What Do Mental Health Professionals Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for mental health professionals?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what mental health professionals 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.
Mental Health Professionals Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about mental health professionals by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Mental Health Professionals this occupation includes the 2018 SOC occupations 21-1011 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors and 21-1014 Mental Health Counselors.
Popular Job Titles For Mental Health Professionals
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Mental Health Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Counselors
- Substance Abuse Counselors
- Licensed Mental Health Therapists
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors
- Behavioral Health Counselors
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers
- Addictions Counselors
- Behavioral Health Clinicians
- Substance Use Disorder Counselors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for mental health professionals can be found.
Best Industries for Mental Health Professionals
Mental Health Professionals Jobs By Industry
- Outpatient Care Centers: 20.9%
- Individual and Family Services: 17.3%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 15.5%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 10.6%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.3%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.7%
- Other: 24.7%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of mental health professionals can be found working in the Outpatient Care Centers sector. In 2023, about 20.9% of all jobs for mental health professionals were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Individual and Family Services (17.3%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (15.5%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (10.6%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.3%) and Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.7%).
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What Do Mental Health Professionals Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what mental health professionals 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 mental health professionals 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 mental health professionals tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for mental health professionals, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Mental Health Professionals
Based on 125,831 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Mental Health Professionals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 63,993 | 51% |
| Treatment Planning | 47,128 | 37% |
| Psychology | 39,808 | 32% |
| Social Work | 39,098 | 31% |
| Behavioral Health | 30,682 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Mental Health Professionals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 30,560 | 24% |
| Management | 15,849 | 13% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 14,905 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 11,718 | 9% |
| Planning | 11,614 | 9% |
Based on 125,831 job postings related to mental health professionals, mental health was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 51% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for treatment planning, psychology, social work, behavioral health and substance abuse were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for mental health professionals, followed by management, ethical standards and conduct, coordinating, planning and leadership.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 63,993 | 51% |
| Treatment Planning | 47,128 | 37% |
| Psychology | 39,808 | 32% |
| Social Work | 39,098 | 31% |
| Behavioral Health | 30,682 | 24% |
| Substance Abuse | 27,569 | 22% |
| Case Management | 23,305 | 19% |
| Crisis Intervention | 20,945 | 17% |
| Family Therapy | 18,876 | 15% |
| Psychotherapy | 15,810 | 13% |
| Telehealth | 14,987 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 13,995 | 11% |
| Mental Health Counseling | 12,135 | 10% |
| Human Services | 11,449 | 9% |
| Billing | 10,715 | 9% |
| Group Therapy | 10,698 | 9% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 10,274 | 8% |
| Discharge Planning | 9,749 | 8% |
| Medical Records | 9,044 | 7% |
| Trauma Care | 8,550 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 30,560 | 24% |
| Management | 15,849 | 13% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 14,905 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 11,718 | 9% |
| Planning | 11,614 | 9% |
| Leadership | 9,625 | 8% |
| Writing | 9,566 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 8,674 | 7% |
| Advocacy | 8,666 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 8,474 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 7,825 | 6% |
| Multilingualism | 7,603 | 6% |
| Customer Service | 7,302 | 6% |
| Scheduling | 6,448 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 6,151 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 6,035 | 5% |
| Time Management | 5,692 | 5% |
| Good Driving Record | 5,556 | 4% |
| Compassion | 5,283 | 4% |
| Microsoft Office | 5,169 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Mental Health Professionals
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapists | 70,957 | 24.7% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 28,873 | 10% |
| Counselors | 17,769 | 6.2% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 20,823 | 7.2% |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapists | 32,463 | 11.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was mental health therapists, with 11,167 unique job postings. Mental health counselors were second, with 5,808 postings, followed by counselors, substance abuse counselors and licensed mental health therapists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to mental health professionals.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapists | 70,957 | 24.7% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 28,873 | 10% |
| Counselors | 17,769 | 6.2% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 20,823 | 7.2% |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapists | 32,463 | 11.3% |
| Licensed Mental Health Counselors | 17,391 | 6.1% |
| Behavioral Health Counselors | 11,178 | 3.9% |
| Licensed Professional Counselors | 15,949 | 5.6% |
| Licensed Clinical Social Workers | 12,222 | 4.3% |
| Addictions Counselors | 7,360 | 2.6% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 4,003 | 1.4% |
| Substance Use Disorder Counselors | 7,375 | 2.6% |
| Substance Use Counselors | 4,756 | 1.7% |
| Telehealth Therapists | 4,840 | 1.7% |
| Outpatient Mental Health Therapists | 9,592 | 3.3% |
| Mental Health Clinicians | 3,408 | 1.2% |
| Mental Health Associates | 4,498 | 1.6% |
| Licensed Mental Health Professionals | 2,869 | 1% |
| Behavioral Health Consultants | 4,005 | 1.4% |
| Licensed Counselors | 6,990 | 2.4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for mental health professionals? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for mental health professionals.
How much do mental health professionals make?
Mental Health Professionals: How do you become one?
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