Can i be a counselor without a degree

A counselor is a professional who holds counseling sessions with clients to help them talk-through their life situations.

They listen to what their clients have to say, offer advice and instruct them on coping strategies or other methods to use to improve their quality of life. They may also refer clients to medical professionals when they know client needs additional help or guidance. Counselors have a variety of job responsibilities to ensure they provide effective services to their clients.

Here are some specific examples of their job responsibilities:. Some counseling careers require degrees at the bachelor, master or doctorate levels. However, there is a way to work as a counselor without a degree. Review this list of steps to determine what education and professional experiences you need to become a counselor without going to college:.

There are a few key areas that allow you to work as a counselor without obtaining a college degree. The most common options include:. There are a variety of colleges, universities and professional institutions that offer certifications online for counselors without degrees. These certifications can range from a few days to a year in length. Another great resource to find certification programs is on your state government's department of health website.

After reviewing a few certification program options, determine which one aligns with your schedule, finances and professional goals. This can help you narrow your selection and finalize your decision. As you complete a certification program, consider working in an entry-level role that requires a high school level education. This may include working as an office assistant or receptionist for a mental health clinic, or working as a home health aide for the elderly or disabled.

By gaining one or more professional experiences that relate to your career goals, you can enhance your qualifications for future employment. For the average client, though, each of these professionals provides much the same service. As professions, however, they can vary widely in requirements and opportunities. Psychologists, also called psychotherapists, typically hold a doctoral degree. These professionals serve people facing serious mental or emotional challenges, and they often work in tandem with psychiatrists.

In some states, psychologists may prescribe medications after completing additional training. A counseling degree often takes years, while a doctorate in psychology typically takes years. Becoming a counselor can fast-track a career in mental health. The path to becoming a licensed therapist or counselor starts with earning a degree in counseling, psychology, or human services.

Some students may want to accelerate their career paths. Interested students should carefully consider their career ambitions. Some accelerated counseling degrees lead to licensure, but many do not. Featured Online Programs Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

Coursework includes research methods in psychology, personality and social processes, and scientific reasoning in psychology. Many institutions offer flexible online formats that allow learners to continue working while earning a degree. At the graduate level, learners typically enroll in concentrations or specializations to align their degrees with their personal interests and career goals. Common specializations include school counseling, marriage and family therapy, plus addictions counseling.

Coursework includes theories of counseling and psychotherapy, ethics and legal issues in counseling, and assessment of counseling. Some schools offer online counseling degrees with accelerated tracks that enable enrollees to take more credits during each semester to graduate sooner. Your state board for marriage and family therapy will have valuable information about requirements for becoming licensed to work in your state as a marriage and family therapist.

Some states require social workers to be completed in preparation for effective family therapy work. Others focus primarily on specific niches, including substance abuse. If you want to be able to work with a wide range of people, you may want to gather information on how you can be a mental health counselor. Under the umbrella of mental health counseling, you may decide to specialize in any number of fields, or to practice generally. Some counselors specialize in the modality of therapy they use, treating specific problems like trauma or substance abuse, or work in certain settings like inpatient services, or online therapy.

If you want to know how you can be a counselor without a college degree, you may want to look into addiction counseling. Some states allow people with a high school diploma and a combination of field experience or certification to become licensed to work as a counselor with alcohol and drug abuse.

The earning potential in this field is typically less than that of counseling professions that require more education, and in treatment settings, there are disorders that your clients may present with that are co-occurring with substance abuse that you will not be qualified to treat. Nevertheless, human services and social work fields involving substance abuse can be extremely rewarding workplaces.

Clinical psychologists frequently specialize in hard-to-treat disorders or diagnostic evaluations and testing. Some clinical psychologists conduct research and make innovations in the field. Doctoral-level psychologists also serve an integral role as educators. Psychology, counseling, and research think forensic psychology and behavioral psychology are all viable pathways for individuals who have a degree in clinical psychology.

Perhaps you want to work with clients one-on-one, but you are not sure that counseling is right for you. A health and fitness coach or a personal trainer works with clients specifically on weight loss or athletic goals. If you are interested in helping people achieve optimal physical health, this job may be for you.

Similarly, a nutritionist works one-on-one with clients to ensure that they are eating properly so that they can achieve their personal health goals.

Finally, if you are interested in helping children and adults who are in tough situations, you may want to become a social worker.

Social work, though difficult, is enormously rewarding and fulfilling, and many states are in short supply of social work employees, which leaves individuals who are marginalized, living in poverty, or otherwise in need of assistance without the help they need.

There is an increasingly large amount of research pointing to online counseling as an effective method of helping others with mental health issues. In a broad-based study published in the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, researchers examined the effectiveness of online therapy when treating varied mental health conditions. The review included over 90 studies—with almost 10, total participants—on everything from panic disorder to weight loss to smoking cessation. Researchers concluded that the efficacy of counseling via online platforms was supported by the evidence.

Licensed online counselors know a how-to guide on the path to better mental health. Skip to content Home Essay Can you be a counselor without a degree? Ben Davis May 8, Can you be a counselor without a degree? How long does it take to be a qualified Counsellor? Can you be a Counsellor with a Level 4 diploma? What is the best college for counseling? Why are therapists paid so little?