Careers In Mental Health

This book makes the case that career development practice is a mental health intervention, and provides skills and strategies to support career development practitioners in their work. It explores how practitioners do more than help people navigate career paths, they change people's lives in ways that improve mental health and overall well-being.

Accessible and unbiased, Careers in Mental Health introduces upper-level high school students and beginning undergraduates to the different aspects of various mental health professions. Contains essential career advice for anyone considering an advanced degree in one of the “helping” professions within mental health Covers clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, and school psychology Clarifies the distinctions between professions by discussing the history and philosophy of each field, requirements for advanced education, licensing, available jobs, salary potential, and more Includes a section with practical information applicable to all the professions, such as characteristics for success, ethical issues, the importance of critical thinking, applying to graduate school, and current issues affecting the field of mental health

"Many people are interested in pursuing a career in mental health but may be uncertain about career options. This book helps to identify the best educational path for their interests and prepare for success. Throughout, mental health professionals share inspiring wisdom to build realistic expectations and highlight key decision points. Comprehensive information about the disciplines of counseling, marital/couples and family therapy, psychology, psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, and social work is provided, along with an expansive array of job possibilities. Practical guidance about masters versus doctoral degrees, graduate admissions success, educational costs, and salary projections is offered. Readers learn about how diversity and inclusion issues, as well as laws and ethics impact mental health, and how to prevent career burnout. Thought-provoking chapters promote balanced respect for both the healing art and the science of mental health, and forecast innovations that will shape the field into the future. Finally, multimedia resources are recommended to boost career preparedness"--

Mental health care is a challenging and rewarding field in which compassionate professionals provide patients with treatment that can help them heal and recover from mental illness. Therapists and other mental health workers treat a wide range of medical problems related to patients' emotional, psychological, and social health. This book describes several career paths that are personally fulfilling and essential for patient care, including psychiatric technicians, nursing assistants, medical assistants, orderlies, pharmacy technicians, and medical transcriptionists, among others. Some counselors, for instance, specialize in substance abuse treatment, and their expertise is in high demand because of the opioid crisis that is afflicting the nation.