There are many career options to choose from if you earn a degree in counseling. For some careers there are special degrees and certificates to earn, other careers are subspecialties.

Working with a high school senior to help her get into the best college is different from counseling a 60-year-old alcoholic. Your education can help you prepare for the specific details surrounding those clients, but what specialty should you choose?

Here are a few questions to help you decide what kind of counselor you may want to become.

Where do you prefer to work?

Who do you want to counsel?

Which statement best describes your personality?

Do you like to work with children?

With whom do you want to work?

You are responsible for solving a difficult situation. What do you do first?

Counselor Quiz
Marriage & Family Counselors - Average Salary $46,119

Male family counselor talks to couple with two kids.

Despite what you see on Facebook, many families and marriages aren’t perfect. Nearly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, and when there are children involved, the consequences of divorce extend past the couple. Marriage counseling can help save some couples from divorce or help them decide that splitting up is best for everyone involved. During sessions, the counselor acts as an unbiased third party to open lines of communication between family members and help them resolve issues. Marriage and family counselors may work at a social service or community health center or they may be in private practice. If you’re interested in working with couples and families, at UWA Online, you can earn your M.S. in Family Counseling.
Substance Abuse Counselors - Average Salary $37,874

Substance abuse counseling can help people overcome and conquer dependencies on addictive substances, such as alcohol and drugs. Substance abuse doesn’t just affect the person who is suffering from the addiction, but also the people around them. Most of the time, afflicted individuals seek the help of substance abuse counselors when they are ready. Other times, they may be forced to see counselors, either by loved ones or the criminal justice system. Some substance abuse counselors work in hospital or rehabilitation centers. Others work in private practice, at detention centers and with social and human services facilities. At UWA online, you can earn your M.S. in clinical mental health counseling.
School Counselors - Average Salary $48,817

Smiling female students talks to female school counselor.

A school counselor wears many hats and the role the counselor plays depends on the school and the education level of the students. No matter what, students are their priority. Counselors also work with all stakeholders in a student’s education—his or her family, teachers and administrators. Teachers may enlist a counselor’s help to address behavioral issues in the classroom. Additionally, counselors may teach life-skills classes, help students make decisions about college or vocation, and work with students with different learning styles. If you want to make a difference in children’s lives and want to help them form their futures, a school counseling career might be exactly what you’re looking for. At UWA Online, you have your choice of several degrees that would help you land a job as a school counselor. You can earn your Ed.S or your M.Ed in school counseling or your M.S. in guidance and counseling.

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Counseling Careers Guide

UWA’s Guide to Counseling Careers is a free resource that can help you navigate this in-demand field. Take a closer look at some of the most popular counseling careers.

Access the Guide

Becoming a Counselor

View all of the outcomes and learn which UWA degree can get you there in the sections below.

Marriage & Family Counselors – Average Salary $46,119

Despite what you see on Facebook, many families and marriages aren’t perfect. Some say that 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, and when there are children involved, the consequences of divorce extend past the couple. Marriage counseling can help save some couples from divorce or help them decide that splitting up is best for everyone involved. During sessions, the counselor acts as an unbiased third party to open lines of communication between family members and help them resolve issues. Marriage and family counselors may work at a social service or community health center or they may be in private practice. If you’re interested in working with couples and families, at UWA Online, you can earn your M.S. in Family Counseling.

Substance Abuse Counselors – Average Salary $37,874

Substance abuse counseling can help people overcome and conquer dependencies on addictive substances, such as alcohol and drugs. Substance abuse doesn’t just affect the person who is suffering from the addiction, but also the people around them. Most of the time, afflicted individuals seek the help of substance abuse counselors when they are ready. Other times, they may be forced to see counselors, either by loved ones or the criminal justice system. Some substance abuse counselors work in hospital or rehabilitation centers. Others work in private practice, at detention centers and with social and human services facilities. At UWA online, you can earn your M.S. in clinical mental health counseling.

Mental Health Counselors – Average Salary $40,098

Older generations who are less familiar with the benefits of seeking help for mental illness or stressors sometimes jokingly refer to a mental health counselor as “a friend who you pay.” And there’s some truth to that. The most popular type of therapy is talk therapy. But trained mental health counselors use a variety of supports and strategy to help their clients, whether they have a diagnosed mental illness or they are suffering from frustration and are struggling with family, job or social issues. Mental disorders are sometimes considered to be the most common disability in the United States. At UWA online, you can earn your M.S. in clinical mental health counseling.

School Counselors – Average Salary $48,817

A school counselor wears many hats and the role the counselor plays depends on the school and the education level of the students. No matter what, students are their priority. Counselors also work with all stakeholders in a student’s education—his or her family, teachers and administrators. Teachers may enlist a counselor’s help to address behavioral issues in the classroom. Additionally, counselors may teach life-skills classes, help students make decisions about college or vocation, and work with students with different learning styles.

If you want to make a difference in children’s lives and want to help them form their futures, a school counseling career might be exactly what you’re looking for. At UWA Online, you have your choice of several degrees that would help you land a job as a school counselor. You can earn your Ed.S or your M.Ed in School Counseling or your M.S. in Guidance and Counseling.

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