Ep. 88 - Clinical Supervisor & Mental Health Counselor - The Willow Center - Abby Yates

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This is the place to learn about careers from the people who are actually doing the work every day. I’m your host, Brian Bratt, and this week’s guest is 1999 Van Buren graduate Abby Yates, a Clinical Supervisor and Mental Health Counselor at The Willow Center. In this episode, Abby shares how a typical day looks in her position, how mental health professionals often don’t have the luxury of a consistent 8-5 work schedule, why mental health professionals transition to new positions so often, and much more. Whether you are interested in a career as a mental health professional or are still exploring your options, I hope that what Abby shares today will help all of you make better career decisions and have fulfilling career journeys. Enjoy the show! 1:12 - A typical day for Abby 3:10 - This is not a 9-5 career. 5:16 - Abby originally thought she would be a history teacher, but personal experience took her in a different career direction. 6:58 - While her undergraduate degree was in history, it has still helped her as a mental health professional. 8:55 - “People aren’t broken, so they don’t need to be fixed.” 9:36 - What is the difference between a counselor and therapist? 10:55 - There are a variety of places where a mental health professional can work. 13:42 - There are opportunities for students to learn about mental health careers. 16:00 - “You are not going to get rich doing this job” and will have to work up to a higher salary. 17:05 - Mental health professionals transition to new jobs often, but there is logic behind it. 18:20 - Most mental health professionals have to carry additional liability insurance. 19:44 - It’s okay to figure out what you don’t want to do. 21:51 - A career doesn’t mean a person is in one job for his/her entire life, and it sometimes requires trial and error and time to find a career path. Questions? Connect with Brian on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/brian-bratt/) or e-mail ([email protected]). Connect with Abby on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/abby-yates-ma-lpcc-s-72900b5a/) or by e-mail ([email protected]).