If you’re considering counseling as a career, it’s important to understand the roles, expectations, and responsibilities of a counselor. According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), a counselor is someone who, “empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.”

Counseling is a collaborative effort between a client and a counselor, and counselors work with individuals to develop a professional relationship that helps them navigate and better manage a variety of issues. Different specialties exist in the field. Depending on where you work and who you are working with, you may use individual or group counseling to help clients address issues such as communication, coping skills, self-esteem, goal setting, behavior change, and behavior management. Counselors aim to work with clients until the problem at hand is resolved.

Only individuals who meet certain educational, training, and licensing requirements can provide counseling. Every state and the District of Columbia requires professional counselors to be licensed to practice legally. There are several levels of professional counselors, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. In general, becoming a licensed professional counselor requires a graduate degree, most often a master’s in counseling or a related field that meets state requirements, which takes a significant commitment of time and effort. Additionally, professional counselors must complete supervised clinical training after graduation and meet continuing education requirements upon beginning practice.

From working with individuals to groups and organizations, the scope of practice for a professional counselor is far-reaching. According to the Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 1 in 5 adult Americans experience mental illness each year. 

Professional counselors employ a variety of skills and techniques to help their clients overcome challenges and face difficult issues. They empower clients to implement positive mental and behavioral strategies to lead more fulfilling lives.

Counselors work with clients on a wide range of issues. They may include:

The issues mentioned above are not exhaustive, as counselors may help with many other situations.

Professional counselors rely on well-established treatment options, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and interpersonal therapy, to help individuals work through their problems. Though treatment plans vary depending on the individual and their personal situation, at the core of all counseling practice is the aim to help people lead more fulfilling lives.

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If you want to become a counselor, it’s important to understand the different types of counselors. Different types of counselors work with different clients, provide varying services, and address distinct issues.

Below are descriptions of a few common types of counseling:

Individual counseling. Individual counseling is a personalized approach that helps people work through difficulties in their personal lives. Individual counseling may address issues such as mental health, life adjustments, and substance abuse.

Couples counseling. Issues and disagreements between couples aren’t unusual—but when escalated, they may require the help of a professional counselor. Whether a couple is dealing with issues of closeness or more serious problems such as aggressive behavior, this type of counseling provides tools to resolve conflicts and rebuild relationships.

Group counseling. Group counseling may be a viable option for people experiencing issues that others are also dealing with. Knowing they are not alone can help clients reach important goals, feel held accountable, and develop management strategies. Common topics addressed in group therapy settings include substance abuse, anger management, working through trauma, and more.

Family counseling. Family counseling may be necessary for a variety of reasons, including the loss of a family member, changes in family dynamics, or family conflict. Sometimes family counseling is conducted with all family members present, while at other times it may be conducted with family members individually.

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Not only are there various types of counseling, but there are also different types of specialized counselors. The type of counseling you wish to provide may be an important factor in choosing your program.

Below are a few career options available to professional counselors:

The fields of counseling, psychology, and social work share similar goals but differ in their approaches and practices. Understanding both the similarities and differences may help you make the best decision for your career.

Counseling differs from psychology in that professionals in the two fields typically hold different degrees, complete different training, and use different strategies and approaches in their practice. Though both professions may assess and treat mental disorders, psychology generally takes a more narrow approach to mental disorders, while counselors implement a more holistic approach. Psychologists generally approach mental disorders from a clinical standpoint, while counselors often focus on talk therapy combined with evaluating various factors of a client’s life.

Learn more about mental health counseling and clinical psychology.

Counseling differs from social work in that professionals in the two fields typically obtain different education and training. Unlike counseling, some levels of social work only require a bachelor’s degree in social work, though social workers must obtain a master’s for certain jobs, like a clinical social worker. Both require state licenses, but the processes and requirements for obtaining them differ.

Social workers tend to focus on a broader range of issues than counselors, so while social workers may address mental health as part of their practice, social workers don’t focus as narrowly on the mental health of their clients, and instead may work with institutions and other health professionals.

Learn more about mental health counseling and social work.

If you’ve decided you want to pursue counseling as a career, it’s important to explore the options available to you. As mentioned above, becoming a professional counselor typically requires a master’s degree in counseling or a related field that meets state requirements. There are several ways to obtain this degree, and exploring different degree pathways may help you choose a program that suits your lifestyle and needs. Many traditional, on-campus programs offer a master’s in counseling, but there are also many programs that allow you to obtain an online counseling degree.

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of being a counselor may help you decide if a career in counseling is right for you. Conducting research, reading interviews with current counselors, or seeking advice from professionals in the field are all ways to get an idea of what it’s like to be a counselor.

Information last updated: March 2026