A counselor is a person who is skilled in the art of listening and in advising accordingly. There are many different types of counselors, ranging from employment counselors and school counselors to counselors who work with criminals or those who are having problems in their marriages.

Accordingly, counselors work from a wide variety of locations. Some of them are found in schools. Some work out of hospitals, while others see patients in office buildings. At times, counselors also travel to see clients.

When embarking upon a counseling career, it’s a good idea to think carefully about what one’s concentration might be. While opportunities in this broad field are expected to remain plentiful over the next few years, substance abuse counselors will most likely be in especially high demand.

Different specialties require different training and educational backgrounds. In order to become a licensed counselor, however, it is necessary to receive a master’s degree. Going on to get a doctorate will open up many more options for career advancement. Another way to enhance one’s opportunities is to receive certification from the National Board of Certified Counselors.

Because there are so many types of counseling jobs out there, there is a wide range when it comes to salary. For instance, youth counselors earn an average of $27,000 a year, while vocational rehabilitation counselors can expect to earn closer to $60,000.

In order to be a counselor, it is best that a person be both empathetic and knowledgeable. This is a position that requires the trust and respect of a patient, and those who want to become counselors should be aware that this does not always come easily. Sometimes the process can take weeks or even months.

Going into counseling is not for the faint of heart, given the emotional involvement that may ensue. It’s important to learn how to become detached enough so that the problems of one’s patients do not begin to have a detrimental effect on one’s personal life. Nonetheless, it’s a deep concern for others that so often drives people to pursue this field, and that is a trait that anyone interested in counseling should hang onto.

A person who is interested in earning a counselor degree can choose from a variety of specialties to work in. Some examples of specialties include marriage and family, mental health, educational, grief counseling, and substance abuse counseling. If a person wants to work with children there are counselors who help children as well as teenagers with various disorders and life challenges. Alternatively, a person who wants to counsel soldiers returning from the battlefield can go into that area of mental health. A counselor degree is the first step for a person who wants to be of assistance to someone with mental health needs. Read on to find some of the downsides as well as the positives of receiving a counselor degree.

Earning a counselor degree and becoming a counselor means that a person will work in a lot of emotional situations. A person may have to counsel someone who has a substance abuse problem or experienced abuse as a child. Dealing with these situations may weigh on a counselor's emotions causing distress in other parts of his or her life. A counselor must learn how to cope with his or her work in order to be effective. Also, there are many counselor positions that don't pay very much. A person should only strive for a counselor degree if he or she is genuinely interested in helping others.

An individual who earns a counselor degree and starts work has the opportunity to improve people's lives. Support, encouragement, and a listening ear are things that can help a patient to see his or her life in a new way. Another positive aspect of getting a counselor degree is seeing a person grow and learn through counseling sessions. A counselor is able to pass along knowledge and coping skills that can really assist a person in getting past a difficult situation in life. In addition, a counselor can help a patient to gain more perspective about a problem or challenge they are experiencing. In short, there are many positives to earning a counselor degree and pursuing that type of work.

Counselor is the correct spelling.

counsellor

a male counselor = yo'ets (יועץ)

a female counselor = yo'etset (יועצת)