Blog

Home
How To Start A Rewarding Career As a Youth Counselor

How To Start A Rewarding Career As a Youth Counselor

Children Mental Health

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people? Do you want to be a guiding light for those navigating the often-challenging journey from childhood to adulthood? If so, a career as a youth counselor could be the perfect path for you. At Advanced Behavior Health Inc. (ABH), we are not just about providing mental health services; we are about fostering an environment where professionals like you can grow, thrive, and make a meaningful impact.

Why Choose a Career as a Youth Counselor?

Being a youth counselor is more than just a job; it’s a calling. It is the ability to inspire and motivate youth to reach their potential. It is helping young individuals overcome challenges, develop life skills, and build resilience. Here’s why this career is so rewarding:

Making a Difference: As a youth counselor, you can guide and support young people through some of the most pivotal moments in their lives. Your impact will be profound, whether it’s helping them navigate family issues, school pressures, or personal challenges.
Diverse Work Environments: Youth counselors work in various settings, including schools, group homes, healthcare facilities, and private practices. This diversity allows you to choose an environment that aligns with your passion and expertise.
Long-Term Relationships: One of the most fulfilling aspects of being a youth counselor is building solid, long-term relationships with the youth you serve. Watching them grow, overcome obstacles, and succeed is incredibly rewarding.
It is also an opportunity to build your skills to pursue further opportunities to becoming a therapist.

Steps to Become a Youth Counselor

Starting a career as a youth counselor is an exciting journey. Here are the steps you need to take to get started:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as psychology, social work, human development, or education. These programs provide a solid foundation in understanding human behavior, communication, and counseling techniques. At ABH, we value a strong educational background as it equips our counselors with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this field.

2. Gain Hands-On Experience

Experience is key in this profession. Internships, volunteer opportunities, or part-time jobs in social services agencies, summer camps, or non-profit youth organizations will provide invaluable hands-on experience. This step is where you’ll start developing the practical skills necessary for your role as a youth counselor.

3. Pursue Graduate Studies and Licensure

While some entry-level positions are available with a bachelor’s degree, pursuing a master’s degree in counseling or a related field can open doors to more advanced roles. Depending on your career goals, you may also need to obtain licensure, particularly if you wish to work as a clinical counselor. At ABH, we support our employees’ educational pursuits and offer opportunities for further professional development.

4. Cultivate Essential Skills

To succeed as a youth counselor, you need a specific set of skills, including:

Communication: Clearly conveying ideas and information to young people and their families.
Active Listening: Understanding the concerns and feelings of the youth you work with.
Empathy: Showing genuine care and understanding for the challenges they face.

At ABH, we provide ongoing training to help our counselors hone these essential skills, ensuring they are always prepared to offer the best possible care.

Why Work at ABH?

At ABH, our employees are our greatest asset. We are committed to creating a supportive, collaborative, and fun work environment. Here’s what sets us apart:

Supportive Environment: We foster a culture of teamwork and mutual support, ensuring that every member of our team feels valued and appreciated.
Professional Growth: We are dedicated to the continuous growth of our employees, offering opportunities for further education, specialization, and advancement within the company.
Impactful Work: At ABH, you’ll have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people. Your work will not only change their lives but also contribute to our community’s overall well-being.

Join the ABH Family

If you’re ready to start a rewarding career as a youth counselor, consider joining the team at Advanced Behavior Health Inc. We are always looking for passionate, dedicated individuals who are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people.

Contact Us:

📞 301-345-1022

When you think of the well-being of a child, you first think of basic needs: food, water, and shelter. Once these needs are met, however, it’s crucial for a child to have emotional and social wellness as well. In this article, we will explore the impact social wellness has on the overall health of a child and great ways for children to garner social support in their lives.

It comes as no surprise that as human beings, we all need connection with others, no matter what stage of life we are in. In fact, having social support is a social determinant of health (SDOH) that significantly impacts the health of an individual. After spending the last few years in and out of isolation due to the Covid-19 outbreak, social support is more important now than ever before. Having social support means having family members and friends you can talk to and seek advice from when life feels challenging and overwhelming. Knowing you’re not alone in your life journey, especially as a child, creates a sense of belonging and empowerment throughout one’s life.

4 Types of Social Support

Emotional Support. This type of support lets you know that people care about you and have empathy for your experiences. Emotional support often looks like people checking in on you to let you know they’re thinking of you, and that they are there if you need anything. As a parent, make sure your child knows you can be a sounding board for them. If you have family members who can also show up for your children in this way, even better!

Practical Help. This type of support is when people give you something tangible or offer a service to help you out. This could be in the form of money, making food when you are sick, or helping to pack when moving. Having family and friends show up in this way shows your child what it looks like to be present for people you love.

Sharing Points of View. This type of support can often come in the form of affirmations and encouragement. For example, pointing out your child’s strengths to them and reminding them they can do anything they put their mind to. It can also look like sharing another perspective if they are being hard on themselves. For example, if they are angry with themselves after receiving a bad grade on a test, you can help them see it as a learning experience and a way for them to grow.

Sharing Information. This type of support is when someone shares what they’ve learned from their own life experiences. For example, if another parent has a child who struggles with socializing, they can share some tips and tricks they’ve learned to help their child find and create social support.

The Importance of Social Groups and Extended Support

Children who are connected to their family, friends, and people in their community have opportunities to learn how to speak, share, and get along with others. When your child feels connected to people in your neighborhood, it often allows them to feel physically safe which can alleviate stress and worry. Simply riding bikes, going on walks, and saying hello to neighbors with your kids can create this sense of security for them.

In addition to engaging with your neighbors, getting involved in local organizations can also create social support for your child. Signing up for a sports team, musical theater, art class or summer camp are all great ways to help your child meet new friends and learn important social skills that can carry them through their lives.

Tips for Helping Kids Make Community Connections:

Spend time outside in your neighborhood playing on the playground, going to a local farmer’s market, or scheduling a playdate with neighborhood kids.

Show your kids that connection is a two-way street. If your neighbors or friends go out of town, offer to get their mail, or water their plants and take your child with you when you go. This will show your child how you show up for people you care about.

Make sure you make time for socializing with friends as well. Your child looks to you first and foremost for how they should act and live their own life.

Encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and do something they may be scared to do. As a parent, it’s your job to push them into something social for their own well-being at times.