Anyone a mental health counselor?

If so, do you like it? Where did you go to school? (masters) Was it easy to get a job? Can you work in private practice?

Re: Anyone a mental health counselor?

I have a Masters in Counseling. I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NYS. I'm also a Certified Rehab Counselor.

I don't have a private practice because I'm a SAHM. I work p/t as a consultant and make great money. It would probably learn less if I had a private practice. In order to set a private practice of the time you have to set a professional service corporation/entity or professional limited liability corp. You also need malpractice insurance. I know most of my friends in private practice don't usually accept insurance. Cash only works best for them.

There are jobs for mental health counselors but the pay is not the greatest. I would say that most counselors don't do it for the money but for the love of helping people.

Message edited 6/6/2008 12:35:49 PM.

Re: Anyone a mental health counselor?

I am a licensed mental health counselor. I got my masters at CW Post. I liked my classes for the most part.

I work full-time at Post in a position slightly related to counseling.

I am not ready to have my own practice and I work part-time for an agency. They go strictly by insurance so while I get paid decently sometimes it takes a long time to get paid.

Re: Anyone a mental health counselor?

Thank you for posting this question. I think a Masters in Social work is relevant as well.

Re: Anyone a mental health counselor?

I'm an MSW. I've been working in human services for 10 years, and honestly, I am looking for a total career makeover.

It's a very draining, thankless field and it's only getting worse with the amount of bureacracy and ridiculous demands placed on people who work in human services.

I also do not think most positions where you make a decent paycheck are family or personal mental-health friendly. (ie. expect you to pretty much give up your life for the job).

I personally have no desire to go into private practice, but to each their own!

I've posted several times looking for ideas of what else I can do. I am preggers right now and I am actually thinking of taking a paycut after the baby is born to go back to doing entry-level stuff where there's less responsibility and less hours expected to work!