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What is a Military Counselor?

Military counselors are vital mental healthcare workers who help veterans and active-duty service people overcome various difficulties. They also provide mental health counseling services to the families of military service personnel. After all, the military offers specific sorts of challenges to its members and thus they require counselors with specific expertise in serving the military family.

If you are headed to school to earn a degree in counseling, psychology, or even an MEd, you can consider work as a military counselor. This page was created to help you learn more about this specialization so that you can make your best career decisions. Continue reading to learn more about how to become a military counselor.

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Steps to Become a Certified Military Counselor:

A military counselor is a psychology professional who creates a practice around helping veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. They may meet their clients in one-on-one sessions, in couples, or in group settings. This career path begins with a master's degree and then state licensure. Those that become licensed have the option to conduct psychotherapy with any sort of population they choose, though their military focus will certainly provide a strong client base.

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Step 1:

Counseling is a career path that is not for everyone. This field demands a lot from its practitioners in terms of emotional and psychological energy. Thus, the first step in becoming a military counselor is to decide that this is the field for you. In fact, helping veterans or military personnel should be a driving passion. Often this passion comes from personal experience in the military or counseling, if not both.

It's also vital to determine if you are cut out for the profession. Counselors need to be compassionate and empathetic, but they must also have firm boundaries. On a daily basis, you are likely to hear very personal and often disturbing stories that have caused your clients great pain. Counselors need to have a way to both connect with and not internalize these stories.

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Step 2:


The second step to becoming a military counselor is earning a bachelor’s degree, ideally in psychology, as it will cover the prerequisites needed for a master's program. While studying, it’s beneficial to take counseling courses to prepare for future work and build confidence in your chosen career path. Additionally, courses in sociology and political science can offer valuable insights into the broader military context.

To enhance your education, consider internships at the Veterans Administration or volunteering with veteran groups. Even if you don't work directly with counselors, volunteering will expose you to the veteran population and help you understand common traits and challenges they face, which will be useful in your future role as a counselor.

Step 3:

Once you have your bachelor's degree in psychology, you'll need a CACREP-accredited degree in counseling. You can complete a master's degree in psychology or counseling with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling. Most of these programs will require that you complete one or more internships. You may be able to find these programs online, but you will need to complete work experience with a licensed supervisor regardless.

These days, there are many accelerated programs that allow undergraduate students to enroll and then complete both their bachelor’s and master's degrees in five years. This can help non-traditional students who are interested in expediting their education and traditional students who would like to save a little money while accelerating their education.

Step 4:

The fourth step toward becoming a military counselor is obtaining licensure, which depends on completing a graduate program accredited by a national agency like CACREP. Accreditation ensures your degree is recognized by licensure boards, so be sure your program meets all board requirements.

A key licensing requirement is completing supervised hours, where you work under a licensed professional who can confirm your counseling skills. This period often lasts up to a year of full-time work. Lastly, you must pass your state's licensing exam, which varies by state. Check your state board's website for specific details, and if you're studying in the same state, your academic advisors should provide the necessary information.

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What Do These Counselors Do?

Military counselors typically work in calm, safe office environments, where they help service members and their families with psychological issues like addiction, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. While some counselors are employed by Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals, many work in private practice. Counselors at the VA often have set hours and limited control over their client load.

In private practice, military counselors may have their own office in an office building or even at home. Alternatively, they might share space with other counselors, which allows for shared administrative support and the ability to market a collective practice serving various populations.

Regardless of the setting, military counselors must ensure they see clients as scheduled and handle administrative tasks such as billing, notes, and marketing. Those working in hospitals may have daily quotas to meet but are not burdened by the administrative tasks that private practitioners face.

Military Counselor Skills to Acquire

Military counselors need a wide range of skills to be effective in their roles, with listening being one of the most crucial. Effective listening allows counselors to pick up on subtle cues and underlying issues that help identify problems. This skill is essential in understanding and helping clients navigate their challenges.

In addition to listening, strong communication skills are vital. Counselors must be able to convey difficult truths and offer insights without causing harm or offense. Setting healthy boundaries is also an important aspect of communication, ensuring the relationship remains professional and productive.

Military counselors must also maintain emotional objectivity, engaging with clients without becoming overwhelmed by their struggles. Over time, working with clients dealing with depression, anxiety, or PTSD helps counselors develop clinical distance. Additionally, strong analytical skills are necessary to assess each client’s situation and create a personalized treatment plan.

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Military Counselor Career & Salary

Where Might You Work?

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Military counselors can work in a variety of environments. Many counselors who specialize in psychological issues that relate to military service work for the Veterans Administration. If you want to work with active-duty military personnel, you might work in a military treatment facility, which are located on military bases.

Private practice is also an option for licensed military counselors. In this option, you can diversify your client base to include non-military clients. For instance, your work with veterans and active military personnel might expose you to issues related to addiction, grief, family issues, or depression. Your private practice can then diversify into the non-military population and focus on those matters more exclusively. Military counselors might also work in prisons or homeless shelters where all too many veterans can be found. Often, veterans with PTSD or other troubles find it very difficult to adjust to civilian life and thus end up in dire straits.

Career Outlook

The outlook for military counselors and psychologists in general is healthy. Their field is growing, and they are reported to have good salaries. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, in 2023, psychologists earned a median salary of over $92,740. The pay for those with a doctoral degree may be even higher. Psychologists who work in the VA or other governmental agencies may also make more money with a doctoral counseling degree. The role is also projected to increase by 7% in the years between 2023 and 2033.

Note that professionals with other credentials could also enter this field. For instance, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), pastoral counselors, and substance abuse counselors can work under the banner of a military counselor. Note that the BLS only tracks licensed counselors as psychologists and doesn't address the others. However, if you have arrived at your job as a military counselor via some other route, but are licensed to conduct psychotherapy in your state, then you can assume a salary and professional outlook along the lines of a psychologist.

Advancing From Here

Military counselors can advance their careers in a number of ways. Those who work in the VA or other health systems might move up into administrative positions. It's also possible to return to school and complete a doctoral degree, which provides higher salaries and more status. Counselors can also start a private practice which they can grow to include other counselors. They could work as consultants in the legal field and help veterans form a legal defense unless they are offering expert testimony for a prosecutor. Since psychology informs all parts of human existence, there are many opportunities to learn and grow as a counselor.

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Jobs

There is no shortage of job possibilities for those who seek to work with military veterans or active-duty personnel. You can work in a VA hospital, on military bases, in homeless shelters, prisons, or in private practice. You might even decide to take a break from psychotherapy and train your skills to other forms of counseling, or even entirely different populations.

Here are some options.

  • Military Child Youth Therapist:
    There are positions located on naval bases and others but your employer will likely be a for-profit health services provider. Counselors in this position will be asked to work with active-duty personnel and their families.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor:
    In this position, you may work directly for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and you will be working with disabled veterans who need help acclimating to civilian society. While this is not a job that requires a psychotherapist, but you might need to refer clients to someone for more intensive one-on-on sessions that address deeper issues.
  • Correctional Counselor:
    This job is for those who wish to work with inmates who are having difficult times. The potential to help people change is great for those who take this position. This will often be a state job and require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum, but they would probably prefer a master's degree.
  • Pastoral Counselor:
    These counselors needn't necessarily be licensed, but they do need to have credentials especially if they are going to work outside of a church. You may find a position as a home-health counselor who also provides hospice care or work with military families at a local base.
  • Substance Abuse Counselor:
    Depending on your state's requirements, you may be able to attain credentials with only an associate degree. Your credentials and salary then increase along with your degrees. Salaries and statuses are often closely tied to one's licensing level.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a military psychologist do?

Military psychologists provide mental health care and counseling services. They perform tests, conduct research, and treat mental and emotional disorders.

What is the median salary of a military psychologist?

Military mental health professionals make around $80,000 annually according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Where do military psychologists work?

Military Psychologists can work anywhere military professionals work. Many military psychologists work in military bases, hospitals, military clinics, and some may travel with troops overseas.

What is the work environment for these counselors?

Military counselors may work in a number of different locations. They may have many different positions and work in many different types of environments. Most mental health professionals work about 40 hours a week. weekends and nights may be required depending on the job setting the counselor works in.

How long does it take to become a military psychologist?

The first step to become a military psychologist is to get your four year bachelor's degree. You will also need a CACREP-accredited degree in counseling. After you have that, you need to become licensed.

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