Behavioral and Mental Health Careers

Behavioral and mental health is a broad field with a wide range of career choices. From direct, one-on-one counseling services to clinical or social research to indirect services that impact society, there are many opportunities to engage in a career that provides care to others and uplifts individuals that may be struggling with mental illness and other related stressors. There are multiple ways to explore careers in mental health, but for our purposes, we will break it down into two distinct categories: 1) direct service with individuals, and 2) indirect service that supports individuals, communities, or society at-large.

Direct Service with Individuals

Mental health careers can be found across a variety of employment areas, and there is a wide range of professionals that engage in direct one-on-one work with individuals. Counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers are just the tip of the iceberg. Mental health professionals can be found in schools, hospitals, nonprofits, colleges and universities, private practices, sports teams and clubs, government, and even private businesses. Many mental health professionals hold advanced degrees that provide them with deeper knowledge in brain function and human behavior while also enhancing skills such as empathy, research, and case management. These career paths can help individuals learn about what they’re feeling, why they may be feeling it, and how to cope.
– Adapted from ExploreHealthCareers.org. 

Indirect Service

You don’t need to work directly with people to help individuals or society overcome mental health challenges or find a more positive state of wellbeing. For example, you might conduct research in a biotechnology, hospital, or university setting, or work on administrative tasks in a nonprofit, or serve in a customer service or business-focused role in a technology company focused on mental health products or services, or research and write policy to inform laws and regulations. There are many more examples of how you can apply your interests to pursue a career that serves to indirectly support behavioral and mental health issues in individuals, communities, and society at-large.

Information Gathering

Because there are so many different directions you could go in the behavioral and mental health field, you will want to identify trade magazines, newsletters, and popular websites in your area of interest. Places to start include Behavioral Health News, Science Daily Mental Health News and Medical News Today. Subscribe to blogs and newsletters, follow industry insiders via social media, and research the types of positions that are available in those fields. Organizational websites, O*NET, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook are helpful resources. You must show not only an interest, but also knowledge about the industry.

Select Resources

Making Connections

Attend information sessions, industry events on and off-campus, and connect with popular professional organizations regionally and internationally. The most relevant professional associations in behavioral and mental health include American Psychological Association (APA), American Counseling Association (ACA), and American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). If you have a specialty of interest, check out this list of more specific professional associations in the mental health field. Professional associations host a variety of professional development, educational, and networking events.

Joining groups on LinkedIn related to your industry is a great way to meet new people, find mentors, contacts, and ask questions. Also, reach out to alumni through Hoya Gateway and Georgetown’s alumni page on LinkedIn. Our website provides helpful guidelines on networking and informational interviewing.

Making Connections at Georgetown

Georgetown offers a number of opportunities for you to get involved. Joining a school club is an excellent way to learn more about the industry, develop your skills, and get hands-on experience. Some mental health-related clubs include Active Minds, GIVES, and St. Elizabeth’s Outreach Program. There are also groups that are not specifically focused on mental health, but could provide skills that would aid in a career in mental health down the line. The Center for Social Justice offers a variety of programs, such as DC Reads, the After School Kids Program (ASK), and the DC Schools Project, that uplift individuals and communities around DC. For more student club information, visit Campus Groups.

In addition, increase your research skills by joining a lab around campus. The Center for Research and Fellowships offers the Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (GUROP), and the psychology department in particular offers a wide variety of ways to get involved in research, including a research experience based learning course (REBL). There are also many labs that take undergraduate volunteers.

Getting a job on or off-campus can be another excellent way to build skills valued by employers. There are many offices on Georgetown’s campus that work to positively impact and fully support students. Check out offices such as Health Education Services, the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA), or Georgetown Campus Ministry. Some offices even have student-led programs and roles dedicated to supporting other students. For example, the Cawley Career Education Center has a student-led, peer career support program called Wayfinders, and Campus Ministry runs a group retreat program called ESCAPE. 

An additional way to gain a deeper understanding and gather information about this career path is to engage in counseling or therapy yourself. Visit with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for a one-on-one or group counseling session or John Main Center for Meditation and Interreligious Dialogue for mindfulness and meditation sessions.

Preparing Materials

To better understand what skills you need to highlight on your resume, check out internships, fellowships, and entry level positions in the behavioral and mental health industry. See our resume and cover letter pages for more tips and advice.

Applying

For listings beyond our campus recruiting platform, Handshake, visit Idealist, Indeed, or do a Google meta search. The nonprofit sector is a common arena in which to volunteer, intern and work. Identify organizations with a mission in the “mental health” issue area. Additional job boards include Georgetown Psychology Department’s Job Board (they also have a Georgetown students only filter), Psychology Job and Internship opportunities for undergraduates and recent grads, and APA’s Undergraduate Research and Intern Opportunities.