Mental Health Counselor / Psychologist

POSITION OBJECTIVES The mental health counselors help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with their family and relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions, to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives. Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with abuse; family, parenting, and marital / couple problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND TASKS  Core Responsibilities & Duties 1.                  Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression 2.                  Encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences. 3.                  Help clients process their reactions and adjust to changes in their life, such as divorce and layoffs 4. Guide clients through the process of making decisions about their future 5.                  Help clients develop strategies and skills to change their behavior and to cope with difficult situations 6. Coordinate treatment with other professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers 7. Refer clients to other resources or services in the community, such as support groups or inpatient treatment facilities as our partners.   JOB SPECIFICATION (MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS) Compassion. Counselors and therapists often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be compassionate and empathize with their clients. Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different types of people is essential for counselors and therapists, who spend most of their time working directly with clients and other professionals and must be able to encourage good relationships.   Listening skills. Good listening skills are essential for mental health counselors, whom need to give their full attention to their clients to understand their problems and values. Organizational skills. Good organizational skills are especially important for counselors and therapists in private practice, which must keep track of referrals when needed. Speaking skills. Mental health counselors need to be able to communicate with clients effectively. They must express ideas and information in a way that clients can understand easily.