Careers With a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling

<h2 id="section---MasterSInRehabilitationCounselingCareersPaths"> Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling Careers Paths</h2> <h3 id="section---RehabilitationCounselor">Rehabilitation Counselor</h3> <p>With a master's degree in the field of rehabilitation counseling, your first career choice might be that of a rehabilitation counselor, which is a job that entails helping those with emotional, physical, or mental disabilities. Positions like this typically come with the following responsibilities: </p> <ul><li>Evaluating patients in terms of skills, health, education, and ability </li><li>Creating treatment plans </li><li>Conducting group and individual counseling </li><li>Aiding patients in finding services, resources, training, or care </li></ul><p>Along with general rehabilitation counselors, there are also vocational rehabilitation counselors, who focus more exclusively on helping their clients with employment-related issues, such as finding jobs, writing resumes, and transitioning back into work. Along with needing a master's in rehabilitation counseling, you might also need to earn state licensure as a counselor to be able to provide a full range of services to your clients. </p> <h3 id="section---CareerCounselor"> Career Counselor</h3> <p>Similar to a vocational rehabilitation counselor, a career counselor offers counseling services that center on helping clients with their work-related problems. As a career counselor, you might conduct aptitude tests that help clients determine their skills and interests, help clients with resume and interviewing skills, and counsel clients about work issues, such as problems with management or colleagues. A master's degree that has a focus on both counseling and career development is often the preferred educational qualification for this type of career; most rehabilitation counseling master's programs meet this requirement. </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolCounselor">School Counselor</h3> <p>School counselors can work in different school settings, such as elementary, middle, or high schools, and they generally counsel students who might need help with learning, social, or developmental skills. Specific job duties may include: </p> <ul><li>Assessing and interviewing students to determine their counseling needs </li><li>Conducting one-on-one or group counseling sessions </li><li>Guiding students in developing positive study, time management, and behavioral habits </li><li>Interacting with parents, teachers, and other school staff </li></ul><p>Most states require that school counselors hold a master's degree in school counseling or a related field, such as rehabilitation counseling, and many states also require licensure or certification. </p> <h3 id="section---SubstanceAbuseBehavioralDisorderOrMentalHealthCounselor"> Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, or Mental Health Counselor</h3> <p>A substance abuse or behavioral disorder counselor helps people who are battling issues like alcoholism, addiction, or other destructive behaviors, and they do so by: </p> <ul><li>Offering counseling services </li><li>Making treatment plans </li><li>Teaching coping skills </li><li>Helping modify or change behaviors </li></ul><p>Mental health counselors have a similar set of job duties; however, they focus more on helping patients who might be dealing with such issues as depression, anxiety, or stress. Generally, mental health counselors need at least a master's degree along with licensure that includes clinical counseling experience, which a rehabilitation counseling master's program may provide, and substance abuse or behavioral disorder counselors need a master's degree if they are to provide private counseling services to their clients. </p> <h3 id="section---MarriageAndFamilyTherapist">Marriage and Family Therapist</h3> <p>As a marriage and family therapist, you would likely help families navigate life challenges, such as divorce, death, job loss, or general emotional issues. You might also use a range of counseling techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, to help clients address and improve their depression, anxiety, or other negative thoughts or behaviors. To pursue a career as a marriage and family therapist, you need a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, psychology, or an allied mental health field, such as rehabilitation counseling, and you must also become licensed in order to practice. </p> <h3 id="section---SocialAndCommunityServiceManager">Social and Community Service Manager</h3> <p>A social and community service manager is someone who manages a social service organization that could be focused on helping specific community populations, such as veterans, the displaced, or the needy. In this role, you may have a range of job responsibilities, such as: </p> <ul><li>Planning and implementing social programs </li><li>Overseeing budgets and administrative tasks </li><li>Managing and mentoring employees </li><li>Conducting outreach and fundraising activities </li></ul><p>Typically, social and community service managers need at least a bachelor's degree in public health, social work, or a related field; however, many jobs of this type require a master's degree as well as experience in counseling or social work. </p> <h3 id="section---ProbationOfficerOrCorrectionalTreatmentSpecialist"> Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist</h3> <p>Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists aid in the rehabilitation of those who are currently incarcerated or have recently been released on parole or probation by ensuring they are on the right track. In these types of positions, you may counsel clients and create rehabilitation treatment plans that could include helping clients with job placement, housing, and mental health issues. Although probation officers and correctional treatment specialists generally only need a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling may help with career advancement. </p> <h3 id="section---SocialWorker">Social Worker</h3> <p>Social workers help a range of clients deal with and manage different life challenges and traumas. Generally, as a social worker, you could respond directly to mental health or abuse emergencies, help clients find services, and create plans to improve a client's situation. Non-clinical social work positions typically require a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field; however, a rehabilitation counseling master's program might help you build up your skills and help you counsel clients who may have disabilities. Clinical social workers need a master's degree and must be licensed. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Job Title </th><th> Median Annual Salary (2019) </th><th> Estimated Job Growth (2019-2029)</th></tr> <tr><td> Rehabilitation Counselors </td><td>$35,950 </td><td> 10%</td></tr> <tr><td> School and Career Counselors </td><td>$57,040 </td><td> 8%</td></tr> <tr><td> Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors </td><td>$46,240 </td><td> 25%</td></tr> <tr><td> Marriage and Family Therapists </td><td>$49,610 </td><td> 22%</td></tr> <tr><td> Social and Community Service Managers </td><td>$67,150 </td><td> 17%</td></tr> <tr><td> Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists </td><td>$54,290</td><td> 4%</td></tr> <tr><td> Social Workers </td><td>$50,470 </td><td> 13%</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <p>Master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling, with their focus on counseling skills and knowledge, may prepare you for a range of social service-centered careers. Along with the option of becoming a rehabilitation counselor, you might also pursue a career as a school, career, or mental health counselor or as a social worker or probation officer.</p>