as caseworker or group worker. A master’s degree
in social work (MSW) is generally necessary for positions in health and mental
health settings. An MSW degree prepares graduates to perform assessments, to
manage cases, and to supervise other workers. Advancement to supervisor, program
manager, assistant director, and finally to executive director of an agency or
department generally requires an MSW plus work experience. Licensing,
certification, or registration regarding social work practice may be required
for use of professional titles.
Educational Institutions
ASUJ, HU, PSC, SAUM, UAF,
UALR, UAM, UAPB (All B);
UAF, UALR (M)
For more information,
contact:
National Association of
Social Workers,
Arkansas Chapter
1123 South University
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 663-0658
www.naswar.org
National Association of
Social Workers
750 First Street, NE, Suite
700
Washington, DC 20002-4241
(800) 638-8799
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