(Career Asssessments, Exploration & Counselling)
Career: Mental Health Counselors
Job Description
Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. May help individuals deal with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; suicide; stress management; problems with self-esteem; and issues associated with aging and mental and emotional health.
Job Tasks
Importance %age |
Task Description |
100
|
Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment. |
100
|
Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships. |
100
|
Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, and tests. |
100
|
Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes. |
100
|
Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems. |
100
|
Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes. |
100
|
Modify treatment activities and approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status. |
99
|
Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts. |
99
|
Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports. |
99
|
Learn about new developments in their field by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, and establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies. |
98
|
Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition based on review of client information. |
98
|
Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations. |
97
|
Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments and develop treatment plans. |
96
|
Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge. |
96
|
Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy. |
94
|
Meet with families, probation officers, police, and other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process. |
91
|
Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives. |
90
|
Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary. |
89
|
Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients. |
89
|
Gather information about community mental health needs and resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy. |
85
|
Plan, organize and lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation and social activities for clients. |
75
|
Monitor clients' use of medications. |
71
|
Plan and conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health and counseling services. |
64
|
Supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, and graduate students. |
63
|
Coordinate and direct employee workshops, courses, and training about mental health issues. |
Work Activities
Importance %age |
Activity Description |
83
|
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
|
80
|
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
|
79
|
Assisting and Caring for Others
|
76
|
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
|
75
|
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
|
72
|
Getting Information
|
70
|
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
|
70
|
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
|
69
|
Documenting/Recording Information
|
69
|
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
|
69
|
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
|
67
|
Coaching and Developing Others
|
67
|
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
|
64
|
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others
|
63
|
Training and Teaching Others
|
62
|
Developing Objectives and Strategies
|
61
|
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
|
60
|
Thinking Creatively
|
60
|
Scheduling Work and Activities
|
59
|
Processing Information
|
59
|
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
|
57
|
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
|
57
|
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
|
55
|
Analyzing Data or Information
|
55
|
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
|
53
|
Developing and Building Teams
|
53
|
Performing Administrative Activities
|
51
|
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
|
46
|
Interacting With Computers
|
43
|
Selling or Influencing Others
|
38
|
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
|
37
|
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
|
34
|
Staffing Organizational Units
|
32
|
Performing General Physical Activities
|
25
|
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
|
24
|
Handling and Moving Objects
|
16
|
Controlling Machines and Processes
|
16
|
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
|
8
|
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
|
8
|
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
|
7
|
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
|