Career Field Interview: Mental Health Counseling Career Goals

Introduction

Field interviews are an exceptional way to gain insight into the demands and rigors of a profession. Employers gain valuable information not contained on a prospective employee's resume through a professional interview. Similarly, by interviewing professionals in their field of interest, students gain wisdom not contained in textbooks or career planning seminars.

Furthermore, careers such as counseling involve a high degree of subjectivity and emotionality relative to other professions. Therefore, interviewing can offer the counseling student unique personal perspectives that would otherwise be unavailable. Through an interview with a successful professional in the counseling field, a student can acquire requisite insight and self-awareness and make more informed decisions about career goals and educational planning.

Purpose and Research Hypotheses

The student-interviewer, and author of this report, works as a Bachelor-level clinical counselor on the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team. The interviewer selected Mental Health Counselor III Jackee Richburg as an interview subject. Having worked with Richburg in a professional capacity, the interviewer was able to pose relevant questions pertaining to the rigors and demands of a supervisory position. Moreover, Richburg's position closely resembles the career aspirations of the student-interviewer.

The main intention of the field interview was to gain deep insight into the counseling profession. Through investigating the pros and cons, the setbacks and rewards of a doctoral-level clinical counseling career, the interviewer expected to retain his professional goals and ambitions, albeit with more realism and less idealism.

The student's research hypotheses throughout the field interview included three points. First, supervisory-level counseling positions involve a relatively high degree of stress, disappointment, and dissatisfaction that some prospective counselors might not be prepared to handle. Second, because the student has already worked in a clinical counseling setting with the interview subject, he is already somewhat prepared to meet the unique challenges of a position such as Richburg's. Third, in spite of fully realizing the extent of the position's demands, the student-interviewer remains firmly committed to continuing work in a similar environment, preferably in a supervisory role.

Interview Findings

The field interview consisted of questions in fifteen core areas of concern. Questions related to occupational and organizational interests yielded information about what draws an individual to pursuing a counseling career. The interviewer noted that the core motive driving interest in counseling is a desire to help others, especially those with disabilities. Making a difference in people's lives remains a central objective of the professional counselor.

The interviewer inquired about educational prerequisites as well as the typical progression of counseling jobs from entry-level to supervisory positions. Richburg warned that there is little room for advancement for clinical counselors working at the Bachelor level. A Master's degree is required for entry-level Mental Health Counselor positions and for eventual professional advancement into supervisory roles. Licensure is recommended but not required for supervisory positions.

The core of the interview addressed issues related to the day-to-day functions of the professional counselor. Richburg described the specific demands of PACT clients, who are not treated in traditional, standard clinic formats. Counselors like Richburg work alongside psychiatrists and registered nurses to best serve the needs of their mental health clients. PACT professionals actively work with their clients in the community and are often required to visit clients' homes.

Conclusion

As expected, the student-interviewer remained firmly committed to his goals to pursue at least a Master's-level education and eventually work in a supervisory counseling position. Based on the results of the field interview with Mental Health Counselor III Jackee Richburg, the student has in fact enhanced his interest in the counseling field. Knowing that financial reward is not the primary motivation of counselors underscores the need to be committed to helping others and serving the community.