Mental Health Counselor

Mental Health Counselor Resume Samples, Tips, and Templates

Mental balance and well being are some of the most important traits of happy and productive people. Serious issues like depression, anxiety or other emotional issues can be treated with the help of a mental health counselor; a psychology specialist who focuses on adults’ or couples’ therapy. These professionals help patients overcome addictions, mental troubles or even daily stress caused by some high pressure jobs.

A mental health counselor relies on cognitive therapy, discussions, group support and sometimes even medication to help his or her clients overcome fears, difficult moments like the death of a relative or a painful divorce, or just cope with stress. The position requires in depth studies of psychology and sometimes psychiatry. Good candidates usually hold a master’s degree in a relevant field.

When applying and interviewing for a mental health counselor job, don’t forget to mention your previous successes, qualification courses and any authored articles or books to introduce yourself as a true specialist.

Tips for Mental Health Counselor Resumes

Human psychology

A good mental health specialist is able to evaluate the patients’ behavioral issues and connect them to the underlying causes by therapy and discussion. Most problems are just adult stages of childhood abuse, neglect and arise from repressed feelings. The counselor’s role is to help the patients understand their feelings, the roots of the problems and guide them towards acceptance and relief. The most important aspect of this work is to be empathetic enough to create a bond and a trust relationship and detached enough to remain professional. You job is to treat the patient, not become their friend; you need to retain your authority.

Using communication as a tool

Most psychological issues arise from the fact that people feel they are lonely, not important and not listened to. The mental health counselor needs to fill this void that a lot of patients feel by active listening, asking the right questions and guiding the patient towards their “Aha” moment, when they understand the driving forces behind their condition. The job of a mental counselor becomes more difficult in times of crisis, when they need to use subtle manipulation to make the patient more stable in order to work with them. Highlight in the resume any experience in negotiating with suicidal patients or handling tantrums.

Drug prescribing

When therapy fails to give results there is the alternative of prescription drugs. Since their action is on the nervous system, great care needs to be taken and usually save this alternative as a last resort. When taking this decision the prescription should be preceded by rigorous lab tests to detect any other somatic diseases that could interfere with the treatment. Collaboration with physicians and other medical staff is recommended, as the patient should be closely monitored to prevent heart or kidney failure.

Mental Health Counselors Resume Samples

The following resume samples and templates for mental health counselors can help you get a better idea of what your resume can look like.

 

Mental health counselors are encouraged to show their therapeutic knowledge, methods and results in helping adults overcome dark feelings.

Additional Mental Health Counselors Resume Tips

• Individual, couple and group therapy –Mental health counselors are encouraged to identify in the resumes the methods they feel most comfortable using and which they claim have better results. Give examples of previous workshops or therapy results.
• Generating paperwork – The mental health counselor is responsible for keeping detailed recordings of the patient’s progress for own reference and as a basis in the case of patient transfer. These records are confidential and restricted to medical use and research, but having quality information helps identify patterns and helps the patient by implementing treatment schemes.

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