If you’re thinking of pursuing a master’s degree in counseling, odds are you have a desire to help people change their lives for the better. But did you know you can leverage your professional skills and knowledge in many different ways?
There is a wide array of professional career paths that can stem from a counseling master’s degree, whether it’s done in the private or public sector, in one-on-one counseling sessions or in groups, or in a general and/or specialized area or practice.
To help you better understand the many career options that are available — both traditional and alternative careers for counselors — here are 10 professional roles that are commonly filled by individuals with master’s degrees in counseling or similar fields of study.
Make sure to research the educational, fieldwork, and licensure requirements for each pathway within your state, as it can vary depending on your location.
10 Counseling-Related Career Paths to Consider
1. Dean of Students
A Dean of Students is a high-ranking college or university administrator responsible for student life, welfare, and advocacy outside the classroom. They manage campus climate, student conduct, and support services, including housing, counseling and physical health services, and crisis management. They bridge the gap between students and administration.
2. Academic Advisor
An academic advisor is a college or university staff member who guides students through their educational journey, assisting with course selection, degree planning, career exploration, and academic policies. They ensure students meet graduation requirements, connect them with campus resources, and provide support for academic or personal challenges to improve retention.
3. School-Based Counselor
School-based counselors are licensed mental health professionals who work within schools to support student emotional, social, and academic success. They provide individual/group therapy, crisis intervention, and behavioral support, collaborating with teachers and parents to address issues like anxiety, trauma, and bullying, often on-site.
They differ from school counselors in that they are usually employed through an agency that has a contract with the schools in which licensed counselors are placed. Scope of work also differs, in that school-based counselors do not have educational and administrative functions..
4. Teach Psychology or Human Services at a CC
Community college faculty are often hired at the master’s level. As such, master’s level counselors may be employed to teach psychology and human services courses on a full- or part-time basis.
5. Practicing LCMHC – University Counseling
University counselors support college students through mental health services, academic advising, and career guidance, addressing challenges like stress, homesickness, and academic pressures. They facilitate personal growth, help with class selection, and offer coping strategies for anxiety or depression. These professionals work in campus counseling centers, offering individual, group, or, in some cases, remote services to support student well-being.
6. Practicing LCMHC – Specialist in Addiction
Substance abuse counselors and behavioral disorder counselors, also called addiction counselors, work with clients individually and in group sessions. They may work in agency or residential settings, and teach clients how to cope with stress and life’s problems in ways that help them recover.
7. Practicing LCMHC – Specialist in Trauma
A trauma counselor is a licensed mental health professional trained to help individuals process and heal from deeply distressing, harmful, or life-threatening experiences. They provide a safe, empathetic, and, evidence-based environment to treat the psychological, emotional, and physical effects of trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Examples of therapeutic approaches they may employ to support individuals include:
- Coherence therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Rapid Resolution Therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
8. Practicing LCMHC – Specialist in Neurodiversity
A neurodiversity-affirming counselor is a licensed mental health professional who supports individuals with differences in learning, attention, and development, including Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They use strengths-based, client-centered approaches to promote well-being.
These counselors may help with executive functioning, emotional regulation, and social communication, while supporting clients in school, work, and relationships. They often collaborate with families, educators, and healthcare providers in settings such as private practice, schools, or clinics.
9. Practicing LCMHC – Specialist in Integrated Care (Applied Health Psychology)
An integrated care counselor works alongside physicians, nurses, and specialists to provide holistic, team-based treatment for mental, behavioral, and physical health. They offer immediate, collaborative interventions for mental health issues, substance use, and chronic conditions to improve patient outcomes and reduce care costs. Common settings include:
- Embedded in a medical office
- A co-located, integrated practice
- Hospital setting
- Community Health Agencies
10. Practicing LCMHC – Specialist Disordered Eating
Counselors specializing in disordered eating work in a variety of settings, including universities, residential programs, hospitals, and private practices. A non-exhaustive list of related competencies can be found below:
- Binging
- Purging
- Restriction
- Food Sensitivities
- Nutrition
- Dietitians w/CEDS training
- Bio-Implications of Eating Disorders
Ultimately, these are the specialists ideal to collaborate with dietitians and provide education to folks across the lifespan (with emphasis on preventive health) and to treat those with disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa, binge eating, and avoidant and restrictive food intake.
Becoming a Doctoral-Level Counselor (i.e., Counselor Educator or Counseling/Clinical Psychology)
If you are interested in working as a university-level professor, university counseling center director, senior clinical supervisor, or industry researcher, a doctoral degree in counseling may be necessary to realize those ambitions.
With a curriculum focused on research, supervision, teaching, and advanced clinical practice, CACREP-accredited doctoral degrees prepare master’s-level counselors on the path to become counselor education faculty at universities.
An APA-accredited doctoral degree in counseling/clinical psychology would prepare you for the path to becoming a licensed psychologist and performing the academic and clinical work available to this license type (e.g., neuropsychological assessment and diagnosis). There is considerable overlap in the courses for these degrees.
Pursue a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling
Depending on your desired career path, you may be interested in enrolling in West Coast University’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, which can be completed in as little as 29 months. Explore the program and speak to a member of the WCU team to find out if this program is the right fit for you!
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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