🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa116)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor","crawl_time":1774608539,"first_indexed_time":1375978925,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,wikipedia!en,\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor s443","src_root_hash":"17790707453426894952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Mental health counselor - Wikipedia","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nA\nmental health\ncounselor\n(\nMHC\n), often simply\ncounselor\n(\ncounsellor\nin\nBritish English\n), is a person who works with individuals and\ngroups\nto promote optimum mental and\nemotional health\n. Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with\naddiction\nand\nsubstance abuse\n;\nfamily\n,\nparenting\n, and\nmarital\nproblems;\nstress management\n;\nself-esteem\n; and\naging\n.  The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes \"Mental Health Counselors\" from \"\nSocial Workers\n\", \"\nPsychiatrists\n\", and \"\nPsychologists\n\".\n[\n1\n]\nThe legal definition of a counselor varies due to the different specializations within counseling. In their own jurisdictions, there are counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.\n[\n2\n]\nIn spite of such definitions, many mental health professionals reject the\nmedical model\n(which assumes that clients are \"disordered\") in favor of broader viewpoints, such as those that emerged from\nsystems psychology\n.\n[\n3\n]\nMHCs work with\nindividuals\n, couples, families, and\ngroups\nto address and treat emotional and\nmental disorders\nand to promote mental health. Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments.\n[\n1\n]\nThey are trained in a variety of\ntherapeutic\ntechniques used to address issues, including\ndepression\n, anxiety,\naddiction\nand\nsubstance abuse\n,\nsuicidal impulses\n,\nstress\n, problems with\nself-esteem\n, and\ngrief\n. They also help with job and\ncareer\nconcerns,\neducational\ndecisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family,\nparenting\n,\nmarital\n, or other\nrelationship\nproblems. Some career concerns include helping employees who have mental health conditions to manage their health condition whilst adhering to organizational demands to demonstrate performance and commitment to their work.\n[\n4\n]\nMHCs also continue to play a growing role in the\nmilitary\nmental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as\nPTSD\n.\n[\n5\n]\nMHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers,\npsychiatric nurses\n, and\nschool counselors\n.  Many mental health counselors look to help their clients have a concise whole body treatment plan that addresses all the needs of the client. In the United States, MHCs diagnose as well as treat mental illness,\n[\n6\n]\nthough the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state.\nThere are some mental health counselors who are able to prescribe medication. There are psychiatrists and mental health practitioners.\n[\n7\n]\nRecently, there have been a few states that have allowed licensed psychologists with additional training to be able to prescribe.\n[\n8\n]\nAnd there is a recent motion that is allowing interstate practice, meaning that counselors can use their license in other states than the one they received their license in.\n[\n9\n]\nLicensing requirements can vary depending on which state a mental health counselor practices in. Across the United States, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statues. The title \"Mental Health Counselor\" (or variation thereof) is often a protected title and thus it may be a violation of state law for persons to hold themselves as such without a proper credential.\nA licensed mental health counselor holds a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or another closely related field in mental health care. After obtaining a master's degree, mental health counselors complete two to three years (depending on various state statutes) of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional. The qualifications for licensure are similar to those for marriage and family therapists and for clinical social workers.\n[\n10\n]\nBecoming a counselor and using it in daily life to help others to learn more about themselves is not a reason for someone to pursue a degree within this field. Ethics within this profession require the counselor to remain professional to be able to adequately treat patients. Remaining detached as the witness to a client's thought, feelings, and emotions can be a hard thing to do, but will ultimately reassure a patient that there are no judgement to what they will share.\n[\n11\n]\nGuiding a patient to understand themselves and their choices is also another aspect of this profession.\nList of counseling topics\nMental health professional\nPsychotherapist\nNonviolent communication\nSocial worker\nPsychologist\nPsychiatrist\nOccupational therapist\nExpressive therapy\nBehavior therapy\nCognitive behavioral therapy\nRational emotive behavior therapy\nDialectical behavioral therapy\n^\na\nb\n\"21-1014 Mental Health Counselors\"\n.\nOccupational Employment Statistics\n. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1 April 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 31 October 2014\n. Retrieved\n18 November\n2014\n.\nCounsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes \"Social Workers\" (21-1021 through 21-1029), \"Psychiatrists\" (29-1066), and \"Psychologists\" (19-3031 through 19-3039).\n^\n\"Types of Mental Health Professionals\"\n.\nMental Health America\n. Retrieved\n2023-04-26\n.\n^\n\"Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy\"\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 2015-02-03\n. Retrieved\n2015-02-12\n.\n^\nElraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness.\nHuman Relations, 71\n(5), 722-741.\ndoi\n:\n10.1177\/0018726717716752\n^\n\"Mental Health Counseling Careers\"\n. Antioch University. Archived from\nthe original\non Feb 4, 2016\n. Retrieved\n1 January\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition\"\n.\nUnited States Bureau of Labor Statistics\n. December 18, 2007. Archived from\nthe original\non Aug 30, 2009.\n^\n\"What Does a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Do?\"\n.\nTEACH.com\n. July 2022.\nArchived\nfrom the original on Jun 1, 2023\n. Retrieved\n2023-06-01\n.\n^\nDeAngelis, Tori (Fall 2017).\n\"Prescriptive authority: renewed action in the states\"\n(PDF)\n.\nGood Practice\n. APA Services.\nArchived\n(PDF)\nfrom the original on Aug 4, 2022\n. Retrieved\n2023-06-01\n.\n^\nClay, Rebecca A. (July 2, 2021).\n\"PSYPACT: 26 states have now passed laws allowing interstate practice\"\n.\nAPA Services\n. Retrieved\n2023-06-01\n.\n^\n\"Facts About Clinical Mental Health Counselors\"\n. American Mental Health Counselors Association. Archived from\nthe original\non 2014-11-03\n. Retrieved\n18 November\n2014\n.\n^\nKoocher, Gerald P.; Keith-Spiegel, Patricia (2008).\nEthics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases\n(3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.\nBrooks, D.K.; Weikel, W.J. (1996). \"Mental health counseling: The first twenty years\". In Weikel, W.J.; Palmo, A.J. (eds.).\nFoundations of mental health counseling\n(2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. \n5–\n29.\nISBN\n \n0-398-06669-8\n.\nOCLC\n \n468776809\n.\nHershenson, D.B.; Strein, W. (1991). \"Toward a mentally healthy curriculum for mental health counselor education\".\nJournal of Mental Health Counseling\n.\n13\n:\n247–\n252.\nPalmo, A.J.; Shosh, M.J.; Weikel, W.J. (2001). \"The independent practice of mental health counseling: past, present, and future\". In Locke, D.C.; Myers, J.E.; Herr, E.L. (eds.).\nThe handbook of counseling\n. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. \n653–\n667.\nISBN\n \n1-4522-6259-4\n.\nOCLC\n \n299074204\n.\nSeiler, G.; Brooks, D.; Beck, E.S. (1987). \"Training Standards for Mental Health Counselors\".\nJournal of Mental Health Counseling\n.\n9\n(4):\n199–\n209.\nSmith, H.B.; Weikel, W.J. (2006). \"Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and beyond\". In Palmo, A.J.; Weikel, W.J.; Borsos, D.P. (eds.).\nFoundations of mental health counseling\n(3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. \n5–\n29.\nISBN\n \n0-398-07604-9\n.\nOCLC\n \n300305939\n.\nPrepared June 2008 by William J. Weikel. Ph.D., Howard Smith, Ed.D., Artis J. Palmo, Ph.D., and Edward Beck, Ed.D.\n[\nfull citation needed\n]\nAmerican Counseling Association\nAmerican Mental Health Counselors Association\n[1]","attrs_markdown":"[Jump to content](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#bodyContent)\n\nMain menu\n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nNavigation\n\n- [Main page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page \"Visit the main page [z]\")\n- [Contents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents \"Guides to browsing Wikipedia\")\n- [Current events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Current_events \"Articles related to current events\")\n- [Random article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Random \"Visit a randomly selected article [x]\")\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About \"Learn about Wikipedia and how it works\")\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us \"How to contact Wikipedia\")\n\nContribute\n\n- [Help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Contents \"Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Learn to edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Introduction \"Learn how to edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Community portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Community_portal \"The hub for editors\")\n- [Recent changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChanges \"A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard \"Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia\")\n- [Special pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:SpecialPages \"A list of all special pages [q]\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/icons\/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Search \"Search Wikipedia [f]\")\n\nAppearance\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Mental+health+counselor \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Mental+health+counselor \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\nPersonal tools\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Mental+health+counselor \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Mental+health+counselor \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\n## Contents\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n- [(Top)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor)\n- [1 Duties](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#Duties)\n- [2 Service users](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#Service_users)\n- [3 Regulation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#Regulation)\n  Toggle Regulation subsection\n  - [3\\.1 United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#United_States)\n- [4 See also](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#See_also)\n- [5 References](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#References)\n  Toggle References subsection\n  - [5\\.1 Citations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#Citations)\n  - [5\\.2 General sources](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#General_sources)\n- [6 External links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#External_links)\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n# Mental health counselor\n6 languages\n\n- [العربية](https:\/\/ar.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9 \"مستشار الصحة العقلية والنفسية – Arabic\")\n- [فارسی](https:\/\/fa.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1_%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA_%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86 \"مشاور بهداشت روان – Persian\")\n- [Bahasa Indonesia](https:\/\/id.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Konselor_kesehatan_mental \"Konselor kesehatan mental – Indonesian\")\n- [සිංහල](https:\/\/si.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%9A_%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%9E%E0%B6%9B%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BA_%E0%B6%8B%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%9A%E0%B7%81%E0%B6%9A \"මානසික සෞඛ්‍ය උපදේශක – Sinhala\")\n- [Simple English](https:\/\/simple.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Counselor \"Counselor – Simple English\")\n- [Српски \/ srpski](https:\/\/sr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D1%83_%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%99%D0%B0 \"Саветник у области менталног здравља – Serbian\")\n\n[Edit links](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q6817463#sitelinks-wikipedia \"Edit interlanguage links\")\n\n- [Article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor \"View the content page [c]\")\n- [Talk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Talk:Mental_health_counselor \"Discuss improvements to the content page [t]\")\n\nEnglish\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=history \"Past revisions of this page [h]\")\n\nTools\n\nTools\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nActions\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=history)\n\nGeneral\n\n- [What links here](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:WhatLinksHere\/Mental_health_counselor \"List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]\")\n- [Related changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChangesLinked\/Mental_health_counselor \"Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard \"Upload files [u]\")\n- [Permanent link](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&oldid=1338959812 \"Permanent link to this revision of this page\")\n- [Page information](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=info \"More information about this page\")\n- [Cite this page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Mental_health_counselor&id=1338959812&wpFormIdentifier=titleform \"Information on how to cite this page\")\n- [Get shortened URL](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMental_health_counselor)\n\nPrint\/export\n\n- [Download as PDF](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Mental_health_counselor&action=show-download-screen \"Download this page as a PDF file\")\n- [Printable version](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&printable=yes \"Printable version of this page [p]\")\n\nIn other projects\n\n- [Wikidata item](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q6817463 \"Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]\")\n\nAppearance\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nProfessional providing mental health support\n\nA **[mental health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health \"Mental health\") counselor** (**MHC**), often simply **counselor** (**counsellor** in [British English](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/British_English \"British English\")), is a person who works with individuals and [groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_group \"Social group\") to promote optimum mental and [emotional health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Emotional_health \"Emotional health\"). Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with [addiction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Addiction \"Addiction\") and [substance abuse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substance_abuse \"Substance abuse\"); [family](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Family \"Family\"), [parenting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parenting \"Parenting\"), and [marital](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marital \"Marital\") problems; [stress management](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stress_management \"Stress management\"); [self-esteem](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-esteem \"Self-esteem\"); and [aging](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aging \"Aging\"). The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes \"Mental Health Counselors\" from \"[Social Workers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_work \"Social work\")\", \"[Psychiatrists](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychiatrist \"Psychiatrist\")\", and \"[Psychologists](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychologist \"Psychologist\")\".[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1)\n\n## Duties\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=1 \"Edit section: Duties\")\\]\n\nThe legal definition of a counselor varies due to the different specializations within counseling. In their own jurisdictions, there are counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-2) In spite of such definitions, many mental health professionals reject the [medical model](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medical_model \"Medical model\") (which assumes that clients are \"disordered\") in favor of broader viewpoints, such as those that emerged from [systems psychology](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Systems_psychology \"Systems psychology\").[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-3)\n\n## Service users\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: Service users\")\\]\n\nMHCs work with [individuals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human \"Human\"), couples, families, and [groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Group_therapy \"Group therapy\") to address and treat emotional and [mental disorders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_disorder \"Mental disorder\") and to promote mental health. Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1) They are trained in a variety of [therapeutic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Therapy \"Therapy\") techniques used to address issues, including [depression](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Depression_\\(mood\\) \"Depression (mood)\"), anxiety, [addiction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substance_dependence \"Substance dependence\") and [substance abuse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substance_abuse \"Substance abuse\"), [suicidal impulses](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suicide \"Suicide\"), [stress](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stress_\\(biological\\) \"Stress (biological)\"), problems with [self-esteem](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-esteem \"Self-esteem\"), and [grief](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grief \"Grief\"). They also help with job and [career](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Career \"Career\") concerns, [educational](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Education \"Education\") decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, [parenting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parenting \"Parenting\"), [marital](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marriage \"Marriage\"), or other [relationship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Interpersonal_relationship \"Interpersonal relationship\") problems. Some career concerns include helping employees who have mental health conditions to manage their health condition whilst adhering to organizational demands to demonstrate performance and commitment to their work.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-4)\n\nMHCs also continue to play a growing role in the [military](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Military \"Military\") mental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as [PTSD](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/PTSD \"PTSD\").[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts-5) MHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, [psychiatric nurses](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychiatric_nurses \"Psychiatric nurses\"), and [school counselors](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/School_counselors \"School counselors\"). Many mental health counselors look to help their clients have a concise whole body treatment plan that addresses all the needs of the client. In the United States, MHCs diagnose as well as treat mental illness,[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-bls-6) though the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state.\n\nThere are some mental health counselors who are able to prescribe medication. There are psychiatrists and mental health practitioners.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-7) Recently, there have been a few states that have allowed licensed psychologists with additional training to be able to prescribe.[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-8) And there is a recent motion that is allowing interstate practice, meaning that counselors can use their license in other states than the one they received their license in.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-9)\n\n## Regulation\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=3 \"Edit section: Regulation\")\\]\n\n### United States\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=4 \"Edit section: United States\")\\]\n\nLicensing requirements can vary depending on which state a mental health counselor practices in. Across the United States, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statues. The title \"Mental Health Counselor\" (or variation thereof) is often a protected title and thus it may be a violation of state law for persons to hold themselves as such without a proper credential.\n\nA licensed mental health counselor holds a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or another closely related field in mental health care. After obtaining a master's degree, mental health counselors complete two to three years (depending on various state statutes) of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional. The qualifications for licensure are similar to those for marriage and family therapists and for clinical social workers.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors-10) Becoming a counselor and using it in daily life to help others to learn more about themselves is not a reason for someone to pursue a degree within this field. Ethics within this profession require the counselor to remain professional to be able to adequately treat patients. Remaining detached as the witness to a client's thought, feelings, and emotions can be a hard thing to do, but will ultimately reassure a patient that there are no judgement to what they will share.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-11) Guiding a patient to understand themselves and their choices is also another aspect of this profession.\n\n## See also\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=5 \"Edit section: See also\")\\]\n\n- [List of counseling topics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_counseling_topics \"List of counseling topics\")\n- [Mental health professional](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_professional \"Mental health professional\")\n- [Psychotherapist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychotherapist \"Psychotherapist\")\n- [Nonviolent communication](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nonviolent_communication \"Nonviolent communication\")\n- [Social worker](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_worker \"Social worker\")\n- [Psychologist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychologist \"Psychologist\")\n- [Psychiatrist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychiatrist \"Psychiatrist\")\n- [Occupational therapist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Occupational_therapist \"Occupational therapist\")\n- [Expressive therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Expressive_therapy \"Expressive therapy\")\n- [Behavior therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Behavior_therapy \"Behavior therapy\")\n- [Cognitive behavioral therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy \"Cognitive behavioral therapy\")\n- [Rational emotive behavior therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy \"Rational emotive behavior therapy\")\n- [Dialectical behavioral therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dialectical_behavioral_therapy \"Dialectical behavioral therapy\")\n\n## References\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=6 \"Edit section: References\")\\]\n\n### Citations\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=7 \"Edit section: Citations\")\\]\n\n1. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-1)\n   [\"21-1014 Mental Health Counselors\"](http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oes\/current\/oes211014.htm). *Occupational Employment Statistics*. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1 April 2014. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20141031091615\/http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oes\/current\/oes211014.htm) from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. \"Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes \"Social Workers\" (21-1021 through 21-1029), \"Psychiatrists\" (29-1066), and \"Psychologists\" (19-3031 through 19-3039).\"\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-2)**\n   [\"Types of Mental Health Professionals\"](https:\/\/mhanational.org\/types-mental-health-professionals). *Mental Health America*. Retrieved 2023-04-26.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-3)**\n   [\"Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150203044410\/http:\/\/academyanalyticarts.org\/LEAP.htm). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.academyanalyticarts.org\/LEAP.htm) on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-12.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-4)**\n   Elraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. *Human Relations, 71*(5), 722-741.\n   \n   [doi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doi_\\(identifier\\) \"Doi (identifier)\"):[10\\.1177\/0018726717716752](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177%2F0018726717716752)\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts_5-0)**\n   [\"Mental Health Counseling Careers\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160204020225\/http:\/\/online.antioch.edu\/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling\/careers). Antioch University. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/online.antioch.edu\/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling\/careers) on Feb 4, 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-bls_6-0)**\n   [\"Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090830000221\/http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oco\/ocos067.htm). *[United States Bureau of Labor Statistics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics \"United States Bureau of Labor Statistics\")*. December 18, 2007. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oco\/ocos067.htm) on Aug 30, 2009.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-7)**\n   [\"What Does a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Do?\"](https:\/\/teach.com\/careers\/counseling\/what-does-lmhc-do\/). *TEACH.com*. July 2022. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230601194507\/https:\/\/teach.com\/careers\/counseling\/what-does-lmhc-do\/) from the original on Jun 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-01.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-8)**\n   DeAngelis, Tori (Fall 2017). [\"Prescriptive authority: renewed action in the states\"](https:\/\/www.apaservices.org\/practice\/good-practice\/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF). *Good Practice*. APA Services. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220804172912\/https:\/\/www.apaservices.org\/practice\/good-practice\/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF) from the original on Aug 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-06-01.\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-9)**\n   Clay, Rebecca A. (July 2, 2021). [\"PSYPACT: 26 states have now passed laws allowing interstate practice\"](https:\/\/www.apaservices.org\/practice\/legal\/technology\/psypact-interstate-practice-telehealth#:~:text=So%20far%20this%20year,%2011%20jurisdictions%E2%80%94Alabama,%20Arkansas,%20Kansas,,West%20Virginia%E2%80%94have%20joined%20the%20Psychology%20Interjurisdictional%20Compact%20\\(Psypact\\).). *APA Services*. Retrieved 2023-06-01.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors_10-0)**\n    [\"Facts About Clinical Mental Health Counselors\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20141103224537\/http:\/\/www.amhca.org\/about\/facts.aspx). American Mental Health Counselors Association. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.amhca.org\/about\/facts.aspx) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 18 November 2014.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-11)**\n    Koocher, Gerald P.; Keith-Spiegel, Patricia (2008). [*Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases*](https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2007-19388-000) (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.\n\n### General sources\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=8 \"Edit section: General sources\")\\]\n\n- Brooks, D.K.; Weikel, W.J. (1996). \"Mental health counseling: The first twenty years\". In Weikel, W.J.; Palmo, A.J. (eds.). *Foundations of mental health counseling* (2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [0-398-06669-8](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-398-06669-8 \"Special:BookSources\/0-398-06669-8\")\n  \n  . [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [468776809](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/468776809).\n- Hershenson, D.B.; Strein, W. (1991). \"Toward a mentally healthy curriculum for mental health counselor education\". *Journal of Mental Health Counseling*. **13**: 247–252\\.\n- Palmo, A.J.; Shosh, M.J.; Weikel, W.J. (2001). \"The independent practice of mental health counseling: past, present, and future\". In Locke, D.C.; Myers, J.E.; Herr, E.L. (eds.). *The handbook of counseling*. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. 653–667\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [1-4522-6259-4](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/1-4522-6259-4 \"Special:BookSources\/1-4522-6259-4\")\n  \n  . [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [299074204](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/299074204).\n- Seiler, G.; Brooks, D.; Beck, E.S. (1987). \"Training Standards for Mental Health Counselors\". *Journal of Mental Health Counseling*. **9** (4): 199–209\\.\n- Smith, H.B.; Weikel, W.J. (2006). \"Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and beyond\". In Palmo, A.J.; Weikel, W.J.; Borsos, D.P. (eds.). *Foundations of mental health counseling* (3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [0-398-07604-9](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-398-07604-9 \"Special:BookSources\/0-398-07604-9\")\n  \n  . [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [300305939](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/300305939).\n- Prepared June 2008 by William J. Weikel. Ph.D., Howard Smith, Ed.D., Artis J. Palmo, Ph.D., and Edward Beck, Ed.D.\\[*[full citation needed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include \"Wikipedia:Citing sources\")*\\]\n\n## External links\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: External links\")\\]\n\n- [American Counseling Association](http:\/\/www.counseling.org\/)\n- [American Mental Health Counselors Association](http:\/\/www.amhca.org\/)\n- [\\[1\\]](http:\/\/www.thelafayettecounselor.com\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:CentralAutoLogin\/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1)\n\nRetrieved from \"<https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&oldid=1338959812>\"\n\n[Categories](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Category \"Help:Category\"):\n\n- [Mental health occupations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Mental_health_occupations \"Category:Mental health occupations\")\n- [Counseling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Counseling \"Category:Counseling\")\n\nHidden categories:\n\n- [Articles with short description](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_short_description \"Category:Articles with short description\")\n- [Short description is different from Wikidata](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata \"Category:Short description is different from Wikidata\")\n- [All articles with incomplete citations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:All_articles_with_incomplete_citations \"Category:All articles with incomplete citations\")\n- [Articles with incomplete citations from October 2017](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_incomplete_citations_from_October_2017 \"Category:Articles with incomplete citations from October 2017\")\n\n- This page was last edited on 18 February 2026, at 05:21 (UTC).\n- Text is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License \"Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License\"); additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the [Terms of Use](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Terms_of_Use \"foundation:Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Terms of Use\") and [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy \"foundation:Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy policy\"). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the [Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.](https:\/\/wikimediafoundation.org\/), a non-profit organization.\n\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy)\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About)\n- [Disclaimers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer)\n- [Contact Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us)\n- [Legal & safety contacts](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Legal:Wikimedia_Foundation_Legal_and_Safety_Contact_Information)\n- [Code of Conduct](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct)\n- [Developers](https:\/\/developer.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [Statistics](https:\/\/stats.wikimedia.org\/#\/en.wikipedia.org)\n- [Cookie statement](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Cookie_statement)\n- [Mobile view](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile)\n\n- [![Wikimedia Foundation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/footer\/wikimedia.svg)](https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [![Powered by MediaWiki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/resources\/assets\/mediawiki_compact.svg)](https:\/\/www.mediawiki.org\/)\n\nSearch\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\nMental health counselor\n\n6 languages\n\n[Add topic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor)","attrs_readable_markdown":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nA **[mental health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health \"Mental health\") counselor** (**MHC**), often simply **counselor** (**counsellor** in [British English](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/British_English \"British English\")), is a person who works with individuals and [groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_group \"Social group\") to promote optimum mental and [emotional health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Emotional_health \"Emotional health\"). Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with [addiction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Addiction \"Addiction\") and [substance abuse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substance_abuse \"Substance abuse\"); [family](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Family \"Family\"), [parenting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parenting \"Parenting\"), and [marital](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marital \"Marital\") problems; [stress management](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stress_management \"Stress management\"); [self-esteem](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-esteem \"Self-esteem\"); and [aging](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aging \"Aging\"). The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes \"Mental Health Counselors\" from \"[Social Workers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_work \"Social work\")\", \"[Psychiatrists](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychiatrist \"Psychiatrist\")\", and \"[Psychologists](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychologist \"Psychologist\")\".[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1)\n\nThe legal definition of a counselor varies due to the different specializations within counseling. In their own jurisdictions, there are counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-2) In spite of such definitions, many mental health professionals reject the [medical model](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medical_model \"Medical model\") (which assumes that clients are \"disordered\") in favor of broader viewpoints, such as those that emerged from [systems psychology](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Systems_psychology \"Systems psychology\").[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-3)\n\nMHCs work with [individuals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human \"Human\"), couples, families, and [groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Group_therapy \"Group therapy\") to address and treat emotional and [mental disorders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_disorder \"Mental disorder\") and to promote mental health. Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1) They are trained in a variety of [therapeutic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Therapy \"Therapy\") techniques used to address issues, including [depression](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Depression_\\(mood\\) \"Depression (mood)\"), anxiety, [addiction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substance_dependence \"Substance dependence\") and [substance abuse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substance_abuse \"Substance abuse\"), [suicidal impulses](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suicide \"Suicide\"), [stress](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stress_\\(biological\\) \"Stress (biological)\"), problems with [self-esteem](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-esteem \"Self-esteem\"), and [grief](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grief \"Grief\"). They also help with job and [career](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Career \"Career\") concerns, [educational](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Education \"Education\") decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, [parenting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parenting \"Parenting\"), [marital](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marriage \"Marriage\"), or other [relationship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Interpersonal_relationship \"Interpersonal relationship\") problems. Some career concerns include helping employees who have mental health conditions to manage their health condition whilst adhering to organizational demands to demonstrate performance and commitment to their work.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-4)\n\nMHCs also continue to play a growing role in the [military](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Military \"Military\") mental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as [PTSD](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/PTSD \"PTSD\").[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts-5) MHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, [psychiatric nurses](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychiatric_nurses \"Psychiatric nurses\"), and [school counselors](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/School_counselors \"School counselors\"). Many mental health counselors look to help their clients have a concise whole body treatment plan that addresses all the needs of the client. In the United States, MHCs diagnose as well as treat mental illness,[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-bls-6) though the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state.\n\nThere are some mental health counselors who are able to prescribe medication. There are psychiatrists and mental health practitioners.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-7) Recently, there have been a few states that have allowed licensed psychologists with additional training to be able to prescribe.[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-8) And there is a recent motion that is allowing interstate practice, meaning that counselors can use their license in other states than the one they received their license in.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-9)\n\nLicensing requirements can vary depending on which state a mental health counselor practices in. Across the United States, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statues. The title \"Mental Health Counselor\" (or variation thereof) is often a protected title and thus it may be a violation of state law for persons to hold themselves as such without a proper credential.\n\nA licensed mental health counselor holds a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or another closely related field in mental health care. After obtaining a master's degree, mental health counselors complete two to three years (depending on various state statutes) of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional. The qualifications for licensure are similar to those for marriage and family therapists and for clinical social workers.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors-10) Becoming a counselor and using it in daily life to help others to learn more about themselves is not a reason for someone to pursue a degree within this field. Ethics within this profession require the counselor to remain professional to be able to adequately treat patients. Remaining detached as the witness to a client's thought, feelings, and emotions can be a hard thing to do, but will ultimately reassure a patient that there are no judgement to what they will share.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-11) Guiding a patient to understand themselves and their choices is also another aspect of this profession.\n\n- [List of counseling topics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_counseling_topics \"List of counseling topics\")\n- [Mental health professional](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_professional \"Mental health professional\")\n- [Psychotherapist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychotherapist \"Psychotherapist\")\n- [Nonviolent communication](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nonviolent_communication \"Nonviolent communication\")\n- [Social worker](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_worker \"Social worker\")\n- [Psychologist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychologist \"Psychologist\")\n- [Psychiatrist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Psychiatrist \"Psychiatrist\")\n- [Occupational therapist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Occupational_therapist \"Occupational therapist\")\n- [Expressive therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Expressive_therapy \"Expressive therapy\")\n- [Behavior therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Behavior_therapy \"Behavior therapy\")\n- [Cognitive behavioral therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy \"Cognitive behavioral therapy\")\n- [Rational emotive behavior therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy \"Rational emotive behavior therapy\")\n- [Dialectical behavioral therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dialectical_behavioral_therapy \"Dialectical behavioral therapy\")\n\n1. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-1)\n   [\"21-1014 Mental Health Counselors\"](http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oes\/current\/oes211014.htm). *Occupational Employment Statistics*. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1 April 2014. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20141031091615\/http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oes\/current\/oes211014.htm) from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. \"Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes \"Social Workers\" (21-1021 through 21-1029), \"Psychiatrists\" (29-1066), and \"Psychologists\" (19-3031 through 19-3039).\"\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-2)**\n   [\"Types of Mental Health Professionals\"](https:\/\/mhanational.org\/types-mental-health-professionals). *Mental Health America*. Retrieved 2023-04-26.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-3)**\n   [\"Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150203044410\/http:\/\/academyanalyticarts.org\/LEAP.htm). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.academyanalyticarts.org\/LEAP.htm) on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-12.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-4)** Elraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. *Human Relations, 71*(5), 722-741. [doi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doi_\\(identifier\\) \"Doi (identifier)\"):[10\\.1177\/0018726717716752](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177%2F0018726717716752)\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts_5-0)**\n   [\"Mental Health Counseling Careers\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160204020225\/http:\/\/online.antioch.edu\/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling\/careers). Antioch University. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/online.antioch.edu\/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling\/careers) on Feb 4, 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-bls_6-0)**\n   [\"Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090830000221\/http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oco\/ocos067.htm). *[United States Bureau of Labor Statistics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics \"United States Bureau of Labor Statistics\")*. December 18, 2007. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oco\/ocos067.htm) on Aug 30, 2009.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-7)**\n   [\"What Does a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Do?\"](https:\/\/teach.com\/careers\/counseling\/what-does-lmhc-do\/). *TEACH.com*. July 2022. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230601194507\/https:\/\/teach.com\/careers\/counseling\/what-does-lmhc-do\/) from the original on Jun 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-01.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-8)**\n   DeAngelis, Tori (Fall 2017). [\"Prescriptive authority: renewed action in the states\"](https:\/\/www.apaservices.org\/practice\/good-practice\/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF). *Good Practice*. APA Services. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220804172912\/https:\/\/www.apaservices.org\/practice\/good-practice\/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF) from the original on Aug 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-06-01.\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-9)**\n   Clay, Rebecca A. (July 2, 2021). [\"PSYPACT: 26 states have now passed laws allowing interstate practice\"](https:\/\/www.apaservices.org\/practice\/legal\/technology\/psypact-interstate-practice-telehealth#:~:text=So%20far%20this%20year,%2011%20jurisdictions%E2%80%94Alabama,%20Arkansas,%20Kansas,,West%20Virginia%E2%80%94have%20joined%20the%20Psychology%20Interjurisdictional%20Compact%20\\(Psypact\\).). *APA Services*. Retrieved 2023-06-01.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors_10-0)**\n    [\"Facts About Clinical Mental Health Counselors\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20141103224537\/http:\/\/www.amhca.org\/about\/facts.aspx). American Mental Health Counselors Association. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.amhca.org\/about\/facts.aspx) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 18 November 2014.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-11)**\n    Koocher, Gerald P.; Keith-Spiegel, Patricia (2008). [*Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases*](https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2007-19388-000) (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.\n\n- Brooks, D.K.; Weikel, W.J. (1996). \"Mental health counseling: The first twenty years\". In Weikel, W.J.; Palmo, A.J. (eds.). *Foundations of mental health counseling* (2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [0-398-06669-8](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-398-06669-8 \"Special:BookSources\/0-398-06669-8\")\n  \n  . [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [468776809](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/468776809).\n- Hershenson, D.B.; Strein, W. (1991). \"Toward a mentally healthy curriculum for mental health counselor education\". *Journal of Mental Health Counseling*. **13**: 247–252\\.\n- Palmo, A.J.; Shosh, M.J.; Weikel, W.J. (2001). \"The independent practice of mental health counseling: past, present, and future\". In Locke, D.C.; Myers, J.E.; Herr, E.L. (eds.). *The handbook of counseling*. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. 653–667\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [1-4522-6259-4](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/1-4522-6259-4 \"Special:BookSources\/1-4522-6259-4\")\n  \n  . [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [299074204](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/299074204).\n- Seiler, G.; Brooks, D.; Beck, E.S. (1987). \"Training Standards for Mental Health Counselors\". *Journal of Mental Health Counseling*. **9** (4): 199–209\\.\n- Smith, H.B.; Weikel, W.J. (2006). \"Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and beyond\". In Palmo, A.J.; Weikel, W.J.; Borsos, D.P. (eds.). *Foundations of mental health counseling* (3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [0-398-07604-9](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-398-07604-9 \"Special:BookSources\/0-398-07604-9\")\n  \n  . [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [300305939](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/300305939).\n- Prepared June 2008 by William J. Weikel. Ph.D., Howard Smith, Ed.D., Artis J. Palmo, Ph.D., and Edward Beck, Ed.D.\\[*[full citation needed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include \"Wikipedia:Citing sources\")*\\]\n\n- [American Counseling Association](http:\/\/www.counseling.org\/)\n- [American Mental Health Counselors Association](http:\/\/www.amhca.org\/)\n- [\\[1\\]](http:\/\/www.thelafayettecounselor.com\/)","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A mental health counselor ( MHC ), often simply counselor ( counsellor in British English ), is a person who works with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health . Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with addiction and substance abuse ; family , parenting , and marital problems; stress management ; self-esteem ; and aging . The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes "Mental Health Counselors" from " Social Workers ", " Psychiatrists ", and " Psychologists ". [ 1 ] The legal definition of a counselor varies due to the different specializations within counseling. In their own jurisdictions, there are counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists. [ 2 ] In spite of such definitions, many mental health professionals reject the medical model (which assumes that clients are "disordered") in favor of broader viewpoints, such as those that emerged from systems psychology . [ 3 ] MHCs work with individuals , couples, families, and groups to address and treat emotional and mental disorders and to promote mental health. Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments. [ 1 ] They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address issues, including depression , anxiety, addiction and substance abuse , suicidal impulses , stress , problems with self-esteem , and grief . They also help with job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting , marital , or other relationship problems. Some career concerns include helping employees who have mental health conditions to manage their health condition whilst adhering to organizational demands to demonstrate performance and commitment to their work. [ 4 ] MHCs also continue to play a growing role in the military mental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as PTSD . [ 5 ] MHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses , and school counselors . Many mental health counselors look to help their clients have a concise whole body treatment plan that addresses all the needs of the client. In the United States, MHCs diagnose as well as treat mental illness, [ 6 ] though the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state. There are some mental health counselors who are able to prescribe medication. There are psychiatrists and mental health practitioners. [ 7 ] Recently, there have been a few states that have allowed licensed psychologists with additional training to be able to prescribe. [ 8 ] And there is a recent motion that is allowing interstate practice, meaning that counselors can use their license in other states than the one they received their license in. [ 9 ] Licensing requirements can vary depending on which state a mental health counselor practices in. Across the United States, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statues. The title "Mental Health Counselor" (or variation thereof) is often a protected title and thus it may be a violation of state law for persons to hold themselves as such without a proper credential. A licensed mental health counselor holds a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or another closely related field in mental health care. After obtaining a master's degree, mental health counselors complete two to three years (depending on various state statutes) of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional. The qualifications for licensure are similar to those for marriage and family therapists and for clinical social workers. [ 10 ] Becoming a counselor and using it in daily life to help others to learn more about themselves is not a reason for someone to pursue a degree within this field. Ethics within this profession require the counselor to remain professional to be able to adequately treat patients. Remaining detached as the witness to a client's thought, feelings, and emotions can be a hard thing to do, but will ultimately reassure a patient that there are no judgement to what they will share. [ 11 ] Guiding a patient to understand themselves and their choices is also another aspect of this profession. List of counseling topics Mental health professional Psychotherapist Nonviolent communication Social worker Psychologist Psychiatrist Occupational therapist Expressive therapy Behavior therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy Rational emotive behavior therapy Dialectical behavioral therapy ^ a b "21-1014 Mental Health Counselors" . Occupational Employment Statistics . U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1 April 2014. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014 . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes "Social Workers" (21-1021 through 21-1029), "Psychiatrists" (29-1066), and "Psychologists" (19-3031 through 19-3039). ^ "Types of Mental Health Professionals" . Mental Health America . Retrieved 2023-04-26 . ^ "Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy" . Archived from the original on 2015-02-03 . Retrieved 2015-02-12 . ^ Elraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. Human Relations, 71 (5), 722-741. doi : 10.1177/0018726717716752 ^ "Mental Health Counseling Careers" . Antioch University. Archived from the original on Feb 4, 2016 . Retrieved 1 January 2016 . ^ "Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition" . United States Bureau of Labor Statistics . December 18, 2007. Archived from the original on Aug 30, 2009. ^ "What Does a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Do?" . TEACH.com . July 2022. Archived from the original on Jun 1, 2023 . Retrieved 2023-06-01 . ^ DeAngelis, Tori (Fall 2017). "Prescriptive authority: renewed action in the states" (PDF) . Good Practice . APA Services. Archived (PDF) from the original on Aug 4, 2022 . Retrieved 2023-06-01 . ^ Clay, Rebecca A. (July 2, 2021). "PSYPACT: 26 states have now passed laws allowing interstate practice" . APA Services . Retrieved 2023-06-01 . ^ "Facts About Clinical Mental Health Counselors" . American Mental Health Counselors Association. Archived from the original on 2014-11-03 . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . ^ Koocher, Gerald P.; Keith-Spiegel, Patricia (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. Brooks, D.K.; Weikel, W.J. (1996). "Mental health counseling: The first twenty years". In Weikel, W.J.; Palmo, A.J. (eds.). Foundations of mental health counseling (2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5– 29. ISBN 0-398-06669-8 . OCLC 468776809 . Hershenson, D.B.; Strein, W. (1991). "Toward a mentally healthy curriculum for mental health counselor education". Journal of Mental Health Counseling . 13 : 247– 252. Palmo, A.J.; Shosh, M.J.; Weikel, W.J. (2001). "The independent practice of mental health counseling: past, present, and future". In Locke, D.C.; Myers, J.E.; Herr, E.L. (eds.). The handbook of counseling . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. 653– 667. ISBN 1-4522-6259-4 . OCLC 299074204 . Seiler, G.; Brooks, D.; Beck, E.S. (1987). "Training Standards for Mental Health Counselors". Journal of Mental Health Counseling . 9 (4): 199– 209. Smith, H.B.; Weikel, W.J. (2006). "Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and beyond". In Palmo, A.J.; Weikel, W.J.; Borsos, D.P. (eds.). Foundations of mental health counseling (3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5– 29. ISBN 0-398-07604-9 . OCLC 300305939 . Prepared June 2008 by William J. Weikel. Ph.D., Howard Smith, Ed.D., Artis J. Palmo, Ph.D., and Edward Beck, Ed.D. [ full citation needed ] American Counseling Association American Mental Health Counselors Association [1]
Markdown	[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#bodyContent) Main menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation - [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page "Visit the main page [z]") - [Contents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents "Guides to browsing Wikipedia") - [Current events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events "Articles related to current events") - [Random article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random "Visit a randomly selected article [x]") - [About Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About "Learn about Wikipedia and how it works") - [Contact us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us "How to contact Wikipedia") Contribute - [Help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents "Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia") - [Learn to edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction "Learn how to edit Wikipedia") - [Community portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal "The hub for editors") - [Recent changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChanges "A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard "Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia") - [Special pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:SpecialPages "A list of all special pages [q]") [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) [Search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search "Search Wikipedia [f]") Appearance - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Mental+health+counselor "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Mental+health+counselor "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. 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[o]") ## Contents move to sidebar hide - [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor) - [1 Duties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#Duties) - [2 Service users](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#Service_users) - [3 Regulation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#Regulation) Toggle Regulation subsection - [3\.1 United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#United_States) - [4 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#See_also) - [5 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#References) Toggle References subsection - [5\.1 Citations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#Citations) - [5\.2 General sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#General_sources) - [6 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#External_links) Toggle the table of contents # Mental health counselor 6 languages - [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9 "مستشار الصحة العقلية والنفسية – Arabic") - [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1_%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA_%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86 "مشاور بهداشت روان – Persian") - [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konselor_kesehatan_mental "Konselor kesehatan mental – Indonesian") - [සිංහල](https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%9A_%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%9E%E0%B6%9B%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BA_%E0%B6%8B%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%9A%E0%B7%81%E0%B6%9A "මානසික සෞඛ්‍ය උපදේශක – Sinhala") - [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counselor "Counselor – Simple English") - [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D1%83_%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%99%D0%B0 "Саветник у области менталног здравља – Serbian") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q6817463#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") - [Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor "View the content page [c]") - [Talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Mental_health_counselor "Discuss improvements to the content page [t]") English - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=history "Past revisions of this page [h]") Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=history) General - [What links here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Mental_health_counselor "List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]") - 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[Printable version](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&printable=yes "Printable version of this page [p]") In other projects - [Wikidata item](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q6817463 "Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]") Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Professional providing mental health support A [mental health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health "Mental health") counselor (MHC), often simply counselor (counsellor in [British English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English "British English")), is a person who works with individuals and [groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group "Social group") to promote optimum mental and [emotional health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_health "Emotional health"). Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with [addiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction "Addiction") and [substance abuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse "Substance abuse"); [family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family "Family"), [parenting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenting "Parenting"), and [marital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marital "Marital") problems; [stress management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_management "Stress management"); [self-esteem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem "Self-esteem"); and [aging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging "Aging"). The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes "Mental Health Counselors" from "[Social Workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_work "Social work")", "[Psychiatrists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatrist "Psychiatrist")", and "[Psychologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologist "Psychologist")".[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1) ## Duties \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Duties")\] The legal definition of a counselor varies due to the different specializations within counseling. In their own jurisdictions, there are counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-2) In spite of such definitions, many mental health professionals reject the [medical model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_model "Medical model") (which assumes that clients are "disordered") in favor of broader viewpoints, such as those that emerged from [systems psychology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_psychology "Systems psychology").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-3) ## Service users \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Service users")\] MHCs work with [individuals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human "Human"), couples, families, and [groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_therapy "Group therapy") to address and treat emotional and [mental disorders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder "Mental disorder") and to promote mental health. Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1) They are trained in a variety of [therapeutic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapy "Therapy") techniques used to address issues, including [depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_\(mood\) "Depression (mood)"), anxiety, [addiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence "Substance dependence") and [substance abuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse "Substance abuse"), [suicidal impulses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide "Suicide"), [stress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_\(biological\) "Stress (biological)"), problems with [self-esteem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem "Self-esteem"), and [grief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief "Grief"). They also help with job and [career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career "Career") concerns, [educational](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education "Education") decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, [parenting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenting "Parenting"), [marital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage "Marriage"), or other [relationship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship "Interpersonal relationship") problems. Some career concerns include helping employees who have mental health conditions to manage their health condition whilst adhering to organizational demands to demonstrate performance and commitment to their work.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-4) MHCs also continue to play a growing role in the [military](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military "Military") mental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as [PTSD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTSD "PTSD").[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts-5) MHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, [psychiatric nurses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatric_nurses "Psychiatric nurses"), and [school counselors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_counselors "School counselors"). Many mental health counselors look to help their clients have a concise whole body treatment plan that addresses all the needs of the client. In the United States, MHCs diagnose as well as treat mental illness,[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-bls-6) though the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state. There are some mental health counselors who are able to prescribe medication. There are psychiatrists and mental health practitioners.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-7) Recently, there have been a few states that have allowed licensed psychologists with additional training to be able to prescribe.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-8) And there is a recent motion that is allowing interstate practice, meaning that counselors can use their license in other states than the one they received their license in.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-9) ## Regulation \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Regulation")\] ### United States \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: United States")\] Licensing requirements can vary depending on which state a mental health counselor practices in. Across the United States, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statues. The title "Mental Health Counselor" (or variation thereof) is often a protected title and thus it may be a violation of state law for persons to hold themselves as such without a proper credential. A licensed mental health counselor holds a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or another closely related field in mental health care. After obtaining a master's degree, mental health counselors complete two to three years (depending on various state statutes) of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional. The qualifications for licensure are similar to those for marriage and family therapists and for clinical social workers.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors-10) Becoming a counselor and using it in daily life to help others to learn more about themselves is not a reason for someone to pursue a degree within this field. Ethics within this profession require the counselor to remain professional to be able to adequately treat patients. Remaining detached as the witness to a client's thought, feelings, and emotions can be a hard thing to do, but will ultimately reassure a patient that there are no judgement to what they will share.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-11) Guiding a patient to understand themselves and their choices is also another aspect of this profession. ## See also \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: See also")\] - [List of counseling topics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_counseling_topics "List of counseling topics") - [Mental health professional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_professional "Mental health professional") - [Psychotherapist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapist "Psychotherapist") - [Nonviolent communication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_communication "Nonviolent communication") - [Social worker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_worker "Social worker") - [Psychologist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologist "Psychologist") - [Psychiatrist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatrist "Psychiatrist") - [Occupational therapist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_therapist "Occupational therapist") - [Expressive therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapy "Expressive therapy") - [Behavior therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior_therapy "Behavior therapy") - [Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy "Cognitive behavioral therapy") - [Rational emotive behavior therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy "Rational emotive behavior therapy") - [Dialectical behavioral therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectical_behavioral_therapy "Dialectical behavioral therapy") ## References \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: References")\] ### Citations \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Citations")\] 1. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-1) ["21-1014 Mental Health Counselors"](http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211014.htm). Occupational Employment Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1 April 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141031091615/http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211014.htm) from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. "Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes "Social Workers" (21-1021 through 21-1029), "Psychiatrists" (29-1066), and "Psychologists" (19-3031 through 19-3039)." 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-2)* ["Types of Mental Health Professionals"](https://mhanational.org/types-mental-health-professionals). Mental Health America. Retrieved 2023-04-26. 3. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-3) ["Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150203044410/http://academyanalyticarts.org/LEAP.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.academyanalyticarts.org/LEAP.htm) on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-12. 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-4) Elraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. Human Relations, 71(5), 722-741. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1177/0018726717716752](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0018726717716752) 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts_5-0) ["Mental Health Counseling Careers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160204020225/http://online.antioch.edu/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling/careers). Antioch University. Archived from [the original](http://online.antioch.edu/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling/careers) on Feb 4, 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016. 6. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-bls_6-0) ["Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090830000221/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm). [United States Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics "United States Bureau of Labor Statistics"). December 18, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm) on Aug 30, 2009. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-7) ["What Does a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Do?"](https://teach.com/careers/counseling/what-does-lmhc-do/). TEACH.com. July 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230601194507/https://teach.com/careers/counseling/what-does-lmhc-do/) from the original on Jun 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-01. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-8) DeAngelis, Tori (Fall 2017). ["Prescriptive authority: renewed action in the states"](https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF). Good Practice. APA Services. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220804172912/https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF) from the original on Aug 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-06-01. 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-9) Clay, Rebecca A. (July 2, 2021). ["PSYPACT: 26 states have now passed laws allowing interstate practice"](https://www.apaservices.org/practice/legal/technology/psypact-interstate-practice-telehealth#:~:text=So%20far%20this%20year,%2011%20jurisdictions%E2%80%94Alabama,%20Arkansas,%20Kansas,,West%20Virginia%E2%80%94have%20joined%20the%20Psychology%20Interjurisdictional%20Compact%20\(Psypact\).). APA Services. Retrieved 2023-06-01. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors_10-0) ["Facts About Clinical Mental Health Counselors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141103224537/http://www.amhca.org/about/facts.aspx). American Mental Health Counselors Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.amhca.org/about/facts.aspx) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 18 November 2014. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-11) Koocher, Gerald P.; Keith-Spiegel, Patricia (2008). [Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-19388-000) (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. ### General sources \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: General sources")\] - Brooks, D.K.; Weikel, W.J. (1996). "Mental health counseling: The first twenty years". In Weikel, W.J.; Palmo, A.J. (eds.). Foundations of mental health counseling (2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-398-06669-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-398-06669-8 "Special:BookSources/0-398-06669-8") . [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [468776809](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/468776809). - Hershenson, D.B.; Strein, W. (1991). "Toward a mentally healthy curriculum for mental health counselor education". Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 13: 247–252\. - Palmo, A.J.; Shosh, M.J.; Weikel, W.J. (2001). "The independent practice of mental health counseling: past, present, and future". In Locke, D.C.; Myers, J.E.; Herr, E.L. (eds.). The handbook of counseling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. 653–667\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [1-4522-6259-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-4522-6259-4 "Special:BookSources/1-4522-6259-4") . [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [299074204](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/299074204). - Seiler, G.; Brooks, D.; Beck, E.S. (1987). "Training Standards for Mental Health Counselors". Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 9 (4): 199–209\. - Smith, H.B.; Weikel, W.J. (2006). "Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and beyond". In Palmo, A.J.; Weikel, W.J.; Borsos, D.P. (eds.). Foundations of mental health counseling (3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-398-07604-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-398-07604-9 "Special:BookSources/0-398-07604-9") . [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [300305939](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/300305939). - Prepared June 2008 by William J. Weikel. Ph.D., Howard Smith, Ed.D., Artis J. Palmo, Ph.D., and Edward Beck, Ed.D.\[[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include "Wikipedia:Citing sources")\] ## External links \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: External links")\] - [American Counseling Association](http://www.counseling.org/) - [American Mental Health Counselors Association](http://www.amhca.org/) - [\[1\]](http://www.thelafayettecounselor.com/) ![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1) Retrieved from "<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mental_health_counselor&oldid=1338959812>" [Categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"): - [Mental health occupations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mental_health_occupations "Category:Mental health occupations") - [Counseling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Counseling "Category:Counseling") Hidden categories: - [Articles with short description](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description "Category:Articles with short description") - [Short description is different from Wikidata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata "Category:Short description is different from Wikidata") - [All articles with incomplete citations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_incomplete_citations "Category:All articles with incomplete citations") - [Articles with incomplete citations from October 2017](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_with_incomplete_citations_from_October_2017 "Category:Articles with incomplete citations from October 2017") - This page was last edited on 18 February 2026, at 05:21 (UTC). - Text is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License "Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License"); additional terms may apply. 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Readable Markdown	From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A [mental health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health "Mental health") counselor (MHC), often simply counselor (counsellor in [British English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English "British English")), is a person who works with individuals and [groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group "Social group") to promote optimum mental and [emotional health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_health "Emotional health"). Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with [addiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction "Addiction") and [substance abuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse "Substance abuse"); [family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family "Family"), [parenting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenting "Parenting"), and [marital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marital "Marital") problems; [stress management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_management "Stress management"); [self-esteem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem "Self-esteem"); and [aging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging "Aging"). The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes "Mental Health Counselors" from "[Social Workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_work "Social work")", "[Psychiatrists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatrist "Psychiatrist")", and "[Psychologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologist "Psychologist")".[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1) The legal definition of a counselor varies due to the different specializations within counseling. In their own jurisdictions, there are counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-2) In spite of such definitions, many mental health professionals reject the [medical model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_model "Medical model") (which assumes that clients are "disordered") in favor of broader viewpoints, such as those that emerged from [systems psychology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_psychology "Systems psychology").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-3) MHCs work with [individuals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human "Human"), couples, families, and [groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_therapy "Group therapy") to address and treat emotional and [mental disorders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder "Mental disorder") and to promote mental health. Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Occupational_Employment_Statistics-1) They are trained in a variety of [therapeutic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapy "Therapy") techniques used to address issues, including [depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_\(mood\) "Depression (mood)"), anxiety, [addiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence "Substance dependence") and [substance abuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse "Substance abuse"), [suicidal impulses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide "Suicide"), [stress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_\(biological\) "Stress (biological)"), problems with [self-esteem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem "Self-esteem"), and [grief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief "Grief"). They also help with job and [career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career "Career") concerns, [educational](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education "Education") decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, [parenting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenting "Parenting"), [marital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage "Marriage"), or other [relationship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship "Interpersonal relationship") problems. Some career concerns include helping employees who have mental health conditions to manage their health condition whilst adhering to organizational demands to demonstrate performance and commitment to their work.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-4) MHCs also continue to play a growing role in the [military](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military "Military") mental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as [PTSD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTSD "PTSD").[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts-5) MHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, [psychiatric nurses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatric_nurses "Psychiatric nurses"), and [school counselors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_counselors "School counselors"). Many mental health counselors look to help their clients have a concise whole body treatment plan that addresses all the needs of the client. In the United States, MHCs diagnose as well as treat mental illness,[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-bls-6) though the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state. There are some mental health counselors who are able to prescribe medication. There are psychiatrists and mental health practitioners.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-7) Recently, there have been a few states that have allowed licensed psychologists with additional training to be able to prescribe.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-8) And there is a recent motion that is allowing interstate practice, meaning that counselors can use their license in other states than the one they received their license in.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-9) Licensing requirements can vary depending on which state a mental health counselor practices in. Across the United States, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statues. The title "Mental Health Counselor" (or variation thereof) is often a protected title and thus it may be a violation of state law for persons to hold themselves as such without a proper credential. A licensed mental health counselor holds a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or another closely related field in mental health care. After obtaining a master's degree, mental health counselors complete two to three years (depending on various state statutes) of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional. The qualifications for licensure are similar to those for marriage and family therapists and for clinical social workers.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors-10) Becoming a counselor and using it in daily life to help others to learn more about themselves is not a reason for someone to pursue a degree within this field. Ethics within this profession require the counselor to remain professional to be able to adequately treat patients. Remaining detached as the witness to a client's thought, feelings, and emotions can be a hard thing to do, but will ultimately reassure a patient that there are no judgement to what they will share.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_note-11) Guiding a patient to understand themselves and their choices is also another aspect of this profession. - [List of counseling topics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_counseling_topics "List of counseling topics") - [Mental health professional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_professional "Mental health professional") - [Psychotherapist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapist "Psychotherapist") - [Nonviolent communication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_communication "Nonviolent communication") - [Social worker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_worker "Social worker") - [Psychologist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologist "Psychologist") - [Psychiatrist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatrist "Psychiatrist") - [Occupational therapist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_therapist "Occupational therapist") - [Expressive therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapy "Expressive therapy") - [Behavior therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior_therapy "Behavior therapy") - [Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy "Cognitive behavioral therapy") - [Rational emotive behavior therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy "Rational emotive behavior therapy") - [Dialectical behavioral therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectical_behavioral_therapy "Dialectical behavioral therapy") 1. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Occupational_Employment_Statistics_1-1) ["21-1014 Mental Health Counselors"](http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211014.htm). Occupational Employment Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1 April 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141031091615/http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211014.htm) from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. "Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes "Social Workers" (21-1021 through 21-1029), "Psychiatrists" (29-1066), and "Psychologists" (19-3031 through 19-3039)." 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-2)* ["Types of Mental Health Professionals"](https://mhanational.org/types-mental-health-professionals). Mental Health America. Retrieved 2023-04-26. 3. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-3) ["Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150203044410/http://academyanalyticarts.org/LEAP.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.academyanalyticarts.org/LEAP.htm) on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-12. 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-4) Elraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. Human Relations, 71(5), 722-741. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1177/0018726717716752](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0018726717716752) 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Mental_Health_Counselor_Career_Facts_5-0) ["Mental Health Counseling Careers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160204020225/http://online.antioch.edu/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling/careers). Antioch University. Archived from [the original](http://online.antioch.edu/ma-clinical-mental-health-counseling/careers) on Feb 4, 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016. 6. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-bls_6-0) ["Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090830000221/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm). [United States Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics "United States Bureau of Labor Statistics"). December 18, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm) on Aug 30, 2009. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-7) ["What Does a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Do?"](https://teach.com/careers/counseling/what-does-lmhc-do/). TEACH.com. July 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230601194507/https://teach.com/careers/counseling/what-does-lmhc-do/) from the original on Jun 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-01. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-8) DeAngelis, Tori (Fall 2017). ["Prescriptive authority: renewed action in the states"](https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF). Good Practice. APA Services. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220804172912/https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/prescriptive-authority.pdf) (PDF) from the original on Aug 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-06-01. 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-9) Clay, Rebecca A. (July 2, 2021). ["PSYPACT: 26 states have now passed laws allowing interstate practice"](https://www.apaservices.org/practice/legal/technology/psypact-interstate-practice-telehealth#:~:text=So%20far%20this%20year,%2011%20jurisdictions%E2%80%94Alabama,%20Arkansas,%20Kansas,,West%20Virginia%E2%80%94have%20joined%20the%20Psychology%20Interjurisdictional%20Compact%20\(Psypact\).). APA Services. Retrieved 2023-06-01. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-Facts_About_Clinical_Mental_Health_Counselors_10-0) ["Facts About Clinical Mental Health Counselors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141103224537/http://www.amhca.org/about/facts.aspx). American Mental Health Counselors Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.amhca.org/about/facts.aspx) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 18 November 2014. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_counselor#cite_ref-11) Koocher, Gerald P.; Keith-Spiegel, Patricia (2008). [Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-19388-000) (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. - Brooks, D.K.; Weikel, W.J. (1996). "Mental health counseling: The first twenty years". In Weikel, W.J.; Palmo, A.J. (eds.). Foundations of mental health counseling (2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-398-06669-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-398-06669-8 "Special:BookSources/0-398-06669-8") . [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [468776809](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/468776809). - Hershenson, D.B.; Strein, W. (1991). "Toward a mentally healthy curriculum for mental health counselor education". Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 13: 247–252\. - Palmo, A.J.; Shosh, M.J.; Weikel, W.J. (2001). "The independent practice of mental health counseling: past, present, and future". In Locke, D.C.; Myers, J.E.; Herr, E.L. (eds.). The handbook of counseling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. 653–667\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [1-4522-6259-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-4522-6259-4 "Special:BookSources/1-4522-6259-4") . [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [299074204](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/299074204). - Seiler, G.; Brooks, D.; Beck, E.S. (1987). "Training Standards for Mental Health Counselors". Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 9 (4): 199–209\. - Smith, H.B.; Weikel, W.J. (2006). "Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and beyond". In Palmo, A.J.; Weikel, W.J.; Borsos, D.P. (eds.). Foundations of mental health counseling (3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 5–29\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-398-07604-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-398-07604-9 "Special:BookSources/0-398-07604-9") . [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [300305939](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/300305939). - Prepared June 2008 by William J. Weikel. Ph.D., Howard Smith, Ed.D., Artis J. Palmo, Ph.D., and Edward Beck, Ed.D.\[[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include "Wikipedia:Citing sources")\] - [American Counseling Association](http://www.counseling.org/) - [American Mental Health Counselors Association](http://www.amhca.org/) - [\[1\]](http://www.thelafayettecounselor.com/)
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