8 answers
isabella
Student
Wesley Chapel, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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Can I have a job in the mental health field without a degree?
I'm going to be a freshman in college this coming fall to pursue a Clinical/counseling degree, I would like to know if there are any job opportunities that I can apply for in the mental health field without any college degree, but at least a course requirement if it's needed since I want to start to know better this field in any way as possible. Also if it's recommended any other job that will help me to gain experience for my career.
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8 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
617
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Isabella,
Yes, there are several ways to get involved in the mental health field before you even start your college classes. Here are some options:
Entry-level jobs:
Psychiatric Aide/Technician: These roles involve providing direct care to patients in hospitals, clinics, or residential facilities. They often require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. This is a great way to gain firsthand experience interacting with people with mental health conditions.
Community Support Worker: These positions involve assisting individuals with mental health challenges in the community. They might help with daily living activities, transportation, or connecting with resources. These roles typically require a high school diploma and some training specific to the organization.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Crisis Hotline: Volunteering at a crisis hotline allows you to provide emotional support and resources to people in distress. Training is usually provided, and it's a great way to develop active listening and de-escalation skills.
Support Groups: Many organizations offer support groups for people with mental health conditions or their families. Volunteering as a facilitator's assistant allows you to observe how support groups function and the positive impact they can provide.
Mental Health Advocacy Organizations: Volunteering with organizations that advocate for mental health awareness and policy changes allows you to learn about different mental health issues and how to be a voice for mental well-being.
Additional Tips:
Consider Certifications: While not always required, some certifications like Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field, especially if you have lived experience with mental health challenges.
Look for Internship opportunities: Many colleges offer internship programs for mental health professions starting in the sophomore or junior year. You can start researching these opportunities now to be prepared when the time comes.
Shadow a professional: Reach out to mental health professionals in your area and see if you can shadow them for a day. This can give you a realistic picture of their daily work life.
While directly working with mental health patients is ideal, any job that involves strong interpersonal and communication skills will be valuable for your future career. Here are some ideas:
Tutor/Mentor: Working with young people can help you develop patience, empathy, and communication skills.
Customer Service Representative: This can help you hone your active listening and de-escalation skills when dealing with difficult situations.
Residential Counselor: Working in a group home or residential setting can give you experience supporting individuals with various needs.
Remember, the most important thing is to gain experience and build your passion for the mental health field. These experiences will not only prepare you academically, but also give you valuable insights into the daily realities of the profession.
Best wishes!
Yes, there are several ways to get involved in the mental health field before you even start your college classes. Here are some options:
Entry-level jobs:
Psychiatric Aide/Technician: These roles involve providing direct care to patients in hospitals, clinics, or residential facilities. They often require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. This is a great way to gain firsthand experience interacting with people with mental health conditions.
Community Support Worker: These positions involve assisting individuals with mental health challenges in the community. They might help with daily living activities, transportation, or connecting with resources. These roles typically require a high school diploma and some training specific to the organization.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Crisis Hotline: Volunteering at a crisis hotline allows you to provide emotional support and resources to people in distress. Training is usually provided, and it's a great way to develop active listening and de-escalation skills.
Support Groups: Many organizations offer support groups for people with mental health conditions or their families. Volunteering as a facilitator's assistant allows you to observe how support groups function and the positive impact they can provide.
Mental Health Advocacy Organizations: Volunteering with organizations that advocate for mental health awareness and policy changes allows you to learn about different mental health issues and how to be a voice for mental well-being.
Additional Tips:
Consider Certifications: While not always required, some certifications like Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field, especially if you have lived experience with mental health challenges.
Look for Internship opportunities: Many colleges offer internship programs for mental health professions starting in the sophomore or junior year. You can start researching these opportunities now to be prepared when the time comes.
Shadow a professional: Reach out to mental health professionals in your area and see if you can shadow them for a day. This can give you a realistic picture of their daily work life.
While directly working with mental health patients is ideal, any job that involves strong interpersonal and communication skills will be valuable for your future career. Here are some ideas:
Tutor/Mentor: Working with young people can help you develop patience, empathy, and communication skills.
Customer Service Representative: This can help you hone your active listening and de-escalation skills when dealing with difficult situations.
Residential Counselor: Working in a group home or residential setting can give you experience supporting individuals with various needs.
Remember, the most important thing is to gain experience and build your passion for the mental health field. These experiences will not only prepare you academically, but also give you valuable insights into the daily realities of the profession.
Best wishes!
Cecilia Lipschultz
1
Answer
Munster, Indiana
Updated
Cecilia’s Answer
Hello there! How about considering some exciting roles like a mental health technician, peer support specialist, or a behavioral health assistant? You could also gain some great experience by volunteering at crisis hotlines or community mental health centers. Plus, there are internships or part-time roles out there that might only need a few relevant courses. Sounds interesting, right?
David Padilla
ABA
15
Answers
Santa Ana, California
Updated
David’s Answer
It depends on the employer. Usually the mental/medical field requires at least a Bachelor's degree.
However, it is highly recommended to get a degree because as the saying goes "preparation meets opportunities."
However, it is highly recommended to get a degree because as the saying goes "preparation meets opportunities."
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1914
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Isabella !
You have chosen to study and aim for a wonderful career ! There are some jobs that you can do but they won't be actually providing clinical therapy to patients. I have some advice that could bring you among other mental health professionals but not actually doing therapy.
My first suggestion, which would be the most ideal for you, is that when you apply for financial aid, check the Work Study option. When you get the results of the application and have been awarded Work Study, go to your college Psychology Department and tell them you are there for a Work Study job. This way you will get to work in psychology in some capacity and won't have to commute to an off campus job which will make things run very smoothly for you as a student.
You may be able to obtain a non-clinical position with a social service agency, but most of them are full time although some are part time. One that comes to my mind is to work for Big Brothers Big Sisters (not as a Big Sister) in the office. You may be able to get a position doing intake, interviewing clients and volunteers, etc.
Seek part time employment at social service and community service organizations in your area. Some of the positions that you may possibly obtain without a college degree would be as a case manager, case worker, client coordinator, intake, administrative assistant (who usually has a lot of client contact in social services places).
Why not try for a job at your area's Public Assistance office ? There may be some part time positions there. Depending on how you do on the job interview, you never know what part time position you could obtain. Again, keep it part time because school is going to keep you very busy.
Many of the social service jobs provide extensive on site and off site training in subjects connected to mental health. You will be trained for any position you obtain, so it's not that worrisome about not having experience yet. It is a field of work that is "no experience" friendly. It all depends on circumstances, though as some agencies do require experience.
Again, you would not be doing clinical therapy with clients, but you would possibly be doing situational counseling, benefits assistance, advocacy, and many other duties that will teach you about working with clients and how non-profits or clinical offices work. I would not advise working in a hospital while going to college full time because it may conflict with your schedule.
Another option would be to visit the student services center at your college to ask if they have student peer counselors for students and that you'd like to be a peer counselor for the students. This could work into a work study job if available or you could consider volunteering to gain the experience. Talk to the Psychology Department Dean about this and see if they can add Peer Counselor as a work study job. Sometimes students want or need someone their age to talk things over with. Someone who is impartial, also a student, who can understand situations that they may be going through. You can start finding out about this now and I would recommend doing it in person for one one one direct feedback. Do not rely on hearing back from an e-mail or phone call.
So, Isabella, it most certainly is possible to obtain a job (I emphasize part time while in college) working with clients without a college degree. Since you will be a college student, that will be in your favor. The social service field is very friendly to a variety or types of workers. Brush up on your interviewing skills and create a resume and start applying now for part time work, but give Work Study the first priority because you can stay on campus and work around your class schedule.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN WESLEY CHAPEL TO APPLY FOR PART TIME WORK https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=nonprofit&find_loc=Wesley+Chapel,+FL
You have chosen to study and aim for a wonderful career ! There are some jobs that you can do but they won't be actually providing clinical therapy to patients. I have some advice that could bring you among other mental health professionals but not actually doing therapy.
My first suggestion, which would be the most ideal for you, is that when you apply for financial aid, check the Work Study option. When you get the results of the application and have been awarded Work Study, go to your college Psychology Department and tell them you are there for a Work Study job. This way you will get to work in psychology in some capacity and won't have to commute to an off campus job which will make things run very smoothly for you as a student.
You may be able to obtain a non-clinical position with a social service agency, but most of them are full time although some are part time. One that comes to my mind is to work for Big Brothers Big Sisters (not as a Big Sister) in the office. You may be able to get a position doing intake, interviewing clients and volunteers, etc.
Seek part time employment at social service and community service organizations in your area. Some of the positions that you may possibly obtain without a college degree would be as a case manager, case worker, client coordinator, intake, administrative assistant (who usually has a lot of client contact in social services places).
Why not try for a job at your area's Public Assistance office ? There may be some part time positions there. Depending on how you do on the job interview, you never know what part time position you could obtain. Again, keep it part time because school is going to keep you very busy.
Many of the social service jobs provide extensive on site and off site training in subjects connected to mental health. You will be trained for any position you obtain, so it's not that worrisome about not having experience yet. It is a field of work that is "no experience" friendly. It all depends on circumstances, though as some agencies do require experience.
Again, you would not be doing clinical therapy with clients, but you would possibly be doing situational counseling, benefits assistance, advocacy, and many other duties that will teach you about working with clients and how non-profits or clinical offices work. I would not advise working in a hospital while going to college full time because it may conflict with your schedule.
Another option would be to visit the student services center at your college to ask if they have student peer counselors for students and that you'd like to be a peer counselor for the students. This could work into a work study job if available or you could consider volunteering to gain the experience. Talk to the Psychology Department Dean about this and see if they can add Peer Counselor as a work study job. Sometimes students want or need someone their age to talk things over with. Someone who is impartial, also a student, who can understand situations that they may be going through. You can start finding out about this now and I would recommend doing it in person for one one one direct feedback. Do not rely on hearing back from an e-mail or phone call.
So, Isabella, it most certainly is possible to obtain a job (I emphasize part time while in college) working with clients without a college degree. Since you will be a college student, that will be in your favor. The social service field is very friendly to a variety or types of workers. Brush up on your interviewing skills and create a resume and start applying now for part time work, but give Work Study the first priority because you can stay on campus and work around your class schedule.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Sha Anyanga
Psychologist
21
Answers
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
Sha’s Answer
Thank you so much Isabella for your question. There are many mental health jobs that you can do without a psychology degree. One of them is becoming a psychology tutor, as long as you are a high school graduate and you did some psychology in highschool,you can be a psychology or mental health tutor. I recommend trying online platforms like find tutors, or Upwork. Wishing you the best.
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
120
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Isabella, I think the previous responses pretty much covered it. As a student and if you are on financial aid there may be a psychology department position available. This would likely be admin work, but you can get an insider perspective. You could also take a job in a counseling (front) office, though often times therapists do their own scheduling. If you know what type of community or population you want to work with, gaining experience with that group is useful- whether infants, children, adolescents, adults, or older adults. There is room to work with the entire developmental spectrum. Being a nanny or preschool assistant (for instance) is not clinical work but will provide you a greater understanding about attachment style, family dynamics, communication patterns, learning style, and child development. As someone mentioned, peer work. To be a peer counselor you take a brief (around two weeks) course and pass an examination. Peers must have lived experience- so if you have overcome personal challenges such as mental illness or addiction, being a peer is a way to share your story with others and support people in their own recovery. If you are drawn to working with marginalized, underserved groups, community health nonprofits are always hiring for a variety of entry level roles. Check out community centers, family support centers, supportive housing, homeless shelters, recovery centers, etc. When I was a student in college, I started a peer support eating disorders group. This was of course an unpaid position and not affiliated with the school. Think outside the box and get creative. You might even be bold and reach out to someone you admire and ask if they could be a mentor or need assistance in any way. Hotlines (also mentioned) will provide on the job training. You will learn how to support people in crisis and provide local resources. Crisis experience is invaluable. As a professional you will be required to take continuing education in suicide prevention every few years for licensure purposes. Good luck!
Anna Bernal
Recruiter
60
Answers
Oviedo, Florida
Updated
Anna’s Answer
Hey Isabella,
You definitely have a lot more options than you realize that you can get without a degree.
You can look for a Residential Counselor or Case Manager role that requires only a HS diploma to start off and as you earn your degree get promoted to the next level. Both of those roles offer patient experience as well as opportunity for growth within an organization. You can also look for internship positions that offer intern roles while working on a Bachelors degree. An intern opportunity would also allow you to be offered a role post undergrad and another path for growth.
You definitely have a lot more options than you realize that you can get without a degree.
You can look for a Residential Counselor or Case Manager role that requires only a HS diploma to start off and as you earn your degree get promoted to the next level. Both of those roles offer patient experience as well as opportunity for growth within an organization. You can also look for internship positions that offer intern roles while working on a Bachelors degree. An intern opportunity would also allow you to be offered a role post undergrad and another path for growth.
Fatima Mearaj
psychologist
1
Answer
Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
Updated
Fatima’s Answer
Yes, you can definitely find jobs in the mental health field without a degree. Consider roles like a mental health or behavioral health technician, which focus on supporting patients and assisting with care. You might need specific certifications or courses for some positions, so look into those as well. Volunteering or interning at mental health organizations can also provide valuable experience. Even related roles in customer service or social work can help build relevant skills. These experiences can give you a solid foundation as you start your degree and pursue your career in mental health.