Nine career paths in clinical mental health to explore in 2023

Mental health issues threaten today’s global societies so much that it has become a crisis. The WHO states that COVID-19, for example, triggered 25% more cases of anxiety and depression globally. This, and the consequence of mental health, makes clinical mental health more critical than ever. Mental health professionals are needed to diagnose, treat and prevent severe disorders in their role as psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors or social workers.

However, choosing the right path for yourself when deciding your area of specialization is essential. An area of specialization lets you delve deeper into a niche of mental health to acquire essential knowledge and skills to help patients more effectively. This expertise sets you apart in the competitive job market and enables you to provide more tailored, high-quality care. Aside from specializing in a field, you will also need a master’s degree to distinguish yourself further.

St. Bonaventure University offers practitioners a master’s in clinical mental health counseling online. The university provides courses that prepare you for professional exams and licensing immediately after the program. You’ll also gain practical experience during two internships, and these experiences will help shape your career.

Read on to learn more about how crucial a role in clinical mental health is and the career paths you can explore.

The need for specialization in clinical mental health

Mental health issues are twofold. They can be common challenges like anxiety and depression or intricate ones like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Many people suffer from behavioral disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders and trauma. Each issue presents unique challenges and requires specialized knowledge and skills to address effectively.

A child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for example, requires treatment from a child and adolescent mental health professional. A skilled clinician is also necessary for a patient who has a severe eating disorder like anorexia nervosa. The clinician must have investigated the condition’s complex psychological, physiological and societal factors. This enables them to offer targeted treatments that address both the physical symptoms and the underlying emotional issues.

Now that you know the need for professionals like you, what career pathways can you explore?

Nine in-demand career paths in clinical mental health

The US Bureau of Labor reports that the demand for mental health counselors will increase by 22% between 2019 to 2031 because of the criticality of mental health issues. Here are other roles that have significant demand:

Child and adolescent mental health specialist

These professionals diagnose and treat mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, behavioral issues and developmental disorders in children and teenagers. Their work involves parents, teachers and other important figures in the child’s life in order to address the complexities of growing up in today’s world. A child and adolescent mental health specialist also understand the different stages of child development and how mental health issues can manifest at each stage. This helps them identify mental health issues early.

This role is significant because early intervention is critical to preventing escalations of mental health issues. Children who receive appropriate support and treatment early in life have better outcomes in their mental health journey. Untreated mental health problems often lead to difficulties in school, social relationships and overall development. This will not only affect their emotional development, but it could also disrupt their personality and lifestyle and make them resort to some form of addiction as a coping mechanism as adults. Choosing this career can help you contribute to healthier and more resilient youth.

Geriatric mental health specialist

These professionals specialize in addressing older adults’ unique psychological and cognitive challenges. The challenges could include depression, anxiety, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. They diagnose and treat older adults by understanding how aging affects mental health, physical health, social relationships and overall quality of life. In addition, they collaborate with doctors, nurses and social workers to provide holistic care that aids in the recovery process.

The geriatric mental health specialist role continues to grow in importance as over 20% of 60-year-olds and above suffer from mental or neurological disorders, according to the WHO. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), it is a tragedy that older adults are frequently overlooked and misdiagnosed. You can help address this gap in care by providing invaluable mental health support to adults to boost their happiness levels in the long term.

Substance abuse counselor

A counselor provides moral support, counseling and effective treatment to individuals struggling with substance addiction. They use therapy to help patients comprehend the root causes of their addiction, develop coping mechanisms and work toward recovery. This is why their work is often considered transformative; by working with people suffering from substance abuse, they contribute to the broader well-being of communities and protect the children of parents abusing alcohol. How?

Substance abuse counselors provide emotional support, practical guidance and therapy. They are involved in every step of a patient’s recovery process, which starts from the stages of detoxification and ends with the development of long-term strategies for staying sober. They work with clients to understand their addiction’s root causes, help them address these issues and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Substance abuse affects 40.3 million Americans aged 12 and up. It also affects families because it creates an addiction cycle that prevents peaceful coexistence. If you choose to specialize in this role, you will have the opportunity to assist the most vulnerable people.

Trauma and crisis counselor

A trauma and crisis counselor supports individuals who have experienced traumatic events or are in crisis. They provide immediate and consistent support to help them navigate and recover from challenging situations by providing psychological first aid after a traumatic event to help patients cope with acute stress reactions. They also intervene in acute mental health crises, such as suicide attempts or merely nursing the thought. They likewise help patients develop effective coping mechanisms to manage trauma and improve their mental health.

For instance, a trauma and crisis counselor might be called to work with a natural disaster survivor who is experiencing acute stress reactions and severe anxiety. The counselor would provide immediate emotional support and practical strategies to help the individual manage their distress. They might assist the survivor in processing their traumatic experience after the initial treatment to lessen the likelihood that the event will lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

After all, traumatic experiences and crises can result in disorders like PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders and may have long-lasting effects on mental health. Therefore, counselors are needed to support and mitigate the impact of trauma as patients begin the healing process. Specializing in this field will help you get closer to people facing real emotional adversity and offer them a lifeline when needed.

Marriage and family therapist

An expert in this role works with couples and families to resolve conflicts and improve relationships. They deal with marital problems, child-parent conflicts and family-wide issues to enhance family dynamics and promote healthier relationships. Their work includes helping to navigate conflicts, improve communication and secure attachment among every family member. Therapists also work with couples to address infidelity, communication breakdowns or financial stress. Their work extends to resolving conflicts between parents and children or addressing broader family-wide issues such as the impact of mental health disorders, grief or significant life transitions on the family unit.

For instance, a marriage and family therapist may work with a couple struggling with conflict and resentment due to different parenting styles. The therapist would help the couple understand each other’s perspectives, develop better communication styles and find common ground in their parenting approaches. They might also work with a family dealing with the impact of a parent’s depression to help the family members understand the condition, navigate their feelings and develop supportive strategies. This role is vital because it enables you to address complex dynamics in the family system and facilitate healthier relationships to improve overall family health.

Eating-disorder specialist

Specialists in this area provide care and support for people with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. They help clients navigate their recovery and regain control over their eating behaviors through therapy, support and other tools. Specialists in this role diagnose the specific eating disorder, develop and implement treatment plans, and provide nutritional education and offer psychotherapy services. Together with dietitians, doctors and other healthcare professionals, these specialists can work as a multidisciplinary team to deliver comprehensive care to aid with recovery and improve their mental and physical health.

Psychiatric nurse practitioner

A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced training in psychiatric care. They are trained to assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Their education also allows them to prescribe medication in order to bridge the gap between mental health counseling and psychiatric medication management. When necessary, psychiatric nurse practitioners collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers and other nurses to provide comprehensive mental health care.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner, for example, might work with a patient who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. They would evaluate the patient’s mental health, manage their medication regimen, keep an eye out for side effects and adjust dosages as needed. They may also offer psychotherapy to assist the patient in understanding their condition, coping with symptoms and managing stress. This role blends nursing care and psychiatric expertise and aims to improve a patient’s psychological and physical health.

Clinical psychologist

A clinical psychologist diagnoses and treats diverse mental disorders. They frequently specialize in a particular field, such as child psychology, neuropsychology or behavioral psychology, to enhance the overall well-being of their clients. Their approach to care often includes the following:

• Psychological assessments of patients.
• Diagnoses of mental health disorders.
• Treatment through different therapeutic approaches.

For instance, a clinical psychologist who specializes in neuropsychology may assist a patient with traumatic brain injury in coping with cognitive changes, emotional disturbances and behavioral changes. They would conduct comprehensive assessments to understand the extent of their cognitive impairments and devise a treatment plan to support their recovery and adaptation.

This role is crucial because clinical psychologists help individuals understand and manage their mental health conditions so that they can function better as members of society.

Mental health policy consultant

A mental health policy consultant helps develop, advocate and implement policies related to mental health care. They work to develop systemic and policy changes that improve mental health outcomes in government agencies, non-profit organizations (NGOs) and private businesses. Their role is three-fold; firstly, to research and understand the mental health needs of different populations; to evaluate existing policies to know what has been done in the past; and, in turn, to recommend changes or new approaches to meet mental health needs better.

These consultants advocate for policy changes and work closely with government officials, healthcare organizations and community groups to promote policy adoption and implementation.

For instance, a mental health policy consultant working for an NGO might seek to understand the mental health needs of homeless individuals. They could create a policy proposal to increase funding for community mental health clinics and lobby for its adoption at the city or state level if the main issue is the lack of easily accessible mental health services. This will allow consideration for homeless individuals in public mental health clinics as they are also an invaluable part of society.

Mental health policy consultants are likewise crucial because they make mental health care as accessible as possible, and by doing this, they’re contributing to the well-being of the less privileged.

Conclusion

The clinical mental health field caters to every demographic of a typical society, and there are many different career options to explore. You can choose to become a marriage and family therapist, a clinical psychologist, a child and adolescent mental health specialist, a geriatric mental health specialist or a mental health policy consultant. All of these positions require a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, which you can earn at St. Bonaventure University online. You must also choose a career path that is in line with your interests to increase your chances of success in the cutthroat job market. All these tips will help you thrive and succeed early in the profession.