Why clinical mental health counseling is one of the fastest-growing careers in America

Between the pandemic, burnout culture, and society’s fixation on “self-improvement,” something shifted. The signs of rising mental health challenges became impossible to ignore.

People stopped pretending everything was fine. This became apparent in conversations with friends, in posts shared online and in the quiet honesty that began to appear in meetings and group chats. Mental health awareness was having a moment, with significant implications for one profession in particular: counseling.

Clinical mental health counselors have long offered support to individuals struggling with mental health challenges, but in recent years, counselors have stepped into the spotlight. What was once viewed as a niche career path has become one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. It’s also a field in which purpose and practicality align.

This post will take a closer look at what is driving growth in the mental health industry and what that means for you.

Factors driving growth in clinical mental health counseling

We’re living through a cultural shift. Mental health is no longer taboo—it’s part of everyday conversations. People talk about it in classrooms, offices, around dinner tables and across social media.

A few key factors have contributed to the growth in counseling over recent years: access, awareness and attitude.

Access

Not long ago, therapy involved finding an office, adjusting your schedule and spending time in a waiting room. Getting help often required significant effort.

Now, it can take just a few clicks and a Wi-Fi connection. It’s easy to see why the mental health industry has grown so much in recent years. According to the Center for Improving Value in Healthcare, while telehealth experienced a boom due to the pandemic, it has now become the backbone of modern mental healthcare, with virtual visits jumping from 47% in 2020 to 58% in 2023.¹

Telehealth made mental health care accessible to people who might never have seen themselves as “the therapy type.”

Awareness

The pandemic also changed how we see ourselves. It made stress, isolation and grief impossible to ignore.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness.² That’s not a statistic to overlook—it represents coworkers, siblings, friends, and perhaps even you.

If you’re asking, “Why are mental health issues increasing?”, the pandemic offers part of the answer. It exacerbated existing mental health challenges, increasing anxiety and depression by 25%, according to the World Health Organization.³

Attitude

While stigma around mental health has not disappeared entirely, progress is clear.

Decades of research show that public attitudes toward conditions like depression are improving.⁴ You can see this in the openness with which people now discuss mental health—with friends, family, and across social platforms.

Counseling, once kept private, is increasingly viewed as a sign of strength and self-awareness. Parents talk about it with their children, and companies include it in wellness programs.⁵ Entire generations have reframed the narrative: seeking help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

Job outlook and employment statistics

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow by 18% between 2022 and 2032. That’s about four times faster than the average amongst all fields.⁶

This industry growth is a response to reality. People need help staying grounded. Counselors serve as the bridge to maintaining emotional and psychological well-being.

Diverse career opportunities

Counselors guide people through anxiety, trauma, grief, burnout and mental health growth. In short, they guide people through the complexities of being human.

People with counseling degrees work in:

• Hospitals, helping patients navigate difficult outcomes and after-care
• Schools, supporting students with concerns about grades, family life, and identity
• Private practices, supporting individuals and families
• Community clinics, offering care that might otherwise be out of reach
• Companies, developing wellness programs that make a real difference

There is room for every specialization—addiction recovery, family systems, trauma, relationships, career transitions and more. Each counselor finds their focus, often inspired by personal experience.

Skills and qualifications needed

Many counselors begin with a persistent thought: What if I could help more people? They already feel called to serve but want to deepen their impact.

The most effective counselors share several core skills and qualities:

• Active listening: Fully engaging with clients to understand their experiences
• Ethical judgment: Protecting the privacy and dignity of clients
• Clinical grounding: Using evidence-based methods, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed care
• Cultural awareness: Recognizing that "normal" looks different for everyone
• Empathy: Genuinely connecting with others’ emotions and perspectives 

Clinical mental health counselors are patient and curious. They navigate the complexities of mental health challenges with skill and compassion.

Becoming a licensed professional counselor (LPC) requires a master’s degree.⁷ Programs like Marquette University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling meet the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards. This is the credentialing gold standard, ensuring coursework and clinical hours meet state licensure requirements.

Marquette’s program features a range of courses on key theoretical and practical topics as well as practicum and internship experience. The program’s online format means you can keep working while you study, and the small-group structure fosters meaningful peer connections.

Job satisfaction and career impact

In 2024, the median annual salary for counselors in the U.S. was approximately $59,000.⁸ While financial stability is important, it’s often not the primary reason people choose this career.

The true reward lies in moments of transformation: the client who finally sleeps through the night, the couple who rebuilds trust, the teenager who realizes they’ll be okay. These are the milestones that matter most.

The world will always need people who can listen without judgment. Technology and trends may evolve, but the human need for understanding remains constant. Counseling exists at the intersection of empathy and expertise—the science of understanding people and the art of helping them heal.

Marquette’s program empowers working adults to join that mission, combining academic rigor with hands-on experience guided by faculty who have been in the counselor’s seat themselves.

Elevate your impact and support mental health growth

If you want a career that matters in a growing industry, counseling could be it. Marquette’s online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is flexible, accredited and designed for students ready to help others heal while also pursuing their own personal growth.

Review our admissions process or connect with an admissions outreach advisor to see how our program can help elevate your career.