"Mini-Guide" to Online Counseling Degrees

• "Counselors assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems. Their duties depend on the individuals they serve and on the settings in which they work…
  Persons interested in counseling should have a strong interest in helping others and should possess the ability to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. They should be able to work independently or as part of a team. Counselors must follow the code of ethics associated with their respective certifications and licenses."

— America's 101 Fastest Growing Jobs, 8th edition

• "Counseling is a profession with the potential to provide powerful preventative interventions for numerous populations and concerns. Counselors are specifically trained to identify and build upon strengths, conceptualize individuals in context, and be accessible to and serve as educators for their communities."

— Public Awareness Ideas and Strategies for Professional Counselors, American Counseling Association (ACA)

• "The Practice of Professional Counseling: The application of mental health, psychological, or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology."

— National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

• "Counselors may specialize in certain areas, such as career counseling, marriage issues or substance abuse. They may work in private practice, community agencies, hospitals, employee assistance programs or other settings. They offer help for a range of problems, from anxiety to depression to job stress to grief."

— Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Think about an online counseling degree if:

• Others would describe you as being a great listener and easy to approach.
• You have compassion and empathy for others.
• You are cognizant and mindful of the feelings and sensitivities of others.
• Those who have worked with you say that you are tactful and are able to maintain confidential information.
• You regularly read publications such as Counseling Today or Counselor Magazine.
• You like working with a diverse group of people and are comfortable in both group and one-on-one social situations.
• You enjoy being able to provide help to others.
• You are highly organized and are able to remember facts very well.
• You know that you can talk about anything and that very few subjects make you uncomfortable to hear about or discuss.
• You have volunteered at a community center or crisis hotline to help people in need.
• You enjoy reading and learning about research or new methodology surrounding counseling.
• You are able to maintain an emotional separation from your work and your personal life.

If becoming a counselor isn't quite right for you, consider these fields instead:

• Education:
  Know how the human mind processes and retains information and how different stages of development can affect those systems. Understand what methods and interactive tools are most engaging for every grade and subject.
  Online Education Degrees | Online Education Certificates
• Human Resources Administration:
  Familiarize yourself with the skills necessary to manage issues relating to organizational staffing, compensation, and employee well-being.
  Online HR Degrees | Online HR Certificates
• Human Services:
  Learn about the needs of those living with violence, isolation, or poverty; what services are needed, how to initiate and manage the programs designed to ensure wellbeing and safety.
  Online Human Services Degrees | Online Human Services Certificates
• Psychology:
  Observe the human experience in a new way: explore how the mind copes with everyday stimuli, and how trauma affects human behavior.
  Online Psychology Degrees | Online Psychology Programs
• Sociology:
  Examine intricacies of human relationships how people relate to each other and how that pertains society as a whole.
  Online Sociology Degrees

Most schools allow you to choose a specialization - a focused area of study within the counseling degree.

• Family & Marital Counseling
  Family and marriage counseling degree programs focus on providing students with the tools and resources to work with couples and their children. This includes course work in leading one-on-one and group counseling sessions. Courses also provide information about gaining licensure to practice as a marriage and family therapist.
• Mental Health Counseling
  Mental health counseling degree programs teach students how to work with individuals who are dealing with issues like drug and alcohol addition, depression, grief, stress, and abuse. Generally, course work prepares students to gain licensure to practice and to work in various settings, such as hospitals, treatment facilities, clinics, schools, etc.
• Rehabilitation Counseling
  Rehabilitation counseling degree programs focus on providing students with the knowledge and skills to work with individuals with disabilities and be able to assist them in establishing and reaching various goals (such as independent living). Students learn to work with individuals one-on-one, as well as working with other professionals (e.g. physicians, occupational therapists, associated family members, etc.)
• School Counseling
  School counseling degree programs typically focus on counseling practice, managing a counseling program within a school system, and working with children ages five to nineteen (grades kindergarten through twelfth). Courses also include information that is necessary to gain licensure as a school counselor.

While the exact curriculum will vary from school to school, here are some of the courses you might take as a counseling student:

• Abnormal Psychology
• Analysis & Empirical Research
• Behavioral & Emotional Assessment of Children
• Career, Educational, and Vocational Counseling
• Case Management
• Cognitive Psychology
• Counseling in Higher Education
• Counseling Theory and Practice I & II
• Couples & Marriage Counseling
• Cross-Cultural Counseling
• Dependency & Substance Abuse
• Family Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Human Development
• Mental Health Counseling
• Professional Counseling & Ethics
• Research Methodology & Evaluation
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• School Counseling
• Workforce Education & Training

When you have completed your online counseling degree, you will likely have gained many of the following skills and competencies:

• Superb empirical research and evaluation skills
• High level of tact and discretion, especially concerning sensitive, personal information
• Ability to work well with a diverse group of people across a spectrum of backgrounds, lifestyles, experiences, and abilities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge and thorough understanding of counseling theories, methods, and current developments within the field
• Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented
• Competency using computers, relevant computer software, and the Internet
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully independently and within a group dynamic
• Disciplined self-starter with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent reading and listening comprehension skills

As a major focusing upon human behavior and working with individuals to overcome personal challenges and achieve their goals, counseling majors are needed in a variety of industries, such as:

• Colleges and Universities
• Correctional Facilities
• Counseling Centers
• Day Care Centers
• Employment and Temporary Staffing Agencies
• Federal, State, and Local Government
• Hospitals
• Independent Living/Rehabilitation Services Organizations
• Mental Health Care Providers
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Private Counseling Practices
• Public, Private, and Parochial Schools
• Private Social Service Agencies
• Religiously-affiliated Service Organizations
• Substance Abuse Clinics
• United Way Agencies
• Victim Services Organizations
• Youth Services

Possible Job Titles for Advanced Counseling Degree Holders

Job prospects for counselors are expected to be very good. Counseling is considered to be one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, but it also requires a great deal of training and education (practicing counselors hold at least a master's degree or doctorate).

Here is a sampling of jobs you for which you may be qualified with a degree in Counseling. Remember that requirements differ from state to state, and certain credentials may be required. Use this for inspiration, remembering that this many represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers can consider.

• Addictions Counselor
• AIDS Counselor
• Art Therapist
• Behavioral Disorder Counselor
• Career Counselor
• Child Welfare Caseworker
• Clinical Counselor
• Human Resources (HR) Manager
• Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
• Mental Health Counselor
• Rehabilitation Counselor
• Research Assistant
• School Counselor
• Teacher
• Vocational Counselor