OK, so now that you have decided on counseling as a career. Now what? How will you find internships? What should you look for in a good internship? What should you expect as a salary?
What to look for in an internship site
A good internship, or practicum site, will allow you the opportunity to do counseling. Lots of it. With as many different types of clients as possible. A good site will also allow you to have access to a qualified supervisor, both for regular supervision and any ad-hoc questions you may have. Because most internships and practicum opportunities are with agencies, and agencies are notoriously understaffed, beware of sites that won’t be able to meet your needs. Remember that you are there to do counseling, not paperwork or other tasks that their regular staff finds undesirable. In the past, I have been asked to clean floors and change air conditioner filters. I’m not joking. You should not simply accept that these are parts of your job. When interviewing for a position, ask the hard questions:
- How many clients will I be seeing per week?
- Will I be able to have one hour per week with my supervisor?
- What is the typical day like for a counselor intern?
- Are there previous interns I can speak to?
Remember, nobody is going to be as invested in your professional development as you are. Be your own advocate! Your success depends on it.
What can I expect as a salary?
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the average salary, nationally, across all sub-types for a mental health counselor is $41,360. Because this is a national average, it will vary according to region of the country, so it would be beneficial for you to research the particular location you are interested in. These averages also vary a bit by speciality, for example Marriage and Family Therapists earn a little bit more with a national average of $47,530.
You may make more as a private practitioner. Depending on how many clients you see per week, it is possible to earn significantly more. Here is an example:
20 clients per week x $100 per client = $2000 gross income per week
$2000 x 52 = $104,000 gross income.
Figure 30% for employer taxes, and you have $72,800.
Next, figure another $10,000 yearly for rent (I estimated at $600/month)
and other expenses (about another $3000) and you end up with approximately $62,000.
Not bad, huh? Of course, this are rough numbers, but they give you an idea.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barbara LoFrisco
Also check:
• https://mastersincounseling.org/education/unhappy-with-your-current-job-heres-what-your-employer-doesn%E2%80%99t-want-you-to-know-about-online-classes-part-ii/
• https://mastersincounseling.org/education/insider-tips-on-applying-to-schools/
• https://mastersincounseling.org/mental-health-2/what%E2%80%99s-it-really-like-to-be-a-counselor-a-morning-in-the-life-of-an-agency-counselor/
