Career ExplorationKhaled Al Tarazi, Isabella Basco, Will Braun, Stacey Katziff, Keegan Maronpot, & Julia Rootenberg Mystery Career Field #1 ● ● Job Functions o Helping people to improve their quality of life o Helping people to change a behavior or achieve a better outlook o Helping to people to obtain basic and/or critical needs o Advocacy and Guidance o Working with individuals or families in cases such as adoption, child care assistance, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, low-income aid, etc. o Working with children, adolescent, or adult individuals, families, couples, etc. for a variety of needs with an aim to help them get back on track o May be employed by the government Possible Job Titles o Case Manager o Psychologist o Counselor o Social Worker What is this career field? Human Services ● ● ● ● Divided into 2 categories: Social Services & Mental Health Services Social Services o Case Managers, Social Workers o Aid in the improvement of the quality of life for the community and community members o May work with developmentally disabled, elderly, immigrants and refugees, substance abusers, crime victims and offenders, family services o May provide counseling to clients in their work o Major sector of social work includes child advocacy and adoption o May be employed by the government or by privately funded organizations (e.g. religious organizations) Mental Health Services o Counselors, Psychologists o See clients with a variety of needs but often have 1-2 specialties Family, marriage, children, adolescents, career, crisis intervention, substance abuse, rehabilitation, etc. o May work in hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, or private practice o Requires a graduate degree and licensure or certification Professionals in Human Services often collaborate or work closely with other Human Services or medical professionals Job Titles & Functions in Human Services Child, Family, or School Social Worker ● Provide social services and assistance to help improve the psychological and social functioning of children and their families as well as to maximize the well-being of the family and the child’s academic functioning ● Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities on issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, social adjustment, child care, or healthcare ● Interview clients individually or in groups and assess their situation to evaluate what services are needed to help them meet their needs ● May assist in counseling parents, arranging adoptions, or finding foster homes for abused/abandoned children; Also address issues such as teen pregnancy, misbehavior, or truancy Job Titles & Functions in Human Services Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker ● Assess and counsel individuals struggling with substance abuse including alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs, or other emotional or behavioral disorders ● May conduct individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education ● Many social work careers require a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, but some do not ● Working specifically with substance abuse/mental health in social work often requires a Master’s degree Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor ● Counsel and advise individuals struggling with alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, or issues such as gambling or eating disorders ● May work with individuals, families, groups, and/or work with prevention programs ● Counselor degrees often require a Master’s degree and licensure, some may require Ph.D. Job Titles & Functions in Human Services Clinical Psychologist ● Assess, evaluate, and diagnose individuals’ mental or emotional issues using interview, observation, and psychological testing ● Administer programs of treatment ● Often conduct research throughout their career ● Most clinical psychologists require a Ph.D. or some form of postdoctoral training Mental Health Counselor ● Counseling with an emphasis on prevention; promote more optimal mental and emotional health ● Provide guidance and help clients to develop skills to better manage their issues ● May deal with depression, anxiety, stress management, family or marital problems, self-esteem, etc. ● Counseling careers require a graduate degree Contacts for Human Services From Wake Forest Alumni LinkedIn Group: Lisa Katerman School Social Worker at Boston Children’s Hospital Almy Eagan Addictions Counselor in the Greater Pittsburgh Area Kathryn Noth Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies at Northwestern University Phil McGraw BA Psychology from Midwestern State University MA in Experimental Psychology Ph.D. Clinical Psychology at University of North Texas Human Services: Common Skills & Qualities ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Active Listening Problem Sensitivity Social Perceptiveness Critical Thinking Problem Solving Judgment and Decision Making Service Orientation Compassionate Objective Insightful Persuasive Empathetic Accepting Creative Analytical Encouraging Additional Resources ● American Counseling Association http://www.counseling.org/ ● Council on Social Work Education http://www.cswe.org/ ● Social Work Graduate School: How to Get In http://socialworkschool.tripod.com/ ● American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/ ● Careers in Psychology http://www.psychwww.com/careers/i ndex.htm ● Psych Web http://www.psychwww.com/ ● Human Services Careers http://www.hscareers.com/