Counselor Working Conditions

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists held about 168.200 jobs in 2014. This included 134,500 positions held by mental health counselors and 33,700 jobs held by marriage and family therapists.

Working conditions for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists inherently involve assisting clients cope with varying degrees of emotional and mental health problems. Dealing with such issues day in and day out can, from time-to-time, make for stressful working conditions for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.

Physical working conditions for counselors span a variety of institutional settings. Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists commonly work at mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, offices of mental health practitioners, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, colleges and governmental entities. Some may also work in private practice and in employee assistance programs (EAPs), which are mental health programs that some employers provide to help employees deal with personal problems.

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists generally work full time. Because counseling sessions are scheduled to accommodate clients who may have job or family responsibilities, some counselors and therapists work evenings and weekends.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition