Counselors provide a variety of services in diverse settings including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities, agencies, hospitals, clinics, prisons and detention centers, mental health centers, businesses, and privates practices. The following are the main specialty areas:

School Counselors
Assist students in K-12 educational settings with academic, developmental, emotional, behavioral, vocational, and special needs. Conduct interviews, do therapeutic work with individuals and groups, advise students regarding career and college planning, administer assessment instruments, and lead specialized guidance programs.

Mental Health Counselors
Treat mental and emotional disorders with a focus on optimizing mental health. Employ therapeutic and assessment techniques to treat a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, stress management, low self-esteem, and relationship problems.

Rehabilitation Counselors
Counsel, evaluate, and provide additional support services for individuals with a wide variety of physical and mental disabilities. Involved in both personal and vocational counseling, help arrange for medical care, and assist in coordinating vocational training and job placement.

Substance Abuse Counselors
Focus on helping people with addiction problems involving alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, and eating disorders. Counsel individuals, groups, and families. Conduct prevention and awareness programs.

Career Counselors
Help with career decision-making. Assist individuals at various stages of career planning including finding a field post high school, selecting a college major, and making a career transition. Also provide support for those experiencing job loss or encountering recurrent job stress. Administer assessments, counsel individuals and groups, plan events, and coordinate other vocational development activities.

College Counselors
Support students across a wide variety of issues and concerns. Depending upon one's training, can provide services in many specialty areas described above such as mental health, career, or substance abuse counseling, but simply do so in college or university settings.

Pastoral Counselors
Usually consists of ordained ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, or others who provide therapy in addition to typical ministerial duties. Several states require pastoral counselors to hold licensure. In addition, many pastoral counselors also hold certifications and other secular credentials as well.

Gerontological Counselors
Provide services to the elderly and their families. Help with changing lifestyle, retirement, physical health, mental health, and other issues as one grows older. Counsel as well as handle administrative and advocacy duties.

Multicultural Counselors
Heighten cultural sensitivity in business, health care, academic, and other settings. Help employers and their employees better adjust to an increasingly more diverse workforce. Promote tolerance and mutual respect.

Marriage and Family Counselors
Help families and couples resolve conflicts, modify maladaptive behaviors, enhance communication, heighten mutual understanding, and prevent crises.