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Mental Health Counselors: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

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This source lists 27 tasks, including 27 marked Core and 0 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2025.

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27 tasks shown

Core · Task 1591 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.

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Core · Task 1592 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.

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Core · Task 1595 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.

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Core · Task 23908 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.

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Core · Task 18484 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.

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Core · Task 18483 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.

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Core · Task 20402 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Perform crisis interventions with clients.

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Core · Task 1593 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.

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Core · Task 1594 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.

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Core · Task 1598 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.

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Core · Task 1596 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.

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Core · Task 1606 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.

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Core · Task 1604 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs on clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives.

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Core · Task 1600 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information.

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Core · Task 18485 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, or graduate students.

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Core · Task 1608 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy.

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Core · Task 1602 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.

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Core · Task 1597 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.

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Core · Task 23909 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Collaborate with mental health professionals and other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.

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Core · Task 1607 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Learn about new developments in counseling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies.

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Core · Task 1605 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Plan, organize, or lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation, or social activities for clients.

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Core · Task 1609 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy.

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Core · Task 1610 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Monitor clients' use of medications.

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Core · Task 1603 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.

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Core · Task 1612 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health or counseling services.

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Core · Task 1601 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.

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Core · Task 18486 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Coordinate or direct employee workshops, courses, or training about mental health issues.

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For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.