Clinical Mental Health Counselor
There are many environments clinical mental health counselors work in. Gerige mentions a few with I the text; agency/community mental health centers, private practice, substance abuse programs, small college counseling centers, university health services, in the barn, and home/schools. After reading the information, I realized what settings I want to avoid; ones requiring school locations. I do not see myself in a small college counseling center or a university health center. I see myself more in an agency or community setting, working with wide ranges of diagnostics and a large diverse population. There are a few settings not mentioned I could see myself, in the woods, or an art studio. I am highly intrigued with wilderness and arty therapy.
When it comes to job opportunities near me, they are very sparse. I used the website Indeed to look for ‘clinical mental health counselors’ in my area and found one with a reasonable forty-five minute commute to my current residence; the others require relocation. Job competition in the area is also high, due to the college nearby and its graduate students needing hours for their courses. The first job I looked into is located in Columbus, Mississippi at the Baptist Memorial Hospital. The job posted was for behavioral health therapists requiring a master’s degree and three years of experience in psychology, social work, or counseling. Some of the skill requirements listed were advanced communication, conflict management, organizational and planning skills; along with basic computer literacy. The second job, intake clinician, is at another hospital located in Batesville, Mississippi. To obtain the intake clinician position, one must have a master’s degree and two years of post-graduate experience in a clinical setting. This job requires certification in one of the following; clinical social worker, professional counselor, Ph. D. clinical psychologist, or clinical nurse specialist. Mental health professional in Meridian, Mississippi is the third job post I inquired. The posted requirements included a Master of Social; or Master of Arts, Science, or Education in clinical mental health related field and licensed in the state of Mississippi to practice counseling. The required licensures are LPC or LCSW. Other requirements listed are a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, clearance of background check, and clearance of drug test.
When it comes to job opportunities near me, they are very sparse. I used the website Indeed to look for ‘clinical mental health counselors’ in my area and found one with a reasonable forty-five minute commute to my current residence; the others require relocation. Job competition in the area is also high, due to the college nearby and its graduate students needing hours for their courses. The first job I looked into is located in Columbus, Mississippi at the Baptist Memorial Hospital. The job posted was for behavioral health therapists requiring a master’s degree and three years of experience in psychology, social work, or counseling. Some of the skill requirements listed were advanced communication, conflict management, organizational and planning skills; along with basic computer literacy. The second job, intake clinician, is at another hospital located in Batesville, Mississippi. To obtain the intake clinician position, one must have a master’s degree and two years of post-graduate experience in a clinical setting. This job requires certification in one of the following; clinical social worker, professional counselor, Ph. D. clinical psychologist, or clinical nurse specialist. Mental health professional in Meridian, Mississippi is the third job post I inquired. The posted requirements included a Master of Social; or Master of Arts, Science, or Education in clinical mental health related field and licensed in the state of Mississippi to practice counseling. The required licensures are LPC or LCSW. Other requirements listed are a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, clearance of background check, and clearance of drug test.