Psychologist/Mental Psychologist/Mental Health CounselorHealth Counselor

Lori BalcomLori Balcom

GHECGHEC

ASL 2ASL 2

What do What do Psychologist/Mental Health Psychologist/Mental Health

Counselors do?Counselors do? Mental health Mental health

counselors use counselors use their knowledge their knowledge and skills to and skills to assess and assess and diagnose diagnose behavior behavior problems, problems, psychological psychological problems, and problems, and social problems.social problems.

A mental health A mental health counselor help counselor help people prevent or people prevent or reenacting reenacting problems or problems or conflicts. These conflicts. These problems vary problems vary depending on the depending on the area you are area you are specializing in.specializing in.

Education RequiredEducation Required

Graduation from high school. Graduation from high school. Completion of a four-year college Completion of a four-year college

program in human services, nursing, program in human services, nursing, psychology, education, or social work.psychology, education, or social work.

A 60-credit master's degree in mental A 60-credit master's degree in mental health counseling, community health counseling, community counseling, or psychology is the counseling, or psychology is the minimal entry level. minimal entry level.

What type of duties are What type of duties are preformed?preformed?

Mental Health Mental Health Counselors are Counselors are trained to do a trained to do a variety of therapeutic variety of therapeutic techniques to techniques to address wide ranges address wide ranges of issues. These of issues. These issues vary issues vary depending on the depending on the person being person being counseled. counseled.

What is the expected What is the expected annual income?annual income?

In 1998, the median annual salary In 1998, the median annual salary for mental health counselors was for mental health counselors was $38,650. $38,650.

At a bachelor level starting salaries At a bachelor level starting salaries are between 25 to 30 K range.are between 25 to 30 K range.

Graduates with a license can expect Graduates with a license can expect between 35 to 40 K.between 35 to 40 K.

Sign LanguageSign Language Sign language plays a major role in this Sign language plays a major role in this

career if you are training to work with career if you are training to work with deaf clients.deaf clients.

For most non-signers, it is important to For most non-signers, it is important to get into the deaf community to develop get into the deaf community to develop some natural connections to improve some natural connections to improve sign language skills following the sign language skills following the completion of 4-6 courses in ASL.completion of 4-6 courses in ASL.

Several therapists take a 2 year Several therapists take a 2 year interpreter training course and become interpreter training course and become fluent in the language. fluent in the language.

Interview with Thomas Interview with Thomas FatticciFatticci Where did you attend college? I Where did you attend college? I

started my undergrad work at started my undergrad work at Bemidji State U in Psyche and then Bemidji State U in Psyche and then later added an additional major in later added an additional major in social work, thinking that both social work, thinking that both would give me a more rounded would give me a more rounded education. education.

What are some classes that you What are some classes that you needed or that helped for this job? needed or that helped for this job? Completion of 4-6 courses in ASL. Completion of 4-6 courses in ASL. Several therapists I know took the Several therapists I know took the 2 year interpreter training course 2 year interpreter training course and are fluent in the language. and are fluent in the language. Sign language is a must and one Sign language is a must and one will not be able to work effectively will not be able to work effectively in thein the field without its mastery. field without its mastery.

What is the work setting in which What is the work setting in which you work like? The work you work like? The work environment has been varied for environment has been varied for me. It has included inpatient me. It has included inpatient hospital settings, clinic settings, hospital settings, clinic settings, community outreach and drop in community outreach and drop in centerscenters and residential treatment and residential treatment facilities in the community run by facilities in the community run by privateprivate vendors. vendors.

What is something you have What is something you have learned throughout your career? learned throughout your career? The one thing I have learned is that The one thing I have learned is that it has been essential to my career it has been essential to my career success that I always maintained a success that I always maintained a servant mentality to my clients. servant mentality to my clients. Meaning that the service to them Meaning that the service to them and their well being comes before and their well being comes before anything else. If you fail in that anything else. If you fail in that department, a person doesn't department, a person doesn't belong in the field. belong in the field.

What is the major concern facing What is the major concern facing your career? The major concern I your career? The major concern I am facing is the fear that all the am facing is the fear that all the work that has gone into my work work that has gone into my work will fade away in an instant as the will fade away in an instant as the state changes the way it does state changes the way it does business and does not replace the business and does not replace the services in the private sector. This services in the private sector. This will effect a lot of deaf people. I am will effect a lot of deaf people. I am also feeling anxious because I am also feeling anxious because I am not ready to retire and there may not ready to retire and there may not be another similar situation to not be another similar situation to slide into that pays as well. That is slide into that pays as well. That is terrifying at times. I am not alone terrifying at times. I am not alone as many of the State hospital as many of the State hospital employees are in the same boat employees are in the same boat