If you have a strong desire to help other people, along with good listening skills coupled with an empathetic nature, then a career in counseling could be one of the best decisions you make.  Becoming a counselor involves a solid education, and you can often decide upon a certain type of counseling to specialize in, but the rewards are worth every second of effort that you invest in the learning process.  Not only will you benefit from a great salary and steady job security, but the emotional reward of knowing that you're helping other cope with their issues will help you feel a sense of pride and accomplishment few other occupations can ever hope to match.

Professional counseling services can take a wide range of forms.  Addiction counseling has become a necessity for many trying to overcome addictions from drugs, alcohol, or even other issues such as gambling or sex addiction.  Many recovered addicts become counselors and can use their own experiences to help their patients overcome their dependencies.  Counseling in a hospital setting is common for many addiction counselors, who find themselves working in rehabilitation centers.  Community counseling is any type of professional counseling that takes place outside of the hospital environment.  This is where the majority of counseling occurs, and covers a broad range of different specific areas.

Mental health counseling is by far the most common area of counseling, but it covers a wide range of issues as well.  Substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, grief, self-esteem, and more all factor into the duties of a mental health counselor, and they are skilled in these areas and more.  Since the mid seventies, mental health counseling has provided help to those in need of it.  Another area of counseling that is becoming more relied on is pastoral community counseling.  Pastoral counseling is a special area of training that many ministers, pastors, and other church leaders undergo.  This counseling focuses on many of the same issues as mental health, but also involves spirituality and faith in the counseling sessions.

Whether you're a student about to take the first steps towards a counseling education or a preacher hoping to help his congregation more fully, an education in professional counseling is an excellent way to help others who are in need.  Countless Americans suffer from depression, stress, addiction, and other mental anguish, and counselors are there to help guide them through the dark patches of their lives.  Most counseling programs involve at least four years of education, after which you will be ready to start helping your fellow citizens while earning a great salary.