Why I Left School Counseling: Pros and Cons of the Field

[@gilly_axolotl]

Not being a therapist is actually part of what draws me to school counseling. I want to be there as a non-judgmental and accepting person but I do fear for my own mental health and want to minimally take on others trauma. I want to recognize it and validate the teens emotions and traumas but then help guide them towards proper mental health services

[@DarrianCorey]

That's a great way of putting it! I totally hear you on wanting to preserve your own mental health as much as possible.

[@JerileaJDuman]

That was realistic 2 decades ago. Nowadays and in high needs area, you're doing crisis work all the time. And tons of kids will never get that "therapy" elsewhere. That makes you the go-to for emotional support.

[@TheGoodPlaceMusicandCrafts]

I like both programs, but what more attracts me to school counseling (and I just got accepted to that program), is more free summers and spending less time with big traumas. Also, helping kids about the future and not too much about the past. Past is important to deal with, just I think what ever is the past, we should work on future because that is in front of us. Therapist help with the past, and school counselors help with future. Both are important. Honestly, if I can, I would study both in the same time. I like more school counseling classes - after my work so I can have life-work balance. Unfortunately therapist classes would be all day long. I don’t believe in messing up my whole life, but building career around our lifestyle, as for example above mentioned free (or almost free summers etc). Great video! You are appreciated and I support you in doing what makes you happy! 😊

[@DarrianCorey]

You make some amazing points for sure!! Thank you for watching and for your support 😊

[@bestiefswlady5251]

Same here…. Summer vacation is just just under 2 months long in California (you’ll have to get used to people trying to say it’s three months long when it isn’t lol.) but it’s still a HUGE blessing and worth the reduced $$$ especially if you have a family or prioritize free time :)

[@mkmont697]

I have been a school counselor for 24 years now. This is my advice for people getting in a school counseling program or thinking about it...have a Plan B. The career will be draining and at some point you will get burned out. Have a backup career in mind, and work towards that over time before you tap out. I finally have hit my wall and struggle with going to work every day. So now, I'm looking to get out of education altogether. There's a myriad of reasons but at the end, you have to take care of yourself. That means emotionally, mentally, AND financially. The way our culture is now, as an employee in the education system, you will not be valued.

[@DarrianCorey]

This breaks my heart to read, I'm so sorry that you're experiencing that feeling of dreading going to work - That's such an awful feeling. Unfortunately, you're right in that I think many in the education system feel undervalued right now. Especially since the pandemic, it seems that the treatment of school staff by parents, students, and sometimes even admin has taken a nosedive. You're totally right that you have to make yourself a priority too, and having a plan B never hurts. I hope and pray that you find a great fit for you, one where you know and feel you are valued!

[@JerileaJDuman]

20 years, same. I speak very openly and honestly about how abusive and odd this role can be. Definitely get your therapy license so you have an out.

[@jg1238]

Sorry to hear that.

[@bobbybero7452]

And here my counselor said counselor jobs are hard to get because they are so “easy”. I figured a counseling job wasn’t as easy as people say.

[@katelynbright5027]

Thanks so much for sharing! I am currently a school counselor, and you described a lot of how I am feeling. I want to do more than just put on a bandaid in the schools so I am thinking about becoming a therapist. I'm also tired of all the extra duties. Can you make a video talking about what it was like for you to transition from the schools to mental health counseling? And give general tips about the transition? I'm excited but also terrified!

[@DarrianCorey]

Totally!! Just like with any life change, there's definitely an adjustment period, but it's a transition that I am happy I made. With what you described, I think that you may find being a therapist a better fit for you too. ☺️

[@freepalestinanow]

what are the extra duties?

[@camillemann9147]

I wish I had seen this video 14 years ago! I completed 2/3 of a master’s program in school counseling before I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do. Thanks for sharing this info for others who may be contemplating this career!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for watching! I've definitely noticed that our idea of what a profession will look like vs. actually doing it can be so different. Good for you for recognizing it was not the best fit for you - It can be so hard to make that call.

[@JasmineKing5]

I had a terrible first year as a school counselor. I was harassed by another school counselor, demeaned by admin and teachers and eventually had a panic attack and fainted while proctoring the AP exam from all the stress. I was forced to work outside of contract hours and was harassed if I refused. Parents and admin didn’t care less about your well being. Please consider a different career choice this is a crazy time where are living in.

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Jasmine, I'm so sorry to read about your experience, but I thank you for sharing it because it seems like your story is one I hear more and more of in recent years unfortunately. The pressure put on by parents, and oftentimes even staff and admin, to work outside of contract hours is so real. I hope it brings you some comfort to know that their treatment of you was not and is not ever okay, and I hope you found another school or agency who treats you with the respect you deserve! Trust me, I know when you're feeling so drained and defeated it can be hard to keep moving forward, but please don't give up! The counseling field needs amazing and compassionate people like you.

[@freepalestinanow]

🥺

[@gohanlopez5330]

You should sue them for unpaid work

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@gohanlopez5330 What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@minxili3317]

@@gohanlopez5330 In some college advising jobs it is actually legal to work during your off hours. They call these jobs salary pay which means you will be paid a set amount for each month and yearly but you must be willing to work during off hours.

[@allymc8884]

Phew! This vid truly speaks and affirms to my transition out of school counseling! I was in the Career for almost 5 years, and truly loved the profession. But, what you learn in the field and in your program is definitely ideal. BUT, you'll find every school district is different. So if you're new, please do your research, from the ed level to the community that you'll serve in. I worked for a Title 1, middle school in an urban area. And it comes with reward, but alot of energy to project, for your students' needs. Nonetheless, the profession inspired me to move into my journey into a PhD in Counseling. I co-sign, this entire video! I encourage anyone to go into the profession! It provides wonderful foundation to other career fields!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for sharing your experience! Best of luck with your PhD :)

[@agapetheprodigalraqah]

Thanks for sharing this. I am a recent graduate with a ba in psychology (December ‘22) This video confirms what I’ve been told about school counseling and why I don’t want to do it. I’ve been having trouble finding a job/internship since graduating and my dad recently sent me an application for school counseling despite me asking him and my mom not to try and help me because they know relatively nothing about the field or my goals (to be a clinical therpaist and instructor at the college/ university level.) The ironic thing is I’m not even qualified to do school counseling because i have none of the teaching certificates that fit just the minimum qualifications lmao

[@DarrianCorey]

Congrats on graduating with your BA! Thanks for watching, and I'm glad it might have helped you to feel more validated in your feelings toward school counseling. You are right that some states do require certain teacher certifications for school counseling positions, while others don't. I also agree with you that it can be difficult navigating job opportunities at times when others step in, but don't fully know all of the different aspects of each role. I will say though, in my opinion, even if you have to temporarily take a job that you know is not the one you want forever, it can still be a great learning experience! I worked a couple of jobs in between my BA and grad school - A Case Manager position, and a Behavioral Health Tech position working with kids in the foster care system. I knew that neither of those were what I planned to do long-term, but I learned things in both roles that served me well in my role as a Clinical Therapist after grad school. I actually found myself missing the kids I had worked with in the Behavioral Health Tech position! Even if you're in those roles a relatively short time, you can still have the potential to make a big impact. :) Best of luck finding the right job or internship for you!

[@ravenrocks191]

i’m also deciding between school and MH counseling, and weighing the pros and cons is helping me possibly lean into school counseling

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Jewel! That's awesome 🙂 It can be a tough choice to make for sure, but good news is you can always make a change later if you need to!

[@etl2993]

Thank you so much for your honest feedback on your experience as a school counselor!!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@CaloNord]

Great video! Thanks! In CA we have restorative counselors on campus that work more in the area of mental health and SEL. Academic counselors work more of on college/career and academic etc. also have school social workers at most of the middle schools/high schools at my local district

[@DarrianCorey]

Thanks for watching! I'm hoping more states start to follow CA's model 🤞🏼

[@lisaschooler9992]

@@DarrianCorey in California also; employed as a regular “school counselor” (We don’t really use the term guidance counselor in our state because although we do a lot of academic work and administrative work, and general school counseling office work, we do indeed also do some crisis intervention/personal counseling). And I do like the model California uses, but only when we have the extra help of school-based therapists, etc. because the mental health needs of our students have grown exponentially in the past 10 years - even before Covid! And the regular school counselor ratios in California are horribly poor - In the high school setting, the average in local districts is one school counselor for every 500 students. So we really need those other more specific therapists, and mental health interventionists, to provide support the sense with those high numbers and with our regular duty day having so much other variety in it.

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@lisaschooler9992 What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@JerileaJDuman]

California is NOT A THE MODEL. And we are not "academic counselors". California is literally 30 years behind. Don't go into school counseling if you think your job should be talking about scheduling all day. Seriously, California is not the model. School Counselors are mental health trained professionals. Not schedule changers.

[@marqueshageorge5279]

@@JerileaJDuman I 100% agree! I do not understand these counselors who only want to do academic domain. Why go to school to be a 'School Counselor' when you don't want to do the work. And thank you! I hate 'Academic Counselor' It's School Counselor. All 3 domains apply. The CA model is not ideal because it does not follow ASCA. School Counselors are mental trained health professionals.

[@stephenanderson1594]

I understand your decision to leave but I did the reverse. I stayed. I did internship at all 3 levels and high school was my worst experience. Now I am a high school counselors going on 4 years. I started in 2020 and was in the Army before grad school. The best way to reach administrators is to build rapport EARLY I've built rapport with the superintendent and other district leaders. Despite a combative school board and parents. Everyone has my back when issues arise. As a black man with liberal views in a conservative area I use my diplomatic skills to build consensus. I went from 45k to 64k from where I started and though I had additional duties my principal loves his counselors and I feel like I can speak up and it will be received. I hope things get better and stay in this profession for a long time but I respect you for make a move that is best for you.

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Stephen, thank you so much for sharing your experience. It's definitely just as important, if not more important, to share the positive experiences that people have had in the field too. You're right that having the support of administrators makes a HUGE difference!! I'm happy to hear that you have that where you are. Wishing you much success for years to come!

[@teehang9892]

Thank you! I appreciate your taking the time to share on your experiences. I am in the middle of deciding if school counseling is the route I want to go, but I am also highly interested in the mental health aspect too. This helped to give me more insight on the position, thank you again.

[@DarrianCorey]

So happy to hear that, and thank you for watching! Best of luck on deciding which path is for you.

[@ambertaylor8113]

Have you heard of a school psychologist? But that has been my dilemma for a while as well .. couldn’t decide if I wanted to do my masters in school counseling or school psychologist… but I am just like you I want to be able to help students with their mental health as well that was my biggest issue . So with this video school counseling May not be for me. I was also thinking of mental health counselor .. but I want to work with kids only not adults

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Amber! I totally understand the dilemma - There are definitely pros and cons to each of those. A school psychologist earns higher pay than a school counselor, but does not typically use counseling skills as much. The day to day of a school psychologist involves a lot more assessment and testing to determine eligibility for accommodation services in a school. A lot of times a school will have anywhere from 1-6 full time school counselors, but just 1 school psychologist who is at that specific school part-time and travels to other neighboring schools to administer testing for the rest of their week. The title can be deceiving because we often associate "psychologist" with mental health counseling, but is slightly different in the case of a school psychologist. Schools are definitely a good option if you are interested in working only with kids, although once graduating you could also pursue mental health counseling with an agency who specializes in kids. (Either way, you'll have to work with some adults as working with kids almost always requires some working with their parents too. 🙂)

[@ambertaylor8113]

Thank you for your feedback ! You made some excellent points

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@ambertaylor8113 What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@bobbythespaceghost9934]

Great information. I just switched my degree program to get my school counseling degree as well, BUT I hate limitations. I hate that I would have to keep on the surface level when I can CLEARLY see that the student is going through something serious. At least on the Mental Health Counseling level, you can address those situations.

[@DarrianCorey]

Absolutely - This was a big struggle for me as well and could be so frustrating at times. Thank you for watching & best of luck!!

[@minxili3317]

I`m glad there is a video that talks about the cons of school counseling. Most people talk about the pros but never the cons on KZbin and that doesn't really give the full reality of the job. Plus the job of a school counselor is kind of a mystery at times, like a lot of people don't about it as much.

[@DarrianCorey]

Thanks for watching! I agree completely -- I know when I was struggling with the cons of school counseling, I never found much about it on KZbin aside from the pros, which could feel really isolating or like there was something off with my perspective. I think it's so important to put the whole picture out there and let the cons be known too so people can make the best decision for them!

[@minxili3317]

@@DarrianCorey I definitely had the same sentiments as you in feeling it was off. I understand why people don't want to say the cons as it can discourage people but it gives a rose colored picture of what the job is actually like. I have friends who are doing school counseling now and they say half of the cohort is questioning whether they want to do school counseling in the long term. This is because their expectations of school counseling was completely different from their internship experience. I think you should definitely make a video dedicated to talking more about the cons of school counseling. I'm pretty sure many people would like to know. I would definitely watch it and share it with my friends as well. Thanks for the video!

[@allydidier791]

Thank you so much for your insight!! Best of luck to you in your transition back to MHC!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@jg1238]

Facts! Admin and parents can make you or break you! Most of the kids are cool. You may have 2 or 3 that make you question reality but for the most part the kids make it fun.

[@Qrlekfjtj9]

Darrian omg!! Congrats on your engagement and new house that's so amazing! best of luck with it all!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thanks so much!! 💕

[@bestiefswlady5251]

220 day work year seems like almost year-round…. in your state, our school counselors, part of the administrative union? It’s about 188 days in California, but the pay is on teachers, salary, and part of the teachers union. The line between being a school counselor, versus a school, therapist, versus a district social worker, that is stationed at a school site can be blurred at times …. But no matter what, having a supportive site, administration and district administration, makes all the difference in a school counseling job.

[@Easilyamusedmuppet]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It puts things into perspective for me.

[@DarrianCorey]

I'm so happy to hear that, and thank you for watching! :)

[@LOCOSCLAN718]

The last Con was valid. Everything else was no major issues. 😊😊

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for watching! 🙂

[@JR-ze3nn]

As an elementary counseling, I am in charge of RTI program, section 504, migrant program, STAAR testing, benchmark testing, GT testing, SPED packets, speech packets, dyslexia testing, lunch duty and afterschool duty. Not what I thought it would be.

[@jg1238]

That’s a lot!

[@bobbybero7452]

Do you like it?

[@JR-ze3nn]

@@bobbybero7452 nope I am miserable with my job.

[@bobbybero7452]

@@JR-ze3nn 😢 My college counselor said that guidance counselor jobs are hard to get because they are so easy. I knew that couldn’t have been right

[@lakeishalewis2398]

I'm not sure where you are located, but in the DMV area, school counselors are now required to obtain clinical mental health training. I'm thinking that the role of the school counselor may change soon.

[@DarrianCorey]

Honestly, that may not be a bad idea! I'm located in Arizona, and agree with you that a lot of other areas will likely start adopting that same point of view. Especially with events such as school shootings becoming more and more prevalent unfortunately, having more clinical mental health training definitely would not hurt.

[@mariastump5921]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for watching 🙂

[@hannahrose7930]

Thank you for this video. It's been very useful and helpful. All the best with your new career.

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you, Hannah :)

[@zionnoel]

Oooooh this was such great insight! Thank you:)

[@DarrianCorey]

So happy to hear it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😊

[@EriGadi]

This is very accurate information. Nice video!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@freepalestinanow]

ok

[@kaitbat8]

Hi Darrian, Thank you so much for posting this video and sharing your experience. I’m in my second semester of a school counseling program in PA, and I’m so torn on whether I want to pursue the school or clinical mental health route. I currently work in a school as a Registered Behavior Therapist, and I love working with the kids so much but I’ve witnessed a few different things that have made me question whether I see myself working in the school setting… such as the politics in the school, teachers’ stories about how the parents can be and the unrealistic expectations of the school counselor (there is only one in our building) all really scare me! That said, your insight is truly appreciated. I wish you the best of luck!

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Kaitlin, I totally get where you are coming from. It sounds like you have the passion and strengths to be a good fit for either one, and there's no doubt in my mind that you will be able to make a significant impact in either setting. So I hope it may bring you some comfort to know that there is technically no "right" or "wrong" decision - Just a choice for which one you feel may be best for you. :) Wishing you the best of luck as well!

[@r.j.a.jtactical1901]

Excellent video💯

[@DarrianCorey]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@clio5880]

Thank you so much for sharing. I find it really helpful!

[@DarrianCorey]

I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for watching. :)

[@justinwilson8308]

Question. Seeing that your program was dual concentration, did you graduate with a LPC? If so, how long did it take you to make up your required hours after all of you licensing hours I assume were dedicated to school counseling. I ask because I was just accepted into school that offers a dual and I'm leaning more to Mental Health Counseling

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Justin! After graduating, I took the NCE and applied for my LAC licensure which is what I have currently. In my state, you can't apply for LPC licensure until you accrue a certain amount of post-graduation clinical hours as an LAC (usually equivalent to about 2 years of full-time clinical work.) Congrats on your acceptance! Mental Health Counseling is definitely a great option, though if there is any hesitancy on your end at all, it may be worth asking if the program offers any overlap in the courses or in the completion of hours. I was really fortunate to attend a graduate program (The University of Arizona) that offered both the school counseling and mental health counseling concentrations, which was a huge factor in me having chose the program. All school counseling students in the program had to complete mental health hours as well, and take mental health-specific courses such as Diagnosis and Assessment - This overlap meant that all school counseling cohort students could technically pursue mental health counseling licensure after graduation if they chose to do so, but the same was not true for the mental health counseling students as they did not complete school counseling hours or school counseling classes. I knew going into it that I really wanted that flexibility to be able to choose, should I not be satisfied with my original decision. So thankfully, because of the program I attended and them encouraging school counseling students to get mental health-based hours/class training too, the transition to full-time mental health counseling was very smooth. I had already taken the NCE after graduation (I wanted to take it while all of the knowledge was fresh in my mind!), so it really just took me applying for my LAC licensure in order to get started as a therapist. I hope this helps!

[@micro-reefsaquariums5169]

Can I ask you what helped you pass the PK-12 Guidance Counseling? I came opposite of your nice video, I interned for 9 months for mental health counselor and had a bad taste and moved to school counseling. But the PK-12 guidance test is giving me a hard time. Any advice?

[@justinecoman5448]

I searched once why school counselors are required to have a master’s degree- in my personal experience as a student as well as this video, school counselors can’t provide any therapy. Internet said “counselors may interact with students that have problems,” which like yeah, that’s true of the teachers too. Is there a hidden component I didn’t see as a student?

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Justine, I think that's a great question! In my opinion, it likely has to do with school counselors being specifically trained in motivating students/helping them to create change in their lives when needed. This can take a certain skill set that would require master's level training in counseling techniques, vs. teachers always have a full schedule of teaching students and do not necessarily have the time to have these in depth conversations with students. You are right that school counselors are discouraged from providing long-term therapy, though even the brief/solution-focused techniques that they are encouraged/permitted to use can often take special training. I hope that helps! :)

[@JerileaJDuman]

Teachers aren't trained in counseling students, nor should they be doing so. A masters trained counselor is a completely different job from that of a teacher. We also abide by ethics of counselors, including laws related to confidentiality etc It's completely different from a teacher training.

[@bobbybero7452]

@@JerileaJDumanWould you say it’s easier or harder than teaching? Do they have the same turnover rate?

[@johniejoyce8876]

I am currently trying to begin a new career. When searching the different potential careers, perhaps the most common negative is administration. There really is no check on admin's power in any field I have looked into (everything from ministry to healthcare). Just a thought, but could this feeling be a call to be an administrator?

[@meagain7669]

Thank you this is sooooo helpful 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@DarrianCorey]

I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@lesliequiroz1533]

Thank you so much for sharing! I am currently getting my BA and am researching master's programs and I have always wanted to become a counselor! I definitely want to try it out, but I would love to see what MH counseling is like too. Can you share what program you did that allowed you to be certified in both?

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Leslie, thank you for watching! I attended the University of Arizona's MA in Counseling program. :) Best of luck with the rest of your BA and finding the right grad program for you!

[@minatusa9897]

I want to do counselling but I am not in the major. I am doing Conflict Analysis as my masters and I had my Global affairs as my undergrad. What would be a tip on how to become a counselor? (Im also an international student) are there any tips on this too ...?

[@magmagggggie]

May I ask if you are still working in a school session as a mental health specialist? Did you receive a masters in mental health as well as a masters in school counseling?

[@ericafarley2850]

I can see how that would be frustrating, because how can a student go back to class and be functioning unless they have a counselor to talk to about their issues?

[@DarrianCorey]

Yes! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@xoqyis]

i’ve been wanting to go to my school counselor but i don’t know how i could ask. how do i get help from my counselor?

[@DarrianCorey]

Don't be afraid to ask - That's what they're there for! Every school seems to be different. Some counseling departments have a counseling secretary you can talk to for scheduling an appointment with your counselor, while others just prefer that you email your counselor directly for setting up an appointment. Some counseling departments have calendar links that you can schedule an appointment in as well. At a minimum, it doesn't hurt to email your counselor and ask! You can usually find their email address on your school's website if you are not sure of it. Of course, if it's an emergency of some sort, just walk to the counseling office (and ask your teacher first, depending on if you're in class or not. ☺)

[@xoqyis]

@@DarrianCorey oh okay!! thank u so much, i’ll try to do it :)❤️

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@xoqyis What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@wendyrebeiro5154]

Please share some videos on school counselling.

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Wendy! My next video I will be uploading soon is about the main differences I have noticed so far between school counseling and mental health counseling, so stay tuned :)

[@angelj3721]

What did the transition look like? Did you need to go through more schooling or apply for another license? Was there an intern job?

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Angel! Because of the graduate program I attended (University of Arizona's M.A. in Counseling program) and the way they structured the program, my transition was very smooth and I did not have to go through any additional classes. The only thing I did during the transition was apply for my LAC, which I technically could have done when I was a school counselor, but did not see the need to at the time. U of A's program was very up front from the start that students who chose the School Counseling specialty would be eligible to pursue licensure if they chose to after graduation. This is because they required School Counseling students to take the minimum Clinical Mental Health/Rehabilitation Counseling courses required for licensure (classes like Diagnosis and Assessment, for example) and also required us School Counseling students to complete Mental Health clinical hours in addition to our School Counseling hours. I hope that helps!

[@counselingsolutionsbykrys]

Thank you so much for sharing. I feel you! How do you compare the salary? I know it is a private question, I know, sorry. Which one pays more.

[@counselingsolutionsbykrys]

Also, pros and cons. THANKS!

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Krys, thanks for watching! Expected salary can depend on a lot of different factors. In my personal experience, the mental health side pays significantly more. However it also varies much more depending on the company, billable hours expectations for that company, your level of licensure, what state you are in and what area of the state you're in. With school counseling, it's been my experience that while the pay can vary slightly between school districts, it seems to be more or less in the same ballpark as far as salary goes. There are also other aspects to consider as far as school counseling when it comes to compensation - For example, for some people it is a huge deciding factor for them to get summers off as a school counselor, and it is worth it to them to have this flexibility even if it means a lower salary. So there are lots of factors to be considered when making the best choice for you. I hope this helps!!

[@counselingsolutionsbykrys]

@@DarrianCorey so helpful thank you!

[@cayleyblenner2300]

What program did you get to do both mental health and school counseling? Looking into future master’s programs thanks for this video very informative!

[@DarrianCorey]

Thanks for watching! I attended The University of Arizona's Master's in Counseling program. 🙂

[@LostSolez-]

I am currently in college for psychology, do you think that's a good route to take for school counciling? Or is there a better direction

[@DarrianCorey]

I think psychology is a great route to go - That's the path I took as well. :) If you have the option and interest to add a minor, a minor in Education would be a great compliment to the Psych major if going into school counseling!

[@LostSolez-]

@@DarrianCorey cool thank you so much!!

[@amysifuentes55]

You can really major in anything! My college counselor majored in Arts! You can even major in history.

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@amysifuentes55 What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@reganstandlick7520]

Hi I am really struggling with this in my program right now, as I currently work with kids and am doing school, but I am just not sure I still feel like I can manage it.

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Regan, sorry to hear this. If I've learned anything from the field so far, it's that even when it's tough, you have to put your own mental health first! You can't pour from an empty cup. Take a break if you need it - Counseling will always still be there when you're ready.

[@marywilliamson1044]

Hello! Thank you for shedding light on what a school counselor's job is like! I found it interesting that your program prepared you for both school counseling and mental health counseling. Would you mind sharing what program that is? Thank you so much!

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Mary, thank you for watching! I attended the University of Arizona's Master's in Counseling program. I talk a little bit more about it around the 6:00 mark in my latest video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpPNpH2pZpl6q7M :)

[@marywilliamson1044]

@@DarrianCorey thank you! I appreciate your comment and information so much.

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@marywilliamson1044 What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@tinakinder9024]

Are there any alternatives with using a school counseling degree? I was thinking of trying to get into college counseling. Everything you said is very valid. Unfortunately, I think I have to go back to school to do the mental health part :( Any suggestions is recommended. I am kind of lost right now :(

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Tina, you would absolutely be able to pursue college-level counseling! Career counseling would be another option as well. I will say also that school counseling and the day-to-day responsibilities of it varies so widely depending on the school/district, and the age range you are working with, so sometimes a switch in one of those areas can make a big difference as well. I hope this helps! Wishing you all the best in finding what's right for you. :)

[@minxili3317]

College counseling is actually quite similar to school counseling but wrapped up in a different type of mess

[@englishwithaltini]

Could you please share maybe away in the life of a counselor or a week in the life?

[@DarrianCorey]

Oooh love that idea! 👍🏼 Stay tuned. 😁

[@JerileaJDuman]

That varies SO dramatically based on level, state, school and principal.

[@daytonlewis6845]

What places can you work as a mental health counselor? And did you need extra schooling after you left high school counseling

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Dayton! As a mental health counselor, you can work at just about any community mental health agency, or an inpatient mental health facility. You could also work in hospitals or prisons too, but these job postings typically are asking for an independently licensed counselor which can take a couple of years after graduating to get independently licensed. There are TONS of mental health counseling jobs out there - I had a far easier time finding mental health jobs vs. when I was applying for school counseling jobs. I personally did not have to do extra schooling because of the grad program I attended - My program was 60 credit hours and offered both specializations, so even though I specialized in school counseling, I also took a lot of the mental health counseling classes and did a mental health practicum, so I was all set. Had I attended a 48 credit hour program that did not offer mental health practicum or mental health classes like diagnosis and assessment, I would have had to do additional classes and hours. Every state is different though!

[@daytonlewis6845]

@@DarrianCorey your awesome, thanks for the information!!

[@TheGcravillion]

Ok so I’m in my last internship with Capella and I feel the way you do. How did you switch to LPC? What education or method did you use to gain the proper necessities to practice therapy? I am worried I have to start over.

[@remmycaste2352]

How is capella? How long is it? I’m thinking of NU

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Geoff! The graduate program I attended (University of Arizona's M.A. in Counseling program) was very up front from the start that students who chose the School Counseling specialty would be eligible to pursue licensure if they chose to after graduation. This is because they required School Counseling students to take the minimum Clinical Mental Health/Rehabilitation Counseling courses required for licensure (classes like Diagnosis and Assessment, for example) and also required us School Counseling students to complete Mental Health clinical hours in addition to our School Counseling hours. Because of this, I'm fortunate that my transition was very smooth - I did not have to do anything extra aside from apply for my LAC (associate licensure since I am not qualified to be independently licensed yet!). I in fact could have applied for my LAC when I was a school counselor too, but didn't see the need to at the time. It may not hurt to talk with your state's licensure board and/or your advisor in your graduate program to let them know how you're feeling. It's likely the case that this is not the first time they have heard this, and they may be able to give you clear steps to get you where you want to be. Best of luck!!

[@TheGcravillion]

@@remmycaste2352thank you for getting back with me. I graduated and am currently finishing my onboarding with Centerstone as a school based therapist. Thank you for the information! I will definitely follow your instructions. Capella was 72 credits. Took me about 2 1/2 years with 2 classes full time.

[@galactalgeneral7420]

I'm looking into a dual program for both of these! Which university did you attend for your dual program if you feel comfortable sharing?

[@DarrianCorey]

Awesome! I attended The University of Arizona's Master of Arts in Counseling program. 🙂

[@galactalgeneral7420]

@@DarrianCorey thank you so much!! Would you recommend it??

[@DarrianCorey]

@@galactalgeneral7420 I would! I will say that I didn't get the full "traditional" experience of the program, because the pandemic happened when my cohort was about halfway through the program. But even with the latter half being virtual/taught over Zoom, there were lots of opportunities to learn and practice counseling skills!

[@jessicafarrell3877]

What kinds of programs allow you to potentially do both? I’m looking at going back to school and getting a masters but would like a program that isn’t so specialized that I can only do one thing. Thx!

[@DarrianCorey]

I would say it depends most on what school counselor duties you do or do not like - If you would prefer to do more mental health counseling just in a school setting, Master's in Social Work programs can be a great option! Schools are looking to hire social workers in addition to their school counselors more and more recently (especially in high schools), and social workers typically do not have to do other school counselor duties such as class scheduling. This option would also allow you to pursue licensure as a mental health practitioner. However if you do like the scheduling, post high school planning, etc. in addition to some mental health counseling in a school setting, I would suggest looking more into Master's in Counseling programs that offer both a School Counseling and a Mental Health Counseling specialty - This is the route that I went. I hope this helps, best of luck!

[@DarrianCorey]

I talk a little bit more about looking at programs with both specialties around the 6:00 mark of my latest video here :) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpPNpH2pZpl6q7M&lc=UgxgMsK5TYhbYF3ZYx14AaABAg

[@imacarlyvore2538]

When you transitioned into becoming a mental health counselor did you have to get another Master’s degree? I’m just wondering because I’m debating between pursuing school counseling and mental health counseling.

[@DarrianCorey]

Hello! I attended a Master's program that offered both specializations, and had School Counseling students complete Mental Health courses and hours as well. Because of the overlap in classes and hours, I fortunately did not have to do any additional classes. This was a huge reason I chose the program, as us school counseling students knew going into it that we would be able to pursue mental health licensure as well after graduation if we chose to. If you are at all unsure, I would highly encourage looking more into programs that offer both specialties! I talk a bit more about it around the 6:00 mark in my latest video here :) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpPNpH2pZpl6q7M&lc=UgxgMsK5TYhbYF3ZYx14AaABAg

[@niavergara6353]

Are you currently working remotely? or at a school

[@DarrianCorey]

Hi Nia! I sadly am not working at the moment due to some ongoing health issues I've been having (will likely be posting a video about this at some point!) But at the time of this video, I had just begun working remotely as a mental health therapist specializing in treating trauma. Prior to that, I worked in a school as a high school counselor.

[@bobbybero7452]

@@DarrianCoreyHope you feel better

[@darielgeorge9042]

Grammarly!!!

[@JerileaJDuman]

It's kind of a shitshow profession. Not advised.

[@bobbybero7452]

Did you do it? People say I should go into it but I think it sounds hard.

[@micro-reefsaquariums5169]

Can I ask you what helped you pass the PK-12 Guidance Counseling? I came opposite of your nice video, I interned for 9 months for mental health counselor and had a bad taste and moved to school counseling. But the PK-12 guidance test is giving me a hard time. Any advice?

[@DarrianCorey]

Hello! Thanks for watching. :) That is a good question - I'm fortunate in the sense that I reside in a state that doesn't actually require a test beyond the Master's degree for school counseling certification (Arizona - every state is different in what their requirements are.) However the graduate program I attended used the Praxis II School Counseling exam as a graduation requirement for school counseling students so I ended up taking this anyway. This is the book that I used to study which I found very helpful - www.amazon.com/gp/product/1630940224/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I hope this helps, best of luck!! :)