The types of behavioral jobs you can pursue include the following:

• Behavioral therapist
• Social worker
• Addiction counselor
• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist
• Behavioral analyst

Of course, this list of occupations isn’t exhaustive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies behavioral health careers as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. However, you can start as a community health worker or case manager. You might choose to specialize in child welfare or work in the school system as a licensed psychologist.

No two days are alike when working with behavioral health problems and people. And what a typical day looks like as a behavioral health specialist or counselor will depend on where you work and your area of expertise. For instance, a counselor with a private practice will have different responsibilities than a social worker who works as a case manager.

An addiction counselor who operates a private practice will spend their day in sessions with current patients. They will also see potential new patients during initial consultations. A counselor with a private practice is also someone who operates their own business. So, besides taking and analyzing patient notes, they may also participate in core business activities.

These core activities include finance/accounting and marketing. Most of the time, a counselor with a private practice will work from an office or home location. They may hold virtual counseling sessions, attend conferences, and study to renew or obtain appropriate state licenses.

On the other hand, a case manager will typically work for a county behavioral health or social services office. As social workers, they’ll get a caseload from their superiors or supervisors. They’ll meet with the families or individuals and work with them on their behavioral health issues or intervene with social services. Social workers who place kids in foster care are examples.

Most behavioral health occupations require at least a bachelor’s degree. Some career paths, such as social work, demand a master’s degree or MSW to be competitive. Since behavioral health careers involve working with sensitive information and situations, additional certifications and licenses may be necessary.

Each state and employer may have different certification and licensure requirements. You can check with the National Board of Certified Counselors if you’re interested in pursuing licensure as a behavioral health counselor. The organization maintains licensure requirements and information for each state.

The undergraduate and graduate majors you want to pursue depend on your desired career path. For example, future counselors will want to enroll in psychology programs. However, aspiring social workers may choose to major in early childhood development or public policy.

Clinical experience that a superior supervises may be part of licensure or certification. Some behavioral health positions may also require an internship, which is similar to clinicals. That being said, you can pursue some entry-level behavioral health jobs with less education than a four-year degree. A housing coordinator or a social services assistant are a few possibilities.

Here’s a potential career path example for a social worker.

• Graduates with a bachelor’s degree and becomes a case worker for a battered women’s shelter.
• After two years as a case worker, they become a program coordinator for the same employer.
• While working as a program coordinator, the social worker attends graduate school and gets their MSW or master of social work degree.
• After graduating with their MSW, they take a position as executive director of the women’s shelter.
• They work as an executive director for four years and then move to a director position for a homeless shelter for families.
• The social worker stays in that position for ten years and then decides to move into medical social work.
• They become a licensed clinical social worker through their state and get a job at a local hospital.
• After working as a clinical social worker for six years, they move on to a managerial position that oversees their former peers.

This example illustrates a career path for someone who wants to eventually manage programs and others. It is possible to pursue non-managerial career paths that involve several lateral moves. A social worker may become a case manager after graduation. They then might make the switch to medical social work and stay there for the rest of their career.

Behavioral health careers are an excellent fit for people who are passionate about making a difference. However, these jobs can be emotionally and mentally demanding. More than likely, you’ll encounter stressful, ambiguous, and sensitive situations. Simultaneously, you will get the chance to change the course of people’s lives.