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
- Counselors
- Mental Health Counselors
- Substance Abuse Counselors
- Mental Health Therapists
- Mental Health Professionals
- Mental Health Clinicians
- Behavioral Health Counselors
- Mental Health Specialists
- Telehealth Counselors/Therapists
- Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Addictions 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: 21.4%
- Individual and Family Services: 17.3%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 14%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 10.8%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.1%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4%
- Other: 26.4%
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 2022, about 21.4% 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 (14%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (10.8%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.1%) and Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Mental Health Professionals
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
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 145,263 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Mental Health Professionals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 65,656 | 45% |
| Social Work | 48,342 | 33% |
| Treatment Planning | 48,051 | 33% |
| Psychology | 47,447 | 33% |
| Case Management | 31,110 | 21% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Mental Health Professionals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 42,433 | 29% |
| Management | 20,682 | 14% |
| Planning | 18,167 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 15,993 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,711 | 11% |
Based on 145,263 job postings related to mental health professionals, mental health was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 45% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, treatment planning, psychology, case management and substance abuse were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for mental health professionals, followed by management, planning, coordinating, ethical standards and conduct and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 65,656 | 45% |
| Social Work | 48,342 | 33% |
| Treatment Planning | 48,051 | 33% |
| Psychology | 47,447 | 33% |
| Case Management | 31,110 | 21% |
| Substance Abuse | 28,964 | 20% |
| Crisis Intervention | 28,403 | 20% |
| Behavioral Health | 27,856 | 19% |
| Family Therapy | 18,472 | 13% |
| Human Services | 17,550 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 15,217 | 10% |
| Psychotherapy | 14,784 | 10% |
| Mental Diseases | 13,730 | 9% |
| Discharge Planning | 11,842 | 8% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 11,772 | 8% |
| Group Therapy | 11,732 | 8% |
| Trauma Care | 10,611 | 7% |
| Medical Records | 10,201 | 7% |
| Community Mental Health Services | 10,082 | 7% |
| Mental Health Counseling | 9,762 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 42,433 | 29% |
| Management | 20,682 | 14% |
| Planning | 18,167 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 15,993 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,711 | 11% |
| Writing | 14,946 | 10% |
| Leadership | 14,293 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 12,398 | 9% |
| Advocacy | 12,161 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 10,793 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 10,287 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,239 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 10,058 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 8,578 | 6% |
| Time Management | 8,172 | 6% |
| Scheduling | 8,095 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 7,910 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,625 | 5% |
| Microsoft Office | 7,574 | 5% |
| Good Driving Record | 7,300 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Mental Health Professionals
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Counselors | 27,549 | 11.8% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 24,422 | 10.5% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 24,232 | 10.4% |
| Mental Health Therapists | 34,464 | 14.8% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 13,467 | 5.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was counselors, with 10,151 unique job postings. Mental health counselors were second, with 7,069 postings, followed by substance abuse counselors, mental health therapists and mental health professionals.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to mental health professionals.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Counselors | 27,549 | 11.8% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 24,422 | 10.5% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 24,232 | 10.4% |
| Mental Health Therapists | 34,464 | 14.8% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 13,467 | 5.8% |
| Mental Health Clinicians | 16,019 | 6.9% |
| Behavioral Health Counselors | 11,567 | 5% |
| Mental Health Specialists | 10,346 | 4.4% |
| Telehealth Counselors/Therapists | 10,392 | 4.5% |
| Licensed Mental Health Professionals | 5,977 | 2.6% |
| Licensed Professional Counselors | 7,156 | 3.1% |
| Addictions Counselors | 5,706 | 2.4% |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapists | 11,360 | 4.9% |
| Behavioral Health Therapists | 5,076 | 2.2% |
| Behavioral Health Consultants | 3,817 | 1.6% |
| Licensed Mental Health Counselors | 5,390 | 2.3% |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | 2,737 | 1.2% |
| Licensed Counselors | 4,434 | 1.9% |
| Primary Therapists | 5,800 | 2.5% |
| Substance Use Disorder Counselors | 3,530 | 1.5% |
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?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.