Being A Behavioral Disorder Counselor

I became interested in being a behavioral disorder counselor because i find gratification in helping people through their problems and i find mental health fascinating. Behavioral disorders, left untreated can affect a person's ability to function in the world. Behavioral disorder counseling helps people deal with behavioral disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which interferes with a person’s ability to focus on the task at hand and control impulsive behavior; emotional disorders like depression and anxiety; and oppositional defiant behaviors leading to hostility directed at authority figures. Behavioral disorder counseling can also provide support and treatment for people with substance abuse problems and Obsessive-Compulsive
They also work in halfway houses, detox centers, or in employee assistance programs (EAPs). EAPs are mental health programs provided by some employers to help employees deal with personal problems(BLS 1). Some counselors work in private practice, where they may work alone; some may also work in public practice with a group of counselors or other professionals. Contrary to the gratification of the career, the stress that arises from working mornings, evenings, and/or nights, alongside with, seeing hundreds of patients, each with their own individual cases, can get to be unmanageable. Therefore, being a behavioral disorder counselor requires the utmost determination and commitment. A typical Behavioral disorder counselor is dressed in a suit and tie, or a dress shirt and dress pants. For the most part, the hours are 9 to 5, and counselors working in an outpatient office are allocated a caseload. They meet with patients usually more than once a week, for around 45 minutes, and perform evaluations and deduce possible treatment
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $65,080 (BLS 1)”. In May 2016, the median annual wages for behavioral disorder counselors varies between top employers such as, hospitals, the government, and other patient facilities. The highest paying metropolitan areas are Provo, Utah, Naples, Florida, and Madison, Wisconsin. The San Francisco area also pays well, as does the city of Santa Rosa, California. In the state of PA, the average salary is from $25,000 to $55,000. “Counselors who work in schools, ranging from the elementary level up to the university level, also tend to command a higher salary. However, compared to other types of counselors, Behavioral Disorder Counselors tend to earn less”(PSG