Skills Learned from Being a Mental Health Counselor

Mental health disorders in the United States appear to be increasingly prevalent, with a significant portion of the population grappling with some form of mental illness. The rise in suicide rates, with over 49,000 deaths in 2022, underscores the urgency of addressing mental health issues. Often stigmatized and under-prioritized, these issues can also contribute to physical ailments. As Dr. Moodian notes, the stigma surrounding mental illness often prevents individuals from seeking the help they need. For those drawn to a career dedicated to assisting individuals affected by mental health disorders, the role of a mental health therapist or counselor offers a crucial opportunity to make a difference.

Mental health therapists play a vital role in helping people cope with mental and emotional ailments, whether overcoming them or managing their effects. Mike Tassin, a licensed mental health counselor, emphasizes the individualized nature of each case, highlighting the dynamic and creative process of therapy aimed at providing help and support to the client.

The Role of a Mental Health Counselor

The primary duty of mental health therapists is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore a range of issues that may be troubling them. Mental health therapists work to achieve these goals by collecting information about their clients through interviews, observation, or tests. Many professionals use cognitive behavioral therapy in sessions with their clients. This common type of psychotherapy helps clients come to terms with their inaccurate or negative ways of thinking and then re-frame those thought structures in a positive way. According to Dr. Aleshire, there is an art to therapy in that we seek to blend relational work with empirically validated interventions and approaches to help clients improve.

Understanding Behavioral Health

When discussing mental health, it's important to understand the broader context of behavioral health, which refers to the connection between our behaviors and the health and well-being of the body, mind, and spirit. It encompasses a range of activities that people engage in to maintain good health or to recover from illness. These activities include not only actions like exercise, diet, and sleep but also habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use. Mental health focuses specifically on an individual's psychological state, while behavioral health includes mental health but extends to behaviors that contribute to overall health. For instance, a behavioral health specialist might help someone with a mental health condition while also addressing behaviors like exercise, diet, and substance use that impact their physical health.

Every patient’s treatment must be uniquely tailored, and there are numerous factors that go into deciding what kind of plan is best. The most effective treatment often involves providers working together to examine all aspects of the patient’s well-being. Only then should they recommend interventions, which can include medication, group therapy, psychotherapy, and other forms of treatment. If someone is experiencing both depression and substance abuse, for example, it won’t do much good if their counselor only treats their depression. The same issue arises when a provider only attempts to modify the addictive behavior.

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Educational and Licensing Requirements

If you hope to become a mental health therapist, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree in a mental health-related field. Two of the most common fields of study are psychology and clinical social work. As you search for the right master’s program to pursue mental health therapy, it’s important to look for one that has received proper accreditation. Mental health therapists are also required to become licensed in the state in which they intend to practice. Most states require candidates to pass a licensure exam in addition to a state ethics exam.

Core Skills for Mental Health Counselors

Skilled mental health counselors don’t just address symptoms-they help people navigate complex emotional landscapes, heal from past traumas, and develop tools to lead healthier lives. The role of a mental health counselor is, therefore, more than just knowing how to diagnose and treat. It requires mastering a unique set of skills that directly influence patient outcomes and the effectiveness of therapy.

With that in mind, there are several soft skills employers look for in top-notch mental health counselors. These include active listening, critical thinking, advanced communication, service orientation, and interpersonal skills. Therapists provide their clients with empathy, acceptance, support, and the encouragement to know that they are not alone in their experience.

1. Active Listening

Active listening goes beyond simply hearing words; it’s about fully understanding and processing what a client says without interruption or judgment. This skill fosters trust and allows clients to feel genuinely heard. Imagine a counselor guiding a client through grief. By listening attentively, they can respond more empathetically, helping the client open up and process their emotions in a safe environment.

2. Empathy

Empathy is a core skill that allows counselors to understand clients’ feelings from their perspectives. This genuine sense of understanding helps build strong therapeutic alliances, encouraging clients to engage deeply in their sessions. Empathy is crucial when working with clients facing challenges such as depression or trauma, where understanding their unique experiences and pain is essential for effective support.

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3. Cultural Awareness

Counselors today work with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, making cultural competence vital. Understanding and respecting each client’s cultural context helps counselors avoid misunderstandings and biases. A counselor may need to consider cultural beliefs about mental health that differ from mainstream approaches, adapting their methods to resonate more effectively with their clients. Cultural competency means that counselors have self-knowledge of the racial, ethnic, and social forces shaping their worldviews.

4. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence allows counselors to manage their own feelings and read those of their clients. This skill is particularly important when handling intense sessions where clients may express anger, fear, or sadness. Emotional intelligence enables counselors to maintain professionalism while responding sensitively to their clients' needs, contributing to a therapeutic atmosphere where clients feel safe and supported.

5. Effective Communication

Counselors must be able to communicate clearly and compassionately, whether explaining treatment options, providing feedback, or discussing difficult topics. Effective communication builds rapport and trust, ensuring clients fully understand their treatment processes. It’s essential for simplifying complex concepts and helping clients feel comfortable with their therapy. Effective counselors know how to adjust their communication methods based on client needs. They can effectively explain their assessment methods, diagnoses, and recommendations through speech or text.

6. Strong Problem-Solving Abilities

Clients often come to counseling with complex issues that require thoughtful problem-solving skills. A counselor working with a client facing life transitions, for example, might need to help them navigate conflicting emotions and choices. By analyzing situations objectively, counselors can guide clients toward actionable solutions, fostering a sense of empowerment and resilience. Mental health professionals use their communication skills to help clients find the solutions that will work best for them. They do not tell clients what to do. Counselors ask questions to help guide clients down the path of their own success.

7. Crisis Management

Mental health counselors must be prepared to handle crises, such as clients experiencing severe distress or suicidal thoughts. Crisis management skills allow counselors to de-escalate situations and provide immediate support. For example, a counselor might work with a client who calls them during a panic attack, using calming techniques and grounding exercises to help the client regain control. Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.

8. Flexibility and Adaptability

The counseling relationship is not a one-size-fits-all process. Counselors must be adaptable, adjusting their methods to meet each client’s unique needs. For instance, a client with a high-stress job may respond well to mindfulness techniques, while another with similar symptoms may benefit more from cognitive restructuring exercises. Flexibility allows counselors to tailor their approach, making therapy more effective.

9. Ethical Standards

Adhering to ethical standards is fundamental for mental health counselors. This includes maintaining confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment, obtaining informed consent, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Ethical practices build trust and ensure clients feel safe within the therapeutic relationship. Counselors who prioritize ethics reinforce the profession’s integrity and contribute to the field’s credibility. Counselors should establish and reinforce boundaries with their clients. The boundary-building process helps counselors meet their ethical obligations, reduce stress, and focus on client needs. Boundaries range from acceptable contact outside sessions to what counselors share about their personal lives. For example, the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) maintains a Code of Ethics as a baseline for counselor behavior and a mechanism for client concerns.

10. Patience

Progress in mental health counseling can be slow, requiring a counselor who practices patience and stays committed to the long-term journey with each client. Some clients may take time to open up or may experience setbacks along the way. A mental health counselor who remains patient encourages clients to move at their own pace, reinforcing that their path to healing is respected and supported.

The Counselor's Journey: Personal Insights and Professional Growth

Transitioning into counseling work, especially later in one's career, can provide unique perspectives and insights. A counselor’s life experience can be more valuable for clients than their counseling experience or technical skills. Regardless of age or experience level, every counselor brings valuable life experiences and insights to their practice.

It is important to remember that it’s OK to be a beginner. One of the hardest things for new counselors can be being a beginner again. Building expertise and competence takes time, and while some skills transfer from previous experiences, much of counseling is new. Being a beginner can facilitate curiosity and humility, which will help you be a better clinician.

When in doubt, just be there for the client. Counseling isn’t about solving your client’s problems; it’s about showing up and being there for the client. Learn more than you have to, building clinical knowledge and skills through online courses, videos, seminars, workshops, magazine and journal articles, or certification programs. Every counseling student should leave school with some expertise in at least a couple go-to modalities, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), internal family systems (IFS) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Being able to treat trauma may be the most important skill a counselor can have. You will see clients with trauma issues, and often some with severe trauma histories. Reading books such as Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma and Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture can be indispensable in becoming trauma informed.

Different therapeutic choices can all be valid. If a solid, trust-based relationship exists between client and therapist, many modalities can support positive clinical outcomes. A strong therapeutic alliance is often more valuable than an evidence-based intervention. An integrated approach is often more powerful than any one intervention in isolation, and as a client progresses, it’s helpful to modify treatment choices.

Sometimes a situation is beyond your scope of practice. Occasionally a client presents with something that is simply beyond our scope of practice, and it is important to seek consultation or refer the client to a specialist.

It is truly an honor to have others share their deepest concerns, fears, aspirations and problems with us as counselors. It reflects a kind of trust and vulnerability that is rare in life. Clients are often profound teachers, and counselors can learn a great deal from their clients' experiences and perspectives.

Tasks Performed by Mental Health Counselors

Mental Health Counselors perform various tasks, including:

Maintaining confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
Encouraging clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
Preparing and maintain all required treatment records and reports.

Knowledge Required for Mental Health Counselors

Mental Health Counselors need to possess knowledge in various areas, including:

Psychology: Understanding human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.

The Growing Need for Mental Health Counselors

The next generation of counseling professionals will respond to unmet mental health needs in their communities. A 2022 survey found that 43% of those who needed mental health care did not receive it due to staff shortages and cost. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates an 18% growth in counseling employment between 2022 and 2032 due to personnel shortages. Counseling careers are ideal for those with strong interpersonal skills and compassion for others.

Qualities of a Good Counselor

It is a good idea to understand what a counselor does before learning about the qualities of a good counselor. Counselors are state-licensed professionals trained to guide clients through challenges in their lives. They also evaluate clients for conditions like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Counseling professionals work with clients to identify the origins and impacts of mental health conditions. They develop treatment plans including non-prescription solutions like coping strategies and thought exercises. There are a wide variety of practice settings for counselors because mental health affects all aspects of our lives. The BLS found that the most common practice setting for counselors was outpatient mental health facilities (18% of counselors).

The core of an effective counselor-client relationship is mutual trust. Clients need to feel that they are in safe environments before exploring their experiences with mental health counselors. Compassion is especially important early in the counselor-client relationship because clients may be apprehensive about someone they don’t know. It is difficult for counselors to build trust with clients if they haven’t identified their assumptions and biases. Counselors ensure client safety and build trust by adhering to professional ethical standards.

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