When we’re young, we spend our time dreaming up what we “want to be when we grow up.” We might flit from dream job to dream job in our minds: teacher, pilot, doctor, lawyer, singer, engineer, sports player — the list is endless. But as we get older, knowing what we want to do with our careers doesn’t seem quite as easy. In fact, sometimes it’s very difficult to know which direction to take and how to do so.
Or, maybe we find ourselves in jobs or careers that we don’t feel are serving us in the right way or we don’t feel fulfilled. We might be left wondering what to do next. This is where career counseling comes in.
In a 2021 survey by the National Career Development Association, 85% of Americans said that career professionals provide valuable assistance, 29% said that they wanted career assistance with resume writing and interviewing skills, and 27% indicated that they wanted help with job search strategies. So, if you feel like you need some support to make the next career move, you’re not alone!
Here, we talk to our very own Grow Therapy counselors about what career counseling is, when you should seek it, and how it can benefit you.
Key takeaways
- Career counseling helps you identify your strengths, clarify your goals, and build a plan for moving forward — whether you’re just starting out, feeling stuck, or ready for a change.
- Sessions vary by provider but can include skills assessments, career exploration, resume help, interview prep, and job search strategy.
- Career counselors can be licensed therapists, social workers, or coaches — credentials vary, so it’s worth asking what a provider’s approach looks like before booking.
- Career dissatisfaction and work-related anxiety often have real mental health impacts — career counseling can address both the practical and emotional dimensions at once.
- Career counseling is typically not covered by insurance as a standalone service. If work stress is contributing to a diagnosable mental health condition, sessions may be covered — confirm with your provider before booking.
Career counseling 101
Melissa Galica, a licensed professional counselor with Grow Therapy, describes career counseling as “a specialized form of guidance that centers around helping individuals strategize their income-generating activities.”
Whether you’re an employee, self-employed, or just graduating, “career counseling is valuable for individuals at any stage of their career journey. It can offer guidance, support, and clarity for those who are transitioning, seeking personal and professional development, or desiring a change in their work lives. Career counseling is not limited to a particular age group or those who have faced setbacks but encompasses a broader range of individuals looking to navigate their career paths more effectively,” says Galica.
But what exactly does career counseling entail? Let our experts give you the rundown.
Did you know?
In a 2021 Harris Poll commissioned by the National Career Development Association, 85% of Americans said career professionals provide valuable assistance — yet only 12% of working adults were actually using a career counselor or specialist at the time. Nearly two-thirds said it would be helpful to talk to a professional about future career moves.
What is career counseling?
Career counseling is a service where a person meets with a therapist, career counselor, or career coach, and works with them to discover how to start, change, develop or pivot their career.
It can also be for people who don’t know what to do with their skills and passions, and would like a mentor to help guide them to make the best career decisions. Sometimes it can be hard to think objectively about your own career, so having someone from the outside giving their professional input can be of great help.
Galica goes on to say, “It’s important to recognize that not every career follows a linear path, where obtaining a specific training or degree leads directly to a predetermined job. For instance, becoming a K-12 librarian typically requires a master’s degree and two years of classroom experience, highlighting the complexity and diversity within different professions. Additionally, some individuals with counseling degrees may excel in mental health policymaking without actively practicing therapy, demonstrating alternative avenues within a specific field.”
How career counseling works
What a person can expect from their career counseling sessions will vary from provider to provider. Kristian Wilson, a licensed professional counselor with Grow Therapy who also specializes in career counseling, gives us an idea of what sessions might look like should someone choose to have career counseling.
- Assessing your strengths, skills, education, and experience
- Bringing your career aspirations and dreams to the surface
- Identifying areas of untapped potential
- Considering various career options
- Completing assessments and aptitude tests to discover interests, passions, and abilities
- Exploring industry trends and hiring practices
- Researching job listings and employers
- Preparing for interviews
- Enhancing your resumes
- Drafting your cover letters
- Finding your first job or changing careers
- Charting a rewarding career plan
What a person gets from their career counseling sessions really depends on what they want from them and the work they put in. You may not know what you want to do with your career, but you might have a good idea of what you don’t want — and this can be a great starting point for your sessions.
Who offers career counseling?
Career counselors can be people who have a master’s degree in counseling or social work, or they can be therapists, social workers, or life coaches.
If you are interested in taking part in career counseling, it might be a good idea to ask at your preferred mental health facility. Not all therapists or counselors specialize in career counseling, so it’s important to ask if they have any providers who specialize in this field.
If you’re a university student, you may find a career or guidance counselor, or someone who offers a similar kind of service, on campus. There’s a lot to think about when you’re a student and ideas about your future might seem overwhelming; a career counselor can help you realize what you want the future to look like and understand the steps you need to take to get there, offering professional development and career planning.
Wilson advises, “Choosing a career counselor will depend on what exactly you are looking for. If you’re just starting out in your career, you’ll probably want a counselor who can help you figure out what career path you want to take. If you’ve been in your field for a while, you might want someone who can help you progress in that field.”
At Grow Therapy, we have qualified professionals who specialize in career counseling and would be happy to speak with you about your career choices. You can search our marketplace for ‘career counseling’ and your health insurance type to find a therapist who can help.
When to seek career counseling
There’s no “right time” to get career counseling, but if you identify with any of the following scenarios, it might be something to consider.
“[Career counseling is suitable] when you’re uncertain about what you truly want beyond a paycheck. When you realize you’re just ‘phoning in’ your work, or have an overall feeling of dissatisfaction and don’t understand why. When you’re feeling “stuck” and are anxious/fearful of doing anything different,” says Tommy Saathoff, a licensed professional counselor with Grow Therapy.
Galica says, “From my personal observations, career counseling often comes into play when someone’s career situation reaches a point where it significantly impacts their mental well-being. This extends beyond the typical scenario of feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about quitting a job. It encompasses various aspects, such as navigating the challenges of launching a new career or business while maintaining patience, as well as managing anxiety related to adapting to a new job or position. Career counseling provides support in these situations to help individuals cope with the mental and emotional toll that career-related difficulties can have.”
Some other scenarios for which career counseling may be beneficial include:
- You’ve just graduated and you don’t know which direction to take with your career and your qualifications
- You’re already in a job that you’re unhappy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied with, but not sure what else you could or want to do; you may need help with career exploration
- You’re in a job that you like and you want to progress further, but you’re not sure how to do so
- You want to assess your career goals with a professional who can offer impartial advice based on your skills, experience, and personality
Like with any other aspect of life, when you’re feeling unsure or anxious and you think you’d benefit from “talking it out” and getting professional advice, counseling might just be the key.
Is career counseling the same as therapy, and will my insurance cover it?
Career counseling and therapy overlap but aren’t the same thing. Traditional therapy focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma. Career counseling focuses on professional development, career transitions, and goal-setting.
Some licensed therapists offer career counseling as part of their practice — particularly when work-related stress is contributing to a broader mental health concern — and in those cases sessions may be billable through insurance under a diagnosable condition. Standalone career counseling focused purely on job search strategy, resume help, or career exploration is generally not covered by insurance.
If you’re unsure what your plan covers, call the member services number on your insurance card and ask specifically about career counseling before booking.
Benefits of career counseling
“One of the major advantages of career counseling lies in the neutral perspective it offers,” Galica advises. “It provides a space where individuals can freely express their thoughts and concerns without interruptions or constant interjections of skepticism. This allows for a more open and productive dialogue.”
And once you really start to get into the sessions, what happens then? Here are some other benefits that can come from career counseling:
- Identify and clarify your career goals
- Gain an idea of what kind of jobs would suit your skills, personality, lifestyle, and experience
- Determine what you want from your work environment
- Develop strategies to go after the career you want
- Learn interviewing skills, cover letter-writing skills, and how to make your resume stand out
- Work on your negotiating skills, which might be useful when discussing job benefits and salary
- Determine your strengths and weaknesses so that you’re going after the right career for you
- Boost your confidence and give you motivation to seek the career you want and deserve
- Improve your decision-making skills, which could help in a current job or future roles
Galica notes, “Another significant benefit is that a skilled career counselor can offer valuable insights and suggest alternative opportunities that individuals may not have considered on their own. They can provide guidance on how to embark on new endeavors or explore different career paths.”
Scared to quit your job? How career counseling can help
There are many reasons that someone might be unhappy or unfulfilled in their job, and this can lead them to consider a career change. However, some people can be fearful of leaving a job or changing careers. Our experts offer some reasons as to why people might stay in a situation they’re unhappy in.
- They don’t want to risk earning less
- Their current job is highly-specialized and they worry their skill set is too narrow for a new job
- They’re very comfortable in their role and feel scared or overwhelmed by the idea of making a change
- They’re intimidated by the thought of learning new technology or skills
- They feel ashamed to quit a job or career they once wanted
- They have feelings of guilt about the time and resources they invested in their current position
- They have concerns about financial stability or finding an alternative job that’s secure
Despite the web of doubts and hesitations about taking steps to make a change, Galica adds, “Through supportive resources like career counseling, individuals can address and navigate these emotional barriers, gaining clarity and developing strategies to overcome shame, guilt, and uncertainty. By providing a non-judgmental and empathetic space, career counseling can help individuals explore their options, assess risks, and work towards a path that aligns with their values and aspirations.”
Final thoughts
Work takes up an enormous portion of our lives — and feeling lost, stuck, or unfulfilled in your career isn’t a small problem. It bleeds into everything else: your energy, your relationships, your sense of who you are. Career counseling gives you a structured space to work through not just the practical questions — what should I do next, how do I get there — but also the emotional ones, like why you feel afraid to make a change or what’s been holding you back from asking for more.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your career, mid-pivot, or just trying to figure out why you dread Monday mornings, there’s no wrong time to talk to someone who can help you see your situation more clearly. On Grow Therapy, you can filter for counselors who specialize in career work, read their profiles, and book directly online. Most clients are in their first session within two days.
