3 answers
Illia
Student
Louisville, Kentucky
1
Question
Updated
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What steps should I take in high school and college to prepare for a career in the mental health field, and how can I turn my personal experiences into professional strengths while still maintaining healthy boundaries?
I’ve personally been impacted by mental health struggles, and they’ve motivated me to want to support others through psychology, counseling, or community work.
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3 answers
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Illia👋🏻...
If you want to work in mental health, start by building skills and getting experience, but also take care of yourself.
In high school: Try taking psychology or human development classes, and volunteer wherever you can... hospitals, crisis lines, or youth programs Even just practicing listening and empathy with people around you helps a lot.
In college: Major or minor in psychology, counseling, or something similar Join research projects, internships, or clinical volunteering to really see what the work is like And talk to professors or professionals, they can give advice you won’t get anywhere else
About your personal experiences: Your story can actually make you a stronger helper because you understand what people go through... Just remember to keep boundaries so you don’t take on too much, and make self-care a habit... therapy, hobbies, and balance are huge.
Basically, learn, practice, and take care of yourself...
that’s how you turn what you’ve been through into something that really helps others.
If you want to work in mental health, start by building skills and getting experience, but also take care of yourself.
In high school: Try taking psychology or human development classes, and volunteer wherever you can... hospitals, crisis lines, or youth programs Even just practicing listening and empathy with people around you helps a lot.
In college: Major or minor in psychology, counseling, or something similar Join research projects, internships, or clinical volunteering to really see what the work is like And talk to professors or professionals, they can give advice you won’t get anywhere else
About your personal experiences: Your story can actually make you a stronger helper because you understand what people go through... Just remember to keep boundaries so you don’t take on too much, and make self-care a habit... therapy, hobbies, and balance are huge.
Basically, learn, practice, and take care of yourself...
that’s how you turn what you’ve been through into something that really helps others.
Hwal Lee
DMSc, PA-C
275
Answers
Albany, New York
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Illia,
The mental health field is vast and it offers many different, interesting career opportunities. So, I would encourage you to find out and think about the different options available, from marriage and family therapist and social worker to psychologist and psychiatrists (and everything in between). Many of these career options require a minimum of master's degree for licensure, so once you decide on a particular mental health professional training, it will become much clearer what to do and how to prepare, such as applying to college and selecting a major.
Your personal experience with mental health struggles are and should be a great strength in your future mental health professional career, so I say you do not need to 'try' to turn your experiences into strengths. They already are. When it comes to setting and establishing professional boundaries, I think it's helpful to think of this as a lifelong process that takes frequent, daily practice and adjustments. Your professional training will certainly include lessons on this topic because it's even more important to mental health professions.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
The mental health field is vast and it offers many different, interesting career opportunities. So, I would encourage you to find out and think about the different options available, from marriage and family therapist and social worker to psychologist and psychiatrists (and everything in between). Many of these career options require a minimum of master's degree for licensure, so once you decide on a particular mental health professional training, it will become much clearer what to do and how to prepare, such as applying to college and selecting a major.
Your personal experience with mental health struggles are and should be a great strength in your future mental health professional career, so I say you do not need to 'try' to turn your experiences into strengths. They already are. When it comes to setting and establishing professional boundaries, I think it's helpful to think of this as a lifelong process that takes frequent, daily practice and adjustments. Your professional training will certainly include lessons on this topic because it's even more important to mental health professions.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1185
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Illia,
First of all, I appreciate how honestly you named that. It's strong to want to help people because you've been there, and when done well, it can really work to your professional favor rather than against you.
- In high school, your goal is exposure and foundation, not perfection.
If classes in psychology, health, biology, or sociology are offered, take them. Participate in student advocacy groups, mental health clubs, peer support positions, or community service (crisis lines, youth programs, nonprofits). These encounters help you develop empathy and determine whether you enjoy providing structured, non-emotional support to others. Additionally, establish boundaries early on: hearing is not equal to absorbing, and assisting does not equate to fixing.
- In college, shift from interest to skill-building.
Select a major such as human development, public health, social work, or psychology. Give education in abnormal psychology, ethics, research techniques, and the fundamentals of counseling top priority. Look for supervised jobs outside of the classroom, such as volunteer work at helplines, research labs, behavioral health tech jobs, or mentoring programs. Supervision is important. It safeguards you and teaches you how professionals manage their emotional burden in a way that is sustainable.
- Turning personal experience into strength requires structure.
Your life experience can help you become more empathetic, aware, and trustworthy, but if you don't set boundaries, it can become a liability. Generally speaking, your story informs rather than directs your work. Instead of processing your own healing, use your experiences to understand clients. In this discipline, personal therapy, reflective writing, and supervision are therefore important. They are professional infrastructure rather than indicators of weakness.
- Boundaries are a skill, not a personality trait.
You'll get the ability to ask, "Is this mine to carry?" Is this over-identifying, or is it beneficial? Strong mental health practitioners take great care of their patients and return home with their nervous systems undamaged. It takes time to learn that balance, and you're ahead of the curve since you're already thinking about it.
You're not only getting ready for a profession if you continue to base your interest on training, supervision, and self-awareness; you're creating a long-term, ethical, and significant one.
Best wishes!
First of all, I appreciate how honestly you named that. It's strong to want to help people because you've been there, and when done well, it can really work to your professional favor rather than against you.
- In high school, your goal is exposure and foundation, not perfection.
If classes in psychology, health, biology, or sociology are offered, take them. Participate in student advocacy groups, mental health clubs, peer support positions, or community service (crisis lines, youth programs, nonprofits). These encounters help you develop empathy and determine whether you enjoy providing structured, non-emotional support to others. Additionally, establish boundaries early on: hearing is not equal to absorbing, and assisting does not equate to fixing.
- In college, shift from interest to skill-building.
Select a major such as human development, public health, social work, or psychology. Give education in abnormal psychology, ethics, research techniques, and the fundamentals of counseling top priority. Look for supervised jobs outside of the classroom, such as volunteer work at helplines, research labs, behavioral health tech jobs, or mentoring programs. Supervision is important. It safeguards you and teaches you how professionals manage their emotional burden in a way that is sustainable.
- Turning personal experience into strength requires structure.
Your life experience can help you become more empathetic, aware, and trustworthy, but if you don't set boundaries, it can become a liability. Generally speaking, your story informs rather than directs your work. Instead of processing your own healing, use your experiences to understand clients. In this discipline, personal therapy, reflective writing, and supervision are therefore important. They are professional infrastructure rather than indicators of weakness.
- Boundaries are a skill, not a personality trait.
You'll get the ability to ask, "Is this mine to carry?" Is this over-identifying, or is it beneficial? Strong mental health practitioners take great care of their patients and return home with their nervous systems undamaged. It takes time to learn that balance, and you're ahead of the curve since you're already thinking about it.
You're not only getting ready for a profession if you continue to base your interest on training, supervision, and self-awareness; you're creating a long-term, ethical, and significant one.
Best wishes!