If you feel a strong desire to help others, becoming a mental health counselor could be the right choice for you. Mental health counselors are licensed professionals who specialize in treating a variety of mental health disorders, and they can make a huge difference in the lives of those they treat. Here are some of the ways in which mental health counselors can change the lives of others.

Offer Diagnoses

The number of adults with mental health issues in the U.S. Is growing, and this means that more people than ever are struggling with an undiagnosed disorder. Suffering from a mental illness without knowing it can make people feel even worse, as they may believe that their unhappiness is because of something wrong with them since they have no diagnosis. The level of counselor degree can vary for mental health counsellors, but whether you have a PhD or only an MA, you’ll still be qualified to help diagnose patients.

Help Patients Heal

Mental health counselors may not be licensed to prescribe medication, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t offer their patients treatment and help them work towards feeling better. Many people suffering from mental illnesses are more in need of someone to talk to than medication, and talking through their problems with the knowledge of a licensed practitioner can make counselors a crucial resource.

Growing Demand

Because the number of diagnosed mental health illnesses is rising, there is an increasing need for counselors, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. This is particularly true in heavily rural areas such as the Midwest and the Northwest, where patients struggle with lack of access tohealthcare professionals even though most of these states allow nurse practitioners full practice. Whether you have prior experience in medicine or psychology or not, if you want to help people, the need for treatment means that becoming a counselor is a great choice of career.

For these reasons and many more, going into the field of mental health counseling can change the lives of countless people. Counselors fill the need for increasing treatment, and once you acquire a counseling degree, you’ll be licensed to treat patients with mental illnesses of any kind. If you’re ready to start helping others, and especially if you have knowledge of the fields of medicine, psychiatry or psychology, considering becoming a licensed mental health counselor to start changing lives.