Masters in counselling (3 key Jobs)

In this brief article we will answer the question “Is a Masters degree in counselling worth it?” by studying the importance of counselling, the available prospects and scope in careers as well as reasons you may want to look for another degree. This blog will help you make an informed choice about taking up counselling as a career or not. 

M.A. Counselling Psychology Employment Areas

• Hospitals

• Schools & Colleges

• Job Counselling Agencies 

• Private Clinics

M.A. Counselling Psychology Job Types

• Clinical Psychologist

• Teacher & Lecturer

• Counsellor

• Clinical Psychologist

• Clinical Counselling Head

• Consultant Clinical Psychologist

What do counselling majors do? 

Counseling psychologists work with their clients to discover the underlying causes of issues and make life changes that will help them live more enjoyable lives. These professionals usually help people struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. 

Some psychologists treat specific populations such as children or families. Counseling psychologists must be able to establish a trusting relationship with patients and often rely on previous research and statistical data to back up their recommendations and treatment plans.

The counselling psychology course covers several broad areas related to working with people. It is made up of research and applied fields, including career development; prevention; not-for-profit; mental health; addiction; exceptional individuals; and more. 

There are also an array of elective modules within the course that cover topics like substance abuse (drugs/alcohol); genetic disorders (like Down’s syndrome, autism spectrum disorder); ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) which is nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD); sexual dysfunction; adolescents with HIV/AIDS; compromised renal functioning/renal disease following treatment for childhood neoplasms (neoplasia); etc. 

How is it beneficial to students? 

Students of the counseling psychology master’s program develop a wide-range of skills from an understanding of human psychology to training in various therapeutic counseling theories and ethical issues. These strengths allow students to diagnose treatment goals, conduct therapeutic interventions for their patients, and encourage them to share aspects about their lives they might otherwise hold back.

Earning a master’s degree in counselling psychology is a fantastic approach to enter into the industry and start making a difference in people’s lives. However, if you want to develop in your profession or go into research or education, you’ll almost certainly need to get a doctorate, such as a PhD in Counseling Psychology.

Advance Courses in M.A. Counselling Psychology

• M.Phil. (Counselling Psychology) 

• Ph.D. (Counselling Psychology)

Further discussion on the jobs available for someone holding a Masters in counseling psychology degree

School Counselor

School counsellors assist students with career development, mental health difficulties, academic challenges, and social skills improvement in educational environments. A counselling psychologist has a thorough understanding of how the mind operates as well as the social sphere of a group of pupils and may provide guidance based on this knowledge.

Clinical Social Worker

A counselling psychologist can work with children, adolescents, and the elderly to provide mental health services and a more pleasant living environment. A counselling psychologist may also deal with victims of abuse or trauma in a social work setting, developing treatment programmes to increase their feeling of well-being.

Organizational Counselor

Counseling psychologists can assist in corporations or other professional settings to help employees achieve their highest levels of performance and efficiency.

Workers are most productive when they are emotionally and psychologically healthy, comfortable, and ready to give it their all. To achieve these goals, an organisational counsellor oversees interventions, tactics, and suggestions for workplace change.

Adult & Geriatric Counselor

A counselling psychologist has the empathy and compassion necessary to help the elderly, understand their requirements, and ensure their mental well-being. As an adult and geriatric counsellor, you may be responsible for giving older persons psychological and physical assessments, counselling, direct care, and solutions to problems that are interfering with their quality of life.

Group counselor or therapist

Counseling psychologists specialise in working with groups to help members improve as individuals and as members of a unit. Group counsellors conduct gatherings where people with similar backgrounds or who are dealing with similar challenges can share their stories in a safe and supportive environment. Group therapy is an established instrument in mental health, and as a counsellor in this field, you may assist a great number of individuals in improving their lives.

Sports Psychologist

Athletes benefit from the stability and support of counselling psychologists, who assist them in becoming their best selves and achieving their goals on and off the field. A sports psychologist works with athletes to help them overcome mental barriers and restrictions in order to improve their performance in sports and in everyday life.

Health Psychologist

 As a health psychologist, you may be responsible for assisting people with chronic illnesses, preventing further sickness, and guiding patients through recovery in a way that maximises their functional skills. This position necessitates a thorough understanding of how biological, psychological, and social variables influence illness in the communities with which you deal.

Degree Requirements

Both the institution and the concentration of a master’s degree in psychology vary. The amount of credits necessary might range from 30-90, equating to 2-4 years of full-time study. Most programmes include fieldwork as well as a concluding experience or project, both of which are often included in the credit count of the programme.

Students in the M.A. Counseling Psychology Program learn to:

• Be proficient in theoretical orientations that offer perspective and provide meaning to systemic patterns and human behavior.

• Demonstrate process and clinical skills.

• Identify underlying psychological and systemic dynamics of human interaction.

• Determine and implement effective interventions and evidence-based treatment plans while demonstrating knowledge of Family Systems theories.

• Apply understanding to case conceptualization assessment and treatment in clinical practice.

• Enhance client functioning and well-being via multi-culturally sensitive referrals and collaborative treatment team consultations.

• Individual, systemic, community, political, and physiological components of variety must be understood, and understanding and respect for diversity must be demonstrated.

• Assess, diagnose, and treat behavioural addictions, drug use, and dependent symptoms and characteristics.

• Know, understand, and apply evidence-based assessment techniques to client cases, as well as show understanding of community mental health and diversity issues.

• Demonstrate understanding and application of current legal and ethical standards and principles in academic work and supervised practicum as they pertain to marital and family therapy and professional clinical therapy.

• Identify and integrate systemic depth psychological viewpoints of human interaction, as well as show competency in marital and family therapy and professional clinical counselling.

• Demonstrate a growing ability to evaluate and communicate one’s own abilities.

The following are some of the disadvantages:

Some jobs will require a doctorate.

If you want to be done with school after your master’s and work as a psychologist, you need to think about your degree programme carefully. A psychologist’s work often necessitates state licensure as well as, in some situations, a doctorate.

Your state will determine if you need a doctorate or a master’s degree, and the terms of the programme will determine whether you may practise psychology after completing the master’s programme. Before obtaining a graduate degree in this subject, be sure you understand the requirements.

Minimal financial aid options.

Master’s degree programmes, unlike bachelor’s degree programmes, often feature fewer financial assistance choices, requiring students to take out more loans and receiving fewer grants. For some students, this type of degree may be prohibitively expensive.

That isn’t to say that the value of this degree isn’t important. You’ll merely need to speak with a financial aid counsellor to acquire a full understanding of the program’s cost and your options for funding it.

Nonprofit and lower paying careers make it harder to pay back loans.

Many of the employment in psychology are in the nonprofit or helping professions, which means you will likely earn a low salary. The problem is that a lower-paying psychology employment may not be adequate to minimise the length of your loan repayment period. That’s why it’s crucial to be aware that if your ambitions in psychology include public service or nonprofit work, you may find it difficult to finance your education with your future salary.

Unexpected lack of career growth.

If you want to work in experimental psychology or other fields where people with doctorates lead, you’ll need to be willing to work in lower-level positions like research assistant, which may be the best you can get without more education. Even if you aren’t pursuing a career as a psychologist, be aware that there may be unanticipated “ceilings” you reach if you aren’t prepared to acquire a doctorate in this subject.

Even successful careers can be emotionally taxing.

While many people find helping and caring jobs pleasant, they also carry the risk of emotional exhaustion and burnout. Remember that you’ll be assisting a lot of individuals at some of their most trying times, which might have a negative impact on your own mental health.

This is more of an occupational danger than a negative of majoring in psychology, but you should not pursue this type of degree unless you are confident that you can handle the emotional labour that comes with it.

Conclusion 

Earning a master’s degree in counselling psychology is a great route to follow if you want to do research or get involved with counselling services in some way. However, many people who earn a postgraduate qualification in this area go for further study and learn how to treat clients effectively – which can be very rewarding work, but it does require the extra qualification of being able to conduct therapy.

The Counselling Psychology course helps students learn about a host of factors surrounding human personalities, illness, mental health and the environment. The central factor in this course is helping people to improve themselves or develop themselves as much as possible for their benefit and the benefit of those around them.