职业描述：Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors (4153)

At Work
These counsellors work for social service agencies and hospitals or in private practice. Their duties may require them to:
Interview clients, prepare case histories and assess problems;
Develop and implement counselling and intervention programs to assist clients in determining goals;
Counsel clients and provide therapy;
Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and clients' progress;
Provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods; and
Specialize in dealing with a specific client group such as injured workers, or with specific problems such as drug and alcohol addiction, marital difficulties and behavioural disorders.
This occupation also includes addictions counsellors, bereavement counsellors, sex therapists, rehabilitation counsellors and youth counsellors.

Education, Training and Experience
These counsellors require a master's degree in counselling. In some instances, appropriate experience may serve as a substitute for a postgraduate degree.

They usually become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
With additional training and experience, they may progress to positions in social service management.

About this Occupation
17,000 persons were employed in this occupation in 1996, an increase of 68.1% from 1986. Over the same period, employment in all occupations grew by 13.1%.

22% of these counsellors work part-time, compared to an average of 19% for all occupations.
70% of these counsellors are women, well above the average of 45% in all occupations.
The unemployment rate in this occupation averaged 6.8% from 1994 to 1996, compared to an average of 6.7% for all occupations. These rates are among the highest for professional occupations and for occupations in social science, education, government service and religion.
Average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in this occupation in 1995 were $35,400, compared to an average of $35,700 for all occupations. These earnings are among the lowest for professional occupations and for occupations in social science, education, government service and religion.
Employment in this occupation is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions and not seasonal.

Full-Time Earnings

1995 Full-Time Earnings*
$52,500 Highest
$35,400 Average
$19,400 Lowest

* Full-time earnings of the highest 10%, the average and the lowest 10% of workers. $35,700 is the average for all occupations.

Looking to the Year 2001
Current labour market conditions for new entrants in this occupation are poor. Labour market conditions for new entrants will remain poor through 2001.

Government spending restraints in social programs and health services will be an important factor limiting the growth of employment in this occupation. The best opportunities may be in the private sector.
Most of the increase in labour requirements through 2001 for this occupation will occur in the health and social services sector.