Things You Must Know If You Want a Job in Mental Health

     If you want to get a job in mental health, there are some very important things you should know. I love this field and I don’t regret getting into mental health at all. I feel fulfilled every day, even if we don’t make major breakthroughs. You have to have realistic expectations of what you are going into, because the last thing you want is to go into a field where you feel stuck. Being aware of what you’re going into helps both you and your clients do well.

    My biggest suggestions:

1. Know yourself. Some people are not cut out for mental health jobs and should not join the field. Basically, you have to have psychological fitness, be genuine, and set clear boundaries.

    Psychological fitness is when the future therapist is able to identify their issues and flaws objectively, then deals with them in a healthy way. This does not mean that you have to be the paragon of health. No one is.

    What this means is that you are able to separate yourself from the client. I feel that a therapist should be as objective as they can be, regardless of their own thoughts and opinions.

    You should also genuinely care about how your clients are doing. They may listen to your suggestions, they may not, but the important thing is that they come to you and feel like they can be open with you. I do my best to never judge, and it shows in my interactions with clients, to the point where they sometimes point it out.

    Setting boundaries is so, SO important. There should be space between you and your clients. They’re not your friends, they’re not your family. They’re coming to you for help. Do what you can to help them, within reason. Keep your boundaries the same, always. This helps people understand what is appropriate and what is not. Sometimes, it’s their first time learning this lesson because no one ever taught them before now. You’re not helping your client by never challenging them and just telling them what they want to hear.

    Really look at yourself. Make sure this is the right field for you. One word, one sentence, can change the way someone thinks about themselves forever. Think about that. You can’t undo that once it’s done, you can only try to repair the damage.

2. Volunteer or work at a place where you come in contact with people with mental illness. Before you go to college for mental health, it’s important to see if you like the setting. Behaviors can be overwhelming for some people. A good option is always a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, because many people who are homeless struggle with mental health and substance use issues. Keep in mind that these are people with (typically) severe mental health issues, so if you are looking for something a little more along the lines of outpatient, this may not be the best option for you.

    If working with people with mental health disorders is not for you, this is the perfect time to change your mind, as you’ve only invested some time and gained some knowledge.

3. Start working in mental health as soon as you are able to do so. Usually, this is when you graduate with your bachelor’s degree. Most of the time, you’ll graduate with a bachelor’s in psychology or sociology; however, I have known some older colleagues who graduated with a bachelor’s in something outside of that realm, like math or botany. Personally, I would recommend psychology. You will need to learn as much as possible before you get to your master’s degree.

     I started working at a community rehabilitation residence when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. I was able to get more experience with people with more severe mental health disorders, which was helpful when finding other jobs in the future.

    Everyone tends to run into the “you don’t have enough experience” hurdle, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Community-run non-profits are more than happy to take you on with no experience. You will not get paid a lot, as these companies are non-profit, but you are benefiting in other ways. You are also getting paid in experience and making connections with people in the field in your area. These can be priceless.

    For me, making these connections was imperative to where I am now. My first supervisor saw that I was willing to learn. She taught me everything she knew, and for that, I will always be grateful. When she eventually quit, I knew what needed to be done and how it should be completed. When she had an opening at her new job and I was looking for new experiences, she hired me on the spot. At the new company, I continued to learn from her. It was easy for me to move from psych tech to team lead, then to supervisor when I got my master’s degree.

     It is true that in community mental health, the person who learns the most and stays while others quit is eventually promoted. Make yourself necessary and you will advance further.

4. Learn as much as you can. Regardless of how long you work in this field, you will always find yourself learning something new. Never thinking that just because you graduated with your bachelor’s or master’s that you know everything there is to know. Listen to the people who have the most experience, even if they don’t have a degree. Their knowledge will be invaluable to you.

Do you think there’s anything I missed? Let me know!