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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Mental health counselors

Group talking and sitting in a circle. Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 24.9 percent of mental health counselors. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 72.9 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of mental health counselors with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	5.6	94.4
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	62.8	37.2
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	24.5	75.5
Supervising others	11.2	88.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 71.5 percent of mental health counselors and on-the-job training was required for 71.9 percent.

A master's degree was required for 96.9 percent of mental health counselors.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 31.2 percent of mental health counselors. Another 68.8 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of mental health counselors and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 64.8 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 21.0 percent of mental health counselors and was not required for 79.0 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 79.1 percent of mental health counselors. On average, workers spent 85.6 percent of the workday sitting and 14.4 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of mental health counselors with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	79.1	20.9
Driving	17.7	82.3
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	<40	>60
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey