Description

The field of mental health is a wide-ranging career field filled with many professional opportunities. The careers that will be discussed in this guide include psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health social workers.

Collection

Psychiatric Nurse

Education

  • Entry-level nursing program 
  • A 2-year associates degree in a nursing program, 3-year diploma, or a 4-year bachelor's degree
  • Passing of state exam to practice

Experience

  • 2 years of practice as a full-time RN 
  • Minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical experience in psychiatric mental health nursing within 3 years of passing the exam
  •  30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric mental health nursing within 3 years of passing the exam 

Psychiatrist

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree (either in pre-med, psychology, or a behavioral science major)
  • Med school 
  • Degree for Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) certification

Experience 

  • Volunteer (organizations, hospitals, etc.)
  • Internship (hospital, mental health clinic)
  • Four-year residency program (hospital or clinic) 

Psychologists

Education

  • Bachelor's degree (typically in psychology but can also be social work or sociology)
  • Master’s degree (specialize in specific area of interest) 
  • Doctoral program (either Ph.D or Psy.D)  
  • Licensure 

Experience 

  • Volunteering (inpatient/outpatient clinic, hospital) 
  • Internship (hospital, mental health clinic) (often for postdoctoral program) 
  • 1,500 to 2,000 hours of training
  • At least 1 to 2 years of supervised professional experience

Mental Health Social Workers

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree (social work or psychology) 
  • Master’s program (MSW) (allows for specialization) 
  • Licensure

Experience

  • Internship 
  • Practicum
  • Two years of post-MSW clinical experience 

Substance Abuse Counselors

Education

  • High school diploma or associates degree (in some states) 
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (in many states) 
  • Licensure

Experience

  • Hours supervision (either in drug or alcohol counseling)
  • Volunteering

Organizations to Volunteer or Intern With

  • Systems Unlimited - provides local services to individuals with intellectual disabilities by providing supportive housing, employment opportunities, and behavioral therapy. The organization has a range of volunteer opportunities, including short-term special event volunteering. Opportunities to get involved can be found at the link below.

  • CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank - CommUnity provides a wide range of services under the umbrella of crisis intervention, including a crisis hotline, support groups, mobile outreach, suicide prevention training, financial assistance for basic needs like rent and transportation, and two food banks, one mobile and one at the CommUnity headquarters. There are multiple volunteer opportunities available working for either the food bank or crisis hotline. CommUnity also offers plenty of part-time and full-time job opportunities for the crisis hotline or mobile outreach services. 

  • NAMI Johnson County - NAMI, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a local branch representing Johnson County in downtown Iowa City. NAMI is a grassroots advocacy group for individuals with mental illness; the Johnson County branch serves the community by providing educational programs, support groups, and treatment services. Information on volunteer opportunities are available at the link below.

  • Women’s Resource and Action Center- The WRAC is an on-campus feminist advocacy and activism organization which also operates under the UI Division of Student Life. The WRAC provides services such as counseling, violence prevention efforts, community education, as well as professional development opportunities for activists. Various volunteer opportunities are available with civic engagement, community organizing, or violence prevention. 

  • The Arc of Southeast Iowa - The Arc provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities, such as after school programs and day camps, family and caregiver support, individual and group therapy, and community education. Various volunteer opportunities are available working on day camp and group programming, special events, or childcare. 

  • Prelude Behavioral Services - Prelude is a nonprofit which provides general mental health counseling and treatment services. They offer internship and practicum programs tailored to students, which entail working in a clinical setting with crisis intervention, recovery planning, and individual and group therapy. Contact information is available on their website to inquire further. 

  • ChildServe - ChildServe provides a wide range of services for children with disabilities, including childcare, treatment, and rehabilitation. Volunteer opportunities are available in special event support, administrative support, and direct service. They also occasionally offer paid or for-credit internships in therapy, human resources, legal, marketing, accounting, and development. 

  • Rape Victim Advocacy Program - RVAP, part of the UI Division of Student Life, provides services such as victim advocacy, counseling, support groups, a crisis hotline, and violence prevention education. Volunteer opportunities are available in direct service, rural outreach, prevention, and in their Queer Health Advocates Program. Training is typically required for volunteers. 

Student Organizations

  • NAMI On Campus at Iowa - This is the UIowa chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They provide peer support groups for individuals with mental illnesses as well as special events and education efforts to reduce stigma and spread awareness of mental illness. @namiatiowa on Instagram posts regular updates for meetings and events. 
  • Active Minds - Active Minds is a group based around mental health advocacy and education for the campus community. They hold regular meetings and community events focused on specific topics in mental health. Follow @uiactiveminds on Instagram for more information and regular updates on events.
  • Green Bandana Project - a student led program focused on providing support and resources to those struggling with mental illness, as well as to promote “a culture of care” regarding mental health on campus. The program offers an online, interactive simulation covering how to approach mental health crises, upon completion of which students are given a green bandana.
  • UCS Student Advisory Board - The University Counseling Services Student Advisory Board is a small group of 10-12 undergraduate and graduate students who assist and advise the University Counseling Services. Meetings are held weekly each Friday. Students must submit an application at the beginning of the semester to be considered for the role.  
  • UI Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness - BIEDA works closely with the University Counseling Service to specifically advocate eating disorder awareness, body acceptance, and healthy lifestyles. 
  • Best Buddies - Best Buddies pairs student volunteers with individuals with intellectual disabilities with the goal of fostering social connection and personal development. 

Career Fairs & Networking Events

  • Fresh Check Day - an annual campus "mental health fair” in which different local and on-campus mental health organizations set up interactive booths. This event is a great opportunity to learn about and take advantage of campus mental health resources, as well as to discover volunteer and job opportunities and network with mental health professionals and advocates. This event typically takes place in October, in the middle of the fall semester. 

Suggested Courses

  • Elementary Psychology 
  • Intro to Social Psychology 
  • Intro to Clinical Psychology 
  • Social Justice and Social Welfare in US 
  • Intro to Trauma and Resilience 
  • Intro to Developmental Science 
  • Intro to Disability Studies 
  • Theories of Social Justice 
  • Intro to Counseling Psychology 
  • Multicultural Counseling and Psychology 
  • Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology 
  • Intro to Couple and Family Therapy 

Career Center

Helping & Counseling Career Community at Pomerantz Career Center - The Career Center provides industry-specific career communities for students to find resources for their specific career goals and interests. The Helping and Counseling Career Community provides support to students interested in careers surrounding community service and mental health. Students can schedule an appointment with a Helping and Counseling career advisor to further explore resources and opportunities in this field. 

Job Search Engines 

  • LinkedIn: LinkedIn serves as a database for open opportunities, a digital resume platform, and a social networking tool all in one. Unlike most other job websites, LinkedIn allows you to add recruiters and other people of interest to your virtual network, making it the best website for connecting directly with recruiters (https://www.linkedin.com/)

  • Indeed: Indeed posts listings for job seekers in every industry, every level from entry to executive, and every lifestyle (freelance, part-time, internship, full-time). Candidates can search by job title and location, salary range, date posted, and experience level ​(https://www.indeed.com/)

  • HandShake (Great for college students seeking internships): Handshake was created to ensure that all college students have equal access to meaningful careers. Our mission is to democratize access to opportunity and ensure any student can build a great career no matter who they know, where they live, or what school they attend. We empathize deeply with our students to increase career opportunities for all (https://joinhandshake.com/about/).

  • GlassDoor: To start your search on Glassdoor, you can create a profile, upload your resume, and sign up for email alerts to receive curated lists of job opportunities. You can also browse active listings using the site’s search bar. On each job listing, you’ll see information about the position and how to apply, an overview of the company, anonymous ratings, and reviews of the company and its CEO, as well as salary and benefits information (https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm)

  • FlexJobs (Great for remote jobs): FlexJob members get access to professionally vetted listings across over 50 categories from entry-level to executive. Members also get access to exclusive discounts and deals on products and services like Intuit QuickBooks, Dell laptops, and professional career coaching (https://www.flexjobs.com/)

  • Scouted (Great for recent college graduates): Companies that hire through Scouted use a more holistic approach when hiring by taking into account applicants’ personal attributes against traditional metrics like skills and experience. Scouted’s unique matchmaking-style approach to hiring makes it the best job website for college graduates looking to land their first entry-level full-time opportunity after graduation (https://scouted.io/)

Informational Interviews

  • Informational interviews are a great way to discover your passion for a career in the mental health field. Informational interviews can serve as the breeding ground for insider information of companies and organizations that are mental health based.

Examples of Companies 

  • NAMI
  • RVAP
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • RAINN
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Resumes are a great way to expand a little more on your professional experiences by listing educational and work experience, volunteer opportunities, and certain skills that may make you a more competitive candidate for the job you are interviewing for.

Cover Letters are the perfect opportunity to briefly summarize your professional experiences and background. Tips on how to create a cover letter are here.

Interview Resources:

Interview Etiquette and Tips:

  • Do extensive research on the job in which you will be interviewing for.
  • Dress in a manner in which is professional for the job that you will be interviewing for.
  • Meet your interview with confidence!
  • Expand on the qualifications that you have in the interview.
  • Even if you may not be qualified for the job that you are interviewing for, convince your interviewer that you are perfect for the job.