Becoming a youth counsellor is a rewarding career that can help you make a difference in young people’s lives. Youth counsellors work with youth to help them develop skills, build confidence and solve problems. The role of the youth counsellor has evolved over time, but their core functions have remained the same: they provide support, guidance and counselling to young people from diverse backgrounds.
If you’re interested in becoming a youth counsellor, here are some tips on how to get started:
- Get an education
You’ll need either an undergraduate degree or a diploma in counselling before applying for most entry-level positions as a youth counsellor. If you want to work with children or adolescents specifically, then you’ll need additional education on child or adolescent development. This can include post-secondary degrees or diplomas in child and adolescent studies or even psychology programs that specialize in child development like those offered by universities such as Ryerson University (Toronto) and York University (Toronto).
- Examine your own experiences as well as cultural differences
It’s important for youth counsellors to understand their own cultural backgrounds and identities so they can relate better with the young people they work with who might come from different ethnic backgrounds or cultures.
How To Become A Youth Counsellor
If you like the idea of working closely with youth and helping them overcome challenges, then a career as a youth counselor may be for you. With the opportunity to work in a variety of different environments and develop strong, potentially long-term relationships with children and teens, many find this career highly fulfilling. Learning about the steps you need to take to pursue this career path can help you determine whether you want to explore this role further.
In this article, we discuss what a youth counselor does, their skills, how much they earn and how to become one yourself.
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What is a youth counselor?
A youth counselor is someone who helps guide and supervise children and teenagers. Youth counselors help them find solutions to challenges they may be experiencing and ensure they remain accountable for fulfilling their commitments, such as attending school. They work in a variety of different environments, including schools, group homes or other types of facilities.
What does a youth counselor do?
While a youth counselor’s specific responsibilities can vary depending on the environment in which they work, some of their primary duties include:
- Offering young people specific and responsible advice
- Being available to help youth in the event of an emergency
- Educating teenagers about home issues and peer pressure
- Helping children succeed in school and extracurricular activities
- Getting higher authorities involved if the child is at risk
Related: Interview Question: ‘Why Do You Want To Work With Children?’
How to become a youth counselor
Here are the essential steps you can take to become a youth counselor:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a youth counselor, the first step you can take is to earn a degree. While some employers do hire youth counselors who have an associate degree and an appropriate level of experience, most require candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree.
Though there isn’t a specific degree program that qualifies you for this role, some of the most appropriate degrees are psychology, social work, human development and education. If you want to specialize in working with a specific group of children and teenagers, you may want to take coursework to prepare you for that. Additionally, you may want to consider taking courses in a second language, such as Spanish, that enables you to better communicate with a wider variety of children.
Related: 15 Top Psychology Degree Jobs
2. Complete an internship or volunteer
The second step you can take is to gain some hands-on experience working with children or teenagers. If you’re still in college or are a recent graduate, look for internship opportunities at a social services agency. Alternatively, you could volunteer as a counselor at a summer camp or nonprofit youth organization. Internships and volunteer programs offer you an introduction to interacting with youth and helping them work through challenges that they may be experiencing.
3. Acquire work experience
After earning your undergraduate degree, search for entry-level youth counselor positions in your area. Depending on the employer’s requirements for the positions, you may need to take additional steps to qualify. Some employers require youth counselors to pass specific exams or complete training that includes seminars and other presentations. You may also want to look for other entry-level opportunities within those organizations to gain hands-on experience in a real-world environment before applying for a youth counselor role.
4. Pursue graduate studies and obtain licensure
To earn a higher income or qualify for more senior-level or management roles as a youth counselor, you may want to consider pursuing a master’s degree or graduate certificate. These programs often include youth counseling and development training. If you want to work as a clinical mental health counselor, a role that involves diagnosing and treating psychological disorders, you are required to obtain a license. Check your state’s requirements for youth counselor licensure, as these typically vary.
Skills for youth counselors
Youth counselors must typically have the following skills to succeed in their field:
- Communication: Youth counselors must have strong communication skills in order to convey a message in a way that children and teenagers can relate to and be compelled to act upon. They also need to be able to discuss a child’s development with their parents, legal guardians or other relevant parties.
- Active listening: Active-listening skills are critical for youth counselors, as they need to be able to listen closely to what a child or teen is saying in order to offer guidance. They also need to be able to read nonverbal cues, as these often send a strong message about what a child or teen is thinking but isn’t saying.
- Empathy: A youth counselor must be empathetic and caring in order to gain a youth’s trust and guide them in a positive direction. Communication and active listening are both skills that can help a youth counselor be more empathetic.
Related: Skills for Working with Children: Definition and Examples
Work environment for youth counselors
Youth counselors generally work in one of five environments, each of which features unique conditions and situations:
Schools and colleges
Most schools and colleges have at least one youth counselor who helps students with general academic challenges or personal or behavioral issues. Some counselors work in multiple schools within an area if the district has many high-risk students but few resources. These types of youth counselors typically work in an office within a school.
Hospitals
Youth counselors who work in hospitals normally help children with diagnosed mental illnesses. These children may either be undergoing intensive treatment or experiencing the psychological effects of severe disease. These youth counselors can work in children’s hospitals or pediatric units within a larger medical facility.
Related: How To Become a Child Therapist
Juvenile detention centers
Counselors who wish to help troubled youth often work in juvenile detention centers, where children under the age of 18 often stay when they commit an offense. These professionals can either be juvenile probation counselors or youth correctional counselors. The former counselor reviews complaints that law enforcement officials file, while the latter provides counseling to juvenile offenders and their families.
Foster homes
Children who live in foster homes or group homes also benefit from interactions with youth counselors. In these situations, a counselor’s employer may be the group home or the local health department. Youth counselors who work in foster homes typically provide children with trauma therapy and communicate frequently with caregivers about child development.
Read more: 12 Options for Working With Children in Foster Care
Private practice
Youth counselors sometimes open a private practice after building years of experience and connections. Private practice counselors sometimes maintain long-term bonds with children, offering them years of guidance and support. Their work frequently involves speaking directly to a child’s family to discuss behavior challenges and goals.
How much does a youth counselor make?
The average salary for youth counselors in the United States is $32,721 per year. Some of the factors that impact a youth counselor’s earning potential include educational levels, experience, industry and geographic location. Youth counselors in the Bronx, New York, for example, earn an average of $79,067 per year.
