Reasons for Becoming a Counselor

commentary by Olja Šipka | July 26, 2012

Related Topics: psychology, American Psychological Association, counselor, therapy, personality, behaviors

If human behavior intrigues you, psychology will definitely fine-tune your interest. Have you ever considered pursuing a career that will put you in the prime role of making an emotional difference in people’s lives? Perhaps you were always the kind of friend or family member who loved to really listen to people, and make them feel better about any situation. A degree in psychology can put you on the right track to make this possible professional goal a reality. It may even make you extremely financially steady. Based on qualifications and the different parameters of sub-group involved, a successful counselor can make “more than $50,000” according to a professional online source for look-up on virtually any subject, E-how.

Would you not like a higher purpose in your life, in this type of exciting possibility? If you’re stuck at a dead-end job where you do not feel appreciated or where your talents are not being put to use, try and give the study of the human mind a try. It will open yours to some of the reasons why people know how, and why human behaviors differ. A resourceful site called Wet Feet asks: “do you constantly wonder why people do the things they do?”

The substance abuse epidemic is sweeping the nation, and people of all backgrounds as well. If you are not convinced or aware, just turn that dial on your television and you will see some sort of Reality TV program on the topic of intervention. Psychological disturbances in people not only affect the person suffering from the self-harm, it greatly affects nearly all members of their family, in connection to solely being associated to them, to some extent.

Divorce rates across the country are alarming. “The marriage breakup rate in America for first marriage is 41% to 50%; the rate after second marriage is from 60% to 67% and the rate in America for 3rd marriage are from 73% to 74%”, a website on divorce statistics reports. An adult’s life depends on the quality of their childhood it seems, and it is all tied to development. The field of psychology needs your help in making our nation a more stabilized place to live for everyone else.

People can change and that is where professionals, such as counselors, come in to speed up the process. There are many routes to choose from after your degree completion. It all depends on resources and classifications.

“When I made the career change to counseling in 2001/2002 I simply wanted to pursue a profession that suited my personality. I had been in counseling myself, found it to be extremely helpful (and life changing), so I decided to pursue counseling as a new career,” a then newly switched professional, named John Pruett Jr., shared of his experience with the change. “Take care of yourself first, then you can take care of others,” he also proclaimed.

Since the study of the thought process is all in the head, it has a lot to do with people’s personalities, and they sure can be unique on occasion. Here are some unique facts to consider, according to Kendra Cherry, who wrote 10 Fascinating Facts About Personality:

• You may not realize this too often but it really matters if you have an older or younger sibling because birth order plays a large role

• “Personality traits are linked to certain illnesses” (yikes!)

• People can actually accurately judge your personality based on your Facebook profile

What do you think about all this just mentioned? These are only few of the fascinating things to consider. The American Psychological Association defines the focus of the word therapy as the following, among other concepts: “the focus is generally on changing ineffective thoughts, emotions or behaviors. Most therapy focuses on individuals, although psychotherapists also work with couples, families and groups.”

Still not convinced of the wonders that being a counselor can do in other people’s lives? Just take a look at how Art Therapy Speeds Recovery.

So remember, if you feel like you are stuck in your daily life and this might seem interesting, give psychology a chance to open up to you. We may not always live in a perfect world, but we can make it a better place by making a difference in people’s lives. As Mr. Pruitt said, if you make yourself happy, you can make others happy too. To search programs, click here :360 Education Online.

Olja Šipka is a writer and content editor for 360 Education Solutions