Over the last couple of decades, there has been a real shift in the societal understanding of mental illness and mental health. We have come a long way to de-stigmatizing many common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and more helpful information for those struggling with these conditions can be found than ever before.

For those who want to assist others with their mental health, a career in this industry can be very attractive, and careers in mental health are just as varied as the wide range of illnesses that can plague the mind. Professionals in this field benefit from certain traits, so if you’re pursuing a clinical mental health counseling program, what can you do to prepare for your career as best you can?

Education

You’re probably already studying for a college degree or higher education, but this had to be the first point in the list as it’s certainly the first stepping stone. The brain is an infinitely complex organism. The squishy mass of flesh is essentially the central processor of our bodies. It controls everything, from our thoughts to our dreams, feelings, bodies, personalities – everything. The study of the brain and what happens to it when it’s functioning properly or not is intensive, and your education in this field will only give you as much benefit as you put into it. When you’re studying psychology, or counseling, or whatever mode of mental health career you’re dedicating your time to, make sure that you’re getting the most out of it, and that it’s the branch of mental health science you want to study.

Decision-Making Skills

If you’re working towards a career in mental health, you don’t want to be one of these therapists who ignores boundaries, imposes beliefs, or engages in any other form of unprofessional conduct. It’s your job to deliver the support and expertise that your client needs. This means that you need to practice your active listening skills, ensure that you’re absorbing everything about your client, making useful notes, and then using your unique expertise to attempt to guide your client down the appropriate therapeutic path. You should not be telling your client what to do or attempting to “change” them, but rather you need to understand their mental state so that you can make the right choices in how to proceed with their treatment. Especially when considering ethics and the law.

Appropriate Relationship Building

As a professional dealing with people and their intimate problems, you’re going to have to learn how to establish appropriate relationships and professional boundaries. A huge part of the help gained in therapy comes not from the therapy itself, but from the unique bond that you and your patients will share. When patients find a therapist they mesh well with, they will usually deal exclusively with that therapist. You need to learn how to be personable and supportive, without getting too personally involved. You will likely have a range of clients, you cannot sacrifice other people’s service to engage more with one particular patient.

Critical Thinking Skills

As with any scientific pursuit, critical thinking is essential. The ability to put aside one’s biases and examine the facts, as well as their contextual relevance is essential to delivering good therapy. You won’t be much help to your client if you link every single thought they express back to one moment in their life. You need to be able to approach your clients as a study and do your best to understand all aspects of who they are and how they have arrived where they are today. Critical thinking skills are what will help you understand the full context of the information your clients are giving you, make the links between events, traumas, and behaviors, and help you provide the right guidance on your client’s mental health journey.

Communication

Have you ever seen the common joke featured in movies where a therapist sits on a chair remaining silent until the patient just talks their way around to their breakthrough? This is terrible therapy. Therapists aren’t just there to absorb, they’re there to offer their unique perspective too. Oftentimes we can’t see a problem from inside it, and a therapist’s role is to be the person that helps us delve into or confront the parts of ourselves we don’t really want to delve into or confront. To do this, you have to communicate with your client, but you need to do so in a way that won’t offend them or trigger their mental illness. Therefore, studying communication styles and how to parley with them would be an effective boon to your practice.

The Importance of Therapists

Mental Health professionals are sorely needed. As life seems to pile more and more pressure onto everyone, it seems that more and more people every day are struggling to manage their minds. Therapists and all mental health professionals are not only essential, but they’re important. They take on an extremely difficult job and although there is boundless satisfaction to be found in the care of other people, it can be stressful and exhausting. Developing the skills in this article will help you not only be a better therapist but also help you take better care of yourself as you move through your career.