Working as a Teen Counselor

Hi. I'm interested in working with troubled teenagers, maybe as a counselor. I'm 43 and going back to school. Can you please advise me which steps to take?

You should consider earning a bachelor's degree in psychology. Once you finish the degree, you'll be eligible to apply for jobs in the field. You might work as a counselor aide, social worker, or psychologist research assistant. In any of these jobs, you'll have ample opportunities to work with teens, though you'll likely have to search to land a job. Or you could use your degree to enroll in a master's degree or doctoral program in psychology. Many psychology graduate programs require the completion of a bachelor's in psychology for admission.

The completion of an advanced degree in psychology will increase your eligibility for good jobs, and allow you to work directly with clients. Since your goal is to work with teens, earning a degree in school psychology makes good sense. You'll need at least a master's degree--but a PhD will be preferred by many employers. You'll also need to earn an educational specialist degree. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, among all psychology careers, school psychologists (especially those with higher degrees) should have the best job prospects.

As ongoing school violence gains national focus, more school psychologists are being actively recruited. If you go this route, consider earning the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) designation, a specialization now recognized by 26 states.