Used as a springboard for a job opportunities and further education, counseling is one of the most diverse fields of study that students can go into. The study of clinical counseling and behavioral science prepares students for a wide range of careers that have to do with the psychology, the social sciences, and even business.
Clinical Psychology
Perhaps the most well-known career path for a student with a counseling degree is that of a clinical psychologist. In this field, students can expect to promote mental health and emotional wellness by interviewing, assessing, diagnosing and, of course, counseling patients. Students who choose this route can specialize in child psychology, geropsychology and neuropsychology among others. Those who work as clinical psychologists will need a doctorate degree and a certification from the state in which their practice is located.
Vocational and Educational
Another traditional option for counseling students is that of a vocational or educational counselor. These types of counselors typically work in a school or community setting to provide advice regarding career and academic choices. They also work to identify and develop solutions for gaps in achievement and crises cases, and for this reason many people in this profession find it rewarding on both an intellectual and social level. Typically, there is a certification process after a student receives a behavioral science degree that must be completed before beginning work.
Business Consulting
Counseling degrees also lend themselves quite well to some nontraditional career options like business consulting. Students who have studied behavioral science have a deep understanding of organizational theory. They understand how people relate to each other within a business, government, and non-profit groups. They use their knowledge to identify elements of culture within an organization that need to be changed and recommend improvements.
Forensic Mental Health
The word “forensic” simply means pertaining and adapted to the law. Forensic mental health, then, is a field of experts who work with the legal system to advise on laws and issues related to mental health. The field is quite diverse; a forensic mental health worker may examine suspects and provide testimony in a court of law, or they may work with health care organizations to provide legal counsel in areas related to mental health. Becoming a forensic mental health expert typically takes extensive training in both psychology and legal issues.
Nonprofit Management
Students with a counseling degree may also choose to go into the management of non-profit organizations. Though a behavioral science degree is not a requirement for becoming a manager of a nonprofit organization, the knowledge that of people and relationships gained through the study of counseling can do a lot to aid students who enter a field like this.
Students who are interested in these and similar career paths may choose to study behavioral science in depth or use that knowledge as a foundation for further study in other fields. A counseling degree clearly offers students a lot of choices for the future.
