What Do Behavioral Health Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for behavioral health specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what behavioral health specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Behavioral Health Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about behavioral health specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Behavioral Health Specialists assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
Popular Job Titles For Behavioral Health Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Behavioral Health Specialists
- Psychotherapists
- Licensed Psychologists
- Outpatient Therapists
- Licensed Clinical Psychologists
- Behavioral Specialists
- Health Psychologists
- Chief Psychologists
- Pediatric Psychologists
- Telehealth Therapists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for behavioral health specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Behavioral Health Specialists
Behavioral Health Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 40.3%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 9.6%
- Offices of Physicians: 8.7%
- Individual and Family Services: 7.5%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 5.8%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 5%
- Other: 23.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of behavioral health specialists can be found working in the Offices of Other Health Practitioners sector. In 2022, about 40.3% of all jobs for behavioral health specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Outpatient Care Centers (9.6%), Offices of Physicians (8.7%), Individual and Family Services (7.5%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (5.8%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (5%).
What Do Behavioral Health Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what behavioral health specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work behavioral health specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that behavioral health specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for behavioral health specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Behavioral Health Specialists
Based on 47,365 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavioral Health Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 29,443 | 62% |
| Mental Health | 15,700 | 33% |
| Behavioral Health | 13,990 | 30% |
| Clinical Psychology | 13,402 | 28% |
| Psychotherapy | 13,088 | 28% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavioral Health Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 9,691 | 20% |
| Management | 7,080 | 15% |
| Leadership | 6,505 | 14% |
| Research | 5,703 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,418 | 9% |
Based on 47,365 job postings related to behavioral health specialists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mental health, behavioral health, clinical psychology, psychotherapy and treatment planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavioral health specialists, followed by management, leadership, research, planning and scheduling.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 29,443 | 62% |
| Mental Health | 15,700 | 33% |
| Behavioral Health | 13,990 | 30% |
| Clinical Psychology | 13,402 | 28% |
| Psychotherapy | 13,088 | 28% |
| Treatment Planning | 11,868 | 25% |
| Social Work | 8,310 | 18% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 7,448 | 16% |
| Psychiatry | 7,251 | 15% |
| Telehealth | 6,617 | 14% |
| Family Therapy | 5,873 | 12% |
| Crisis Intervention | 5,489 | 12% |
| Case Management | 4,550 | 10% |
| Mental Diseases | 4,433 | 9% |
| Billing | 4,228 | 9% |
| Group Therapy | 3,903 | 8% |
| Substance Abuse | 3,560 | 8% |
| Clinical Supervision | 3,422 | 7% |
| Marketing | 3,334 | 7% |
| Medical Records | 3,328 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 9,691 | 20% |
| Management | 7,080 | 15% |
| Leadership | 6,505 | 14% |
| Research | 5,703 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,418 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 4,003 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,863 | 8% |
| English Language | 3,667 | 8% |
| Writing | 3,660 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 3,142 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 2,970 | 6% |
| Teaching | 2,867 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,479 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 2,428 | 5% |
| Customer Service | 2,346 | 5% |
| Time Management | 2,236 | 5% |
| Self-Discipline | 2,137 | 5% |
| Advocacy | 2,068 | 4% |
| Report Writing | 1,968 | 4% |
| Presentations | 1,963 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Behavioral Health Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 22,498 | 19.9% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 20,195 | 17.9% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 13,988 | 12.4% |
| Psychotherapists | 11,593 | 10.3% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 11,577 | 10.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was psychologists, with 7,024 unique job postings. Clinical psychologists were second, with 4,448 postings, followed by behavioral health specialists, psychotherapists and licensed psychologists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to behavioral health specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 22,498 | 19.9% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 20,195 | 17.9% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 13,988 | 12.4% |
| Psychotherapists | 11,593 | 10.3% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 11,577 | 10.2% |
| Outpatient Therapists | 7,333 | 6.5% |
| Licensed Clinical Psychologists | 5,809 | 5.1% |
| Behavioral Specialists | 2,896 | 2.6% |
| Health Psychologists | 2,724 | 2.4% |
| Chief Psychologists | 1,402 | 1.2% |
| Pediatric Psychologists | 1,634 | 1.4% |
| Telehealth Therapists | 952 | 0.8% |
| Outpatient Psychotherapists | 2,548 | 2.3% |
| Behavior Specialists | 990 | 0.9% |
| Child Psychologists | 1,119 | 1% |
| Line Therapists | 1,060 | 0.9% |
| Counseling Psychologists | 797 | 0.7% |
| Behavioral Support Specialists | 789 | 0.7% |
| Behavioral Health Registered Nurses | 1,436 | 1.3% |
| Licensed Outpatient Therapists | 1,746 | 1.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for behavioral health specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for behavioral health specialists.
How much do behavioral health specialists make?
Behavioral Health Specialists: How do you become one?
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