Crafting the Future of Your Dreams
The outlook for mental health careers has exploded, largely thanks to the greater understanding of the need for mental health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the right focus, a highly satisfying career in a highly rewarding discipline could be yours.
The BLS has forecast huge growth in the need for mental health professionals, by 25% between 2019 and 2029 – that’s much faster than the national average growth rate of all jobs of 4%.
The median annual salary in mental health careers was $46,240 in 2019, with a high likelihood that this will rise as demand outstrips skills available.
In this article, you’ll discover what it takes to progress in mental health careers and accelerate your earning potential.
The Skills That Make You Stand Out in Mental Health Careers
A qualification in your field of expertise isn’t all that’s required to succeed in mental health jobs. You must hold the following soft skills to ensure you deliver exceptional service and stand out against other candidates.
Compassion
Having compassion for your clients, you’ll be able to cast judgement aside and genuinely understand a client’s thoughts or behaviors. Your compassion is probably the reason you decided to pursue a career in mental health.
Learning to speak about compassion is however, a different skill than showing compassion. To stand out, you’ll need to be able to intelligently speak about compassion with decision makers in the field.
The following are a few questions to think about before a job interview or school interview:
- How have I shown compassion to someone recently and what did I say or do?
- Why is compassion an important part of my perfect job?
- How can I make sure I’m putting compassion first in my work?
- What is one unique way I’ve shown compassion to someone recently?
Compassion will be your career guiding light. With compassion, patients or clients can confide in you, and you’ll be able to fully hear them and see them, without judgement or personal emotions interfering.
Lastly, it’s vitally important to learn compassion towards yourself. Working in the behavioral health field is mentally challenging and there will be times you don’t feel your best. You may question your career choice, debate a job change, or feel that you aren’t suited for this career.
This is the moment where self-compassion is key. By saying the following phrases, you can rewire your brain and attitude for a moment to reset:
- Today is not my day, and that’s okay.
- It’s okay to feel the way I’m feeling.
- I choose to believe in myself and believe in the difference I am making.
- I make a difference every day and I empower people to feel their best.
- I am built for times like this and will bring my best tomorrow.
Patience
Treating mental health is quite different to treating physical health. Each unique patient or client will have a different set of circumstances, a different way of coping, and a different process of healing.
No two days or clients will look the same and this will require patience. Is it any wonder that the word “patient” comes from the Latin word “patior,” meaning to suffer or bear. Many patients will bring to you their suffering and your patience during this process will be of monumental importance.
You will certainly need patience and the understanding that healing from the inside-out is a journey of many steps.
More than patience with your clients, you’ll need to be patient with yourself. Your journey will take many turns and bumps. That’s to be expected in the mental health field. No two environments are the same nor will comparisons to your peers be effective—they too are wondering what you are going through.
In fact, a 2012 study found that people are more patient with themselves are also more hopeful and satisfied with their lives. Patience is a discipline and it requires a steadfast commitment to being mindful in the moment. With time and practice, you’ll enjoy a calmness to your day, even through times of chaos.
Always remember, you are here because you want to make a difference, no matter how long it takes or how many miles you travel. Someone out there needs your patience to break through their struggle.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is essential in all mental health roles. As a critical thinker, you’ll be able to carefully analyze the information a patient gives you, which may or may not be coherent or clear.
With the power of critical thinking, you’ll be less likely to make assumptions and you’ll be more apt to interpret what a patient is saying and feeling–identifying the right treatment plans going forward.
Before you say, “I’m not great at critical thinking,” remember that the journey to critical thinking is subject and experience specific. Meaning, we can only analyze critically what we know. Your unique journey and commitment to your craft will give you terrific insight.
A leading expert in practice and outcomes, Dr. Anders Ericsson, once concluded that “many characteristics once believed to reflect innate talent are actually the result of intense practice extended for a minimum of 10 years”.
The more you practice and study, the better insight you’ll be able to give. You will also find yourself analyzing situations faster and faster, leading to quicker outcomes.
While all health-discipline fields require an element of critical thinking, mental health requires a unique style of critical thinking. Not only will you have to interpret what you are hearing, but you’ll need to consider what you may not be hearing as well.
Active Listening
Being able to listen effectively is a key ingredient for a successful mental health career, and plays a vital role in the successful outcome for your patients. Yes, listening is a skill and it takes time to master.
The human brain is made up of 13 billion cells, producing thoughts and analyzing our environments extremely quickly. On the other end, our ability to produce speech (average 125 words per minute) is much slower. This is the reason why listening is critical. Your brain can process what you are hearing and thinking simultaneously–processing hundreds of simultaneously. Yet as we speak, our ability to think and speak simultaneously is much more limited.
As you become more fluent in listening, you’ll become better at hearing what’s not being said – part of your critical thinking ability. Sometimes what isn’t being said is more important than what is being said.
Popular Mental Health Career Options
There are some incredible career opportunities that are in demand in the United States and will continue to excel in growth. Here are some of the most popular career options, and the average national salary they pay.
Clinical or Counseling Psychologist
What you’ll do: Diagnose and treat people with behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders. You’ll also provide support and treatment plans for those suffering crises, illnesses, or injuries.
Average annual salary: $76,990
Psychiatrist
What you’ll do: Specialize in assessing both mental and physical aspects of psychological problems, including substance use disorders.
Average annual salary: More than $208,000
Clinical Social Worker
What you’ll do: Diagnose patients’ mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, and then create treatment plans and provide treatment through group and individual therapy.
Average annual salary: $63,140
Marriage and Family Therapist
What you’ll do: Helping families, couples, and individuals understand and overcome their mental illnesses and disorders within the relationship, and help them learn how to manage behaviors and emotions through therapy.
Average annual salary: $50,090
This is just a small selection of the many highly rewarding mental health careers you could enjoy and deliver positive mental health outcomes. Other roles include:
- Mental Health Counselor ($44,630)
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner ($107,030)
- Psychiatric Registered Nurse ($71,730)
How to Further Your Career in Mental Health
There are ways you can ensure you maximize your capabilities and earning potential, such as:
Improving Your Skills and Experience
You can do this through taking extra courses for professional development, which are widely available online and within learning establishments.
You should also consider temporary or per diem positions that will help you further your knowledge and experience and strengthen your resume.
Ensuring You Are Licensed Correctly
The more licenses you obtain, the wider your reach for the best-paying and most rewarding positions in mental healthcare.
Telehealth is on the rise. Get the right licenses and you could apply far and wide from your residential area and enjoy an extremely healthy work/life balance.
Registering with a Specialist Agency
Doing so will grant you incredible opportunities to fast-track your career. Submit your resume, licenses, and qualifications to a specialist staffing agency, and they’ll:
- Provide support and guidance throughout the hiring process (including interview support)
- Submit your application to multiple vacancies
- Help you land the best vacancies available
- Provide you access to incredible opportunities in temporary and per diem roles
Take the Next Step on Your Mental Health Career Path
As a mental health professional, there is a high demand for your experience and skills. With the soft skills we’ve mentioned, there’s a whole host of career options ahead of you that are highly rewarding both personally and professionally.
It’s time to take the next steps. Submit your resume to LoyalSource today, and unlock incredible opportunities in mental health careers.