Introduction

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups
to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
People have many different reasons for deciding they want to become a counselor. Some people
choose this career because they once had a good experience with a counselor during a difficult
time in their own life and they want to pay it forward. Another person may have done some
volunteer work at a crisis hotline and realized that they enjoyed both the challenges and joys of
working with clients facing difficult times. Yet another person may have been told that they are a
good listener and they ought to consider working as a mental health professional.
Reasons for choosing counseling as a career are explained below;
Making a difference in someones life
The ability to help someone become empowered to change their life is both satisfying and
rewarding for a counselor. To be given the privilege of being involved in and helping someone
get out of an abusive situation, overcome a life crippling mental health illness such as depression
or to become free of addiction is such a valuable and worthwhile occupation.

It is a career in a health profession that is growing

The opportunities to work as a counselor are endless as counselors can be self employed in
private practice; employed in many areas of health services such as in medical centers,
counseling centers and welfare organizations working as drug and alcohol counselors, gambling
and financial help, crisis help lines, domestic violence support, marriage and relationship
counseling therapists, teaching parenting skill training; in hospitals as social workers for
bereavement, pastoral care and trauma counselors, post natal depression help; and schools,
colleges and universities as school counselors for kids struggling with learning difficulties,
bullying and friendship issues,mental health issues such as depression/anxiety/deliberate self
harm/suicidality, family pressure & expectations, stress in coping with separation & divorce.

Training
Trainee counselors learn much about themselves and also learn valuable life skills such as
interpersonal and communication skills. Placing oneself in the vulnerable but useful position of
role playing different scenarios a trainee counselor learns the valuable lesson of what it is like to
be walking in the shoes of clients in the same situations.
The opportunity to make a difference to society as a whole
Helping an individual to resolve personal, psychological or social issues will most likely impact
on family and friends and in turn will benefit many people that the individual is involved with.
For example a gambling counselor may help a gambling addict break his obsession to gamble,
saving countless dollars being sucked into the black hole of debt, fear and poverty that is often
associated with compulsive gambling.
A desire to help people work through lifes challenges
Individuals that choose to seek a career in counseling usually have one thing in common a
desire to help people work through lifes challenges. Some individuals want to work primarily
with children or teens. Others prefer to work with adults. Some want to work in specific settings,
such as K-12 schools or college campuses. Others prefer to work in a community setting such as
a mental health center or private practice setting.
Strong desire to interact with people
Counseling can offer the right individual a rewarding career path in a health profession that is
growing. It requires a strong desire to interact with people, exceptional communication skills,
and an ability to complete a graduate degree. Choosing to become a professional counselor is a
commitment to yourself, to others, and to society as a whole.
A Sense of Meaning
Counselors are people who often want to experience a feeling of purpose and fulfillment in their
careers. Some people simply feel that they were "called" to the field. They may have a desire to
be a part of something larger than themselves. Many people decide to become counselors during
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the second parts of their lives, because they are searching for a sense of meaning that, perhaps,
their previous careers were unable to offer, says counseling professor David Hutchinson in his
book, "The Essential Counselor." By connecting to others and helping them through the tough
times, you might find the intrinsic sense of reward and meaning that you've been seeking.
Interested in Psychology
Another reason some people decide to become counselors is because they are curious and
fascinated by the field of psychology. During their graduate studies, aspiring counselors learn
about different counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and interventions, as well as problemsolving techniques and behavioral modification methods. Counselors are usually people who are
already fascinated by these concepts and ideas before they begin their studies. They have an
innate interest in intrapsychic or internal and interpersonal dynamics, and want to understand
what makes people tick and what motivates their behavior and actions.
Personal Reasons
At some point in their lives, many people in the helping professions have had a positive
experience with a counselor or therapist. This is often a strong motivating reason that people
choose to enter the counseling field. They want to offer to others the same support and assistance
that their counselor once offered to them. There's no shame in admitting this during an interview,
but you don't need to and probably shouldn't get into the specific reasons that brought you to
counseling in the first place. It's sufficient to say that you were inspired by a beneficial personal
experience with a counselor.
Gain educational and occupational information:
Identify and become familiar with various educational and career related resources (i.e. internet,
printed materials). Gather, summarize, and process information about occupations as they relate
to nature of work, working conditions, job market, world and US job trends, employment
outlook, earnings and salary, educational/academic training, and related occupations. Gather,
summarize, and process information about academic options and college requirements. Generate
career options and alternative plans as needed. Learn about decision-making and career planning
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Learn decision-making styles and strategies applied to career decision-making. Clarify and set
realistic and achievable goals. Develop and implement an action plan related to a career path. A
career counselor can assist you to develop coping skills to manage anxiety, deal with rejections,
disappointments, grieving issues, lacking of confidence, stress, and/or depression associated with
career choices, among others.
Conclusion
But choosing to become a counselor is just one of the choices that prospective students must
make. Student will need to consider all of the different specializations in counseling with their
varying work environments.

References:
Auxier, C., Hughes, F. & Kline W. (2003). Identity Development in Counselors in
Training. Counselor Education & Supervision, 43.25-38.
Brott, P.E., & Meyers J.E. (1 999). Development of professional school counselor identity: A
grounded theory. Professional School Counseling, 2(5). 339-349. Retrieved September 9th ,2015
from Ebsco Host database

Swanson, J.L.; Parcover, J.A. (1998). Annual Review: Practise and research in career
counseling and development 1997. The Career Development Quarterly, 47, 2, 98-135