Are you interested in human behaviour? Do you want to help people work through emotional difficulties? If so, a career in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health might be perfect for you.
The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing in Australia, and there are many opportunities to work in the mental health and counselling fields.
There are many online professional development courses in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health that will give you the confidence to change careers or add these skills to your current qualifications.
What’s the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Counsellor?
Psychologists and counsellors are often confused. They are both professionals who help people come to terms with and overcome emotional difficulties and problems to work towards solutions, but they are separate professions.
Counsellors
Counsellors generally help people manage conflicts, relationships and life events that are affecting their personal or professional life. Clients may be assisted in processing grief after losing a loved one, divorce or the loss of a job. Counsellors can also help clients understand patterns of behaviour, thoughts and feelings that can cause problems in daily life.
Psychologists
Psychologists have a scientific background and study human behaviour. Counselling psychologists use psychotherapy as a long-term treatment of mental illness and undertake a comprehensive psychological history of their clients.
Careers in Psychology, Counselling & Mental Health
There are many careers in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health and several specialisations within each of these core professions.
- Youth Worker
- Mental Health Worker
- Psychologist
- Clinical psychologist
- Behavioural Scientist
- Organisational Psychologist
- School Counsellor
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
- Career and Guidance Counsellor
- Family and Relationship Counsellor
- Life or Career Coach
What Qualities Do Psychology, Counselling, and Mental Health Professionals Need?
If you’re considering a career in Psychology, Counselling or Mental Health, consider if your personality and soft skills are a match for this type of work.
- High-Level Communication Skills
To be successful in the Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health professions, you’ll need excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to question and listen effectively and understand and respond to body language and other non-verbal cues are essential skills required in these professions.
- Rapport Building
Clients need to feel secure to disclose sensitive and confidential information about themselves, so the ability to quickly build rapport with clients in a Psychology, Counselling or Mental Health career is paramount to success.
- Empathy
The fields of Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health are primarily based on helping people, which requires empathy. Empathy differs from sympathy in that is understanding and being sensitive to a client’s situation without feeling pity. Empathy is essential in these professions to help clients find solutions to overcome personal or professional challenges.
- Acceptance
It’s important to be able to put your feelings aside and have a non-judgemental attitude in a Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health role to ensure clients feel relaxed and can express themselves.
Where Do Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health Professionals Work?
Psychologists, counsellors and mental health professionals can work in a variety of settings, depending on their area of expertise.
- Mediation Firms
- Private Practice
- Consulting Firms
- Youth Welfare Services
- Community Service Organisations
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Mental Health Clinics
Professional Development in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health
If you’re interested in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health, many professional development courses help you understand the skills and knowledge required in this exciting field.
Australian Online Courses offers many professional development courses in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health via a state-of-the-art eLearning platform. The self-paced, flexible learning environment means you can study when and where you want without disruption to work or family life.
So, what are you waiting for? If you’ve been considering a career in Psychology, Counselling or Mental Health, or simply want to add to your existing qualifications, discover the many professional development courses on offer in Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health today.
