6 Counselor Resume Examples & Template
Written By Ida Pettersson
Reviewed By Samuel Johns, CPRWFind out how to write an impressive resume that showcases your ability to provide effective support to clients with our counselor resume examples and writing tips below.
Looking for something else? Check out our collection of resume templates for more designs.
Counselor Resume Template (Text Format)
Start by choosing the best resume format for you.
Copy-Paste Counselor Resume Template
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
RESUME SUMMARY
Dedicated counselor with [number] years of experience. Seeking to leverage my experience in [relevant abilities] to fill the [Job Title] position. Hold a [degree/diploma/certification] in [Degree/Diploma/Certification Title]. Skilled at [2–3 relevant skills]. A [adjective #1] and [adjective #2] worker aiming to contribute to the success of [Company Name].
WORK EXPERIENCE
Current Job Title (e.g., Marriage Counselor)
Company/Organization Name, City, State | Month 20XX–Present
- Include a bulleted list of your achievements as a marriage counselor
- Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “support” or “counsel”) to grab attention
- Use the present tense for your current counseling role, unless describing completed counseling successes
- Use hard numbers when possible to quantify your accomplishments as a counselor
- Mention how you’ve used some of the counseling skills listed in your skills section to demonstrate your mastery of these abilities
Previous Job Title (e.g., School Counselor)
Company/Organization Name, City, State | Month 20XX–Month 20XX
- List relevant accomplishments from your previous role as a school counselor
- Assuming you’re no longer working in this counseling role, use past tense verbs to describe your work
- Include 3–6 bullet points for each counseling role, both your current one and previous ones
- Skip the pronoun “I” and begin directly with a verb
- Although you’ll usually list work experience, feel free to include counseling-relevant internships as well as any volunteer work and extracurricular activities if you lack formal work experience
EDUCATION
Degree Name / Major
University, City, State | Graduation Month, Year
GPA: 3.X/4.0 (optional)
Latin honors (if applicable)
SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS
- List skills and certifications relevant to the counseling job you’re applying for
- Look at the job description for ideas of the skills the employer wants and that are common for counselors
- Emphasize counseling-specific hard skills in this section
- Be as specific as possible by including the names of counseling techniques and aides you’ve mastered
OPTIONAL RESUME SECTIONS
- Add any other relevant information about your background here
- For example, a separate section could be used to highlight any of the following information: counseling-relevant publications, or coursework, as well as languages and volunteer experience
Here are more example counselor resumes for types and experience levels to get ideas for your own resume:
Entry-level counselor resume
This is a good example of what your resume should look like if you’ve just received your counseling license:
Example highlights
- License: Listing your license in a separate section like this (and mentioning it in your resume introduction) ensures employers immediately know that you’re qualified to work as a counselor.
- Counseling specialization: The applicant focuses on their academic and practical experience with substance abuse counseling techniques, demonstrating that they’re ready to support people with addictions on their recovery journeys.
Experienced counselor resume
Are you already an experienced counselor? Use this example for reference when writing your resume:
Example highlights
- Unique skill set: After a decade as a counselor, this applicant has developed a highly specialized skill set that makes them an excellent candidate for a position helping clients process traumatic experiences.
- Language skills: The applicant frequently works with community members from diverse backgrounds, making their Spanish language skills a major asset. If you’re linguistically talented, make sure to include your language skills on your resume.
School counselor resume
If you’re applying to work in a school, highlight your ability to work with young clients, like in this school counselor resume example:
Example highlight
- Additional qualifications: Besides having an LPC, this applicant has received training to enhance their ability to provide students with the support they need.
Mental health counselor resume
To land a job as a mental health counselor, you’ll need a well-written mental health counselor resume like this one:
Example highlight
- Effective bullet points: Having well-written resume bullet points, like the ones on the resume above, is key to impressing hiring managers. Be as specific as you can when describing your achievements, for example by using numbers and keywords that appear in the job ad.
Camp counselor resume
If you’re applying for a job as a camp counselor, show employers that you’re patient and good with kids. Here’s a good example of a camp counselor resume that demonstrates these qualities:
Example highlight
- Action verbs: Instead of starting every bullet point with “responsible for” or “tasked with” this applicant phrases their bullet points as accomplishments by beginning each bullet with action verbs like “advanced” and “implemented.”
Average counselor salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Average counselor annual salaries by state
| State | Salary / Year |
|---|---|
| Texas | $64,750 |
| California | $77,640 |
| New York | $64,540 |
| Florida | $50,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,300 |
| Illinois | $59,970 |
| Ohio | $63,000 |
| Georgia | $60,930 |
| North Carolina | $51,920 |
| Michigan | $58,670 |
| National Average | $60,688 |
How to write a counselor resume
As a counselor, you’ll be working with vulnerable clients, so employers need to know you’re reliable and have the credentials and people skills necessary for success.
Here are four tips for writing a professional counseling resume that demonstrates these key qualities:
1. Start with an attention-grabbing resume summary
Your resume summary is the first thing employers look at on your resume, so it needs to grab their attention and quickly inform them of your top qualifications.
Your counseling resume summary should:
- be 3–5 sentences long
- include your counseling credentials, such as university degrees, licenses, and certifications
- highlight your experience, including any areas of expertise or specialization
- showcase your most relevant skills
- mention what you hope to accomplish
Here are three examples of effective counseling resume summaries:
Certified Grief Counseling Specialist with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a New York State Mental Health Counselor license. Possess 7+ years of experience in counseling individuals and families dealing with grief and loss, with specialization in sudden and traumatic loss, coping mechanisms development, and facilitating support groups. Skilled in active listening, empathy, and building therapeutic relationships with clients. Seeking to help clients at [Company/Organization] navigate their grief journey and find hope and healing.
Compassionate Substance Abuse Counselor with 5+ years of experience in addiction treatment centers. Adept at developing personalized recovery plans, leading group therapy sessions, and providing one-on-one counseling. Seeking to leverage my expertise in substance abuse counseling and crisis intervention to support individuals in overcoming addiction and achieving long-term sobriety at [Company/Organization].
Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and 6+ years of experience in diverse therapeutic settings. Skilled in CBT, crisis intervention, and individualized treatment planning. Passionate about supporting clients in managing mental health conditions and improving their overall well-being. Eager to join [Company/Organization] to contribute exceptional mental health care.
2. Demonstrate your counseling experience
Your work experience section is where you want to highlight your most relevant counseling experience. If you’re not sure what that is, revisit the job ad for the position you’re applying to and identify the keywords that describe the type of experience the employer is looking for.
These keywords will be words or phrases that describe particular skills and experiences that will help you be successful as a counselor. Adding specific keywords to your resume increases the likelihood that you’ll get called for an interview.
For example, if the job ad specifies the organization is looking for counselors with active listening skills and experience in crisis counseling, here’s how you could tailor your resume to meet the employer’s expectations:
Crisis Counselor
Safe Haven Crisis Center, Denver, CO
June 20XX – Present
- Deliver immediate crisis counseling services to an average of 20 individuals and families per week for mental health crises, including suicidal ideation and domestic violence situations
- Utilize active listening skills to provide emotional support and guidance to individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, and depression
- Conduct an average of 10 risk assessments per week, devising safety plans to prevent and respond to crisis situations
- Maintain detailed and accurate documentation of client interactions, including assessments and care plans
- Participate in regular crisis training and supervision sessions to ensure provision of high-quality crisis counseling services
If you’re writing an entry-level counselor resume or a counseling intern resume, you won’t have as much professional experience to include.
Instead, focus on showcasing other experiences, such as volunteer work, in which you applied relevant transferable skills.
Here’s an example of what that might look like:
Crisis Text Line Volunteer, Crisis Text Line
Chicago, IL
January 20XX – May 20XX
- Responded to an average of 25 crisis text messages per week from individuals in crisis, using active listening skills to make individuals feel understood
- Utilized crisis de-escalation techniques to assist individuals in managing their emotions
- Connected individuals with additional resources as needed
- Documented all client interactions in real-time, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of notes for future reference
If you’re a recent graduate who’s lacking professional counseling experience, expanding your education section to include relevant coursework is also a great option.
3. Showcase your credentials
As a counselor, your credentials are important. Employers (and clients) want to know that you have all the required qualifications, state licenses, and certifications you need to practice.
The easiest way to ensure employers see your credentials is to create a special licenses and certifications section on your resume. Make sure your credentials are up-to-date and meet state licensure requirements.
Each license or certification listing should include:
- the name of the license/certification
- the organization or body that awarded it
- year it was earned
- location (City, State) or “Online”
Here’s an example of a certifications section on an LPC resume:
Licensed Professional Counselor
Michigan Board of Counseling, Lansing, MI
20XX
Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Practitioner
Academy of Cognitive Therapy, Online
20XX
You should also make sure you showcase counseling-relevant undergraduate and graduate degrees in your resume education section.
4. Highlight your counselor skills
Counselors need a solid set of hard and soft skills to provide effective help and guidance for their clients. Show employers you’re well-equipped to handle the job with this list of counseling skills for your resume:
- Empathy
- Active listening skills
- Knowledge of counseling methods and techniques
- Verbal communication skills
- Patience
- Constructive feedback
- Questioning
- Prompting
- Paraphrasing
- Cultural sensitivity
- Discretion
- Trust building
- Observation
- Reflection
- Problem solving
- Analytical skills
- Creating treatment plans
Dr. Supatra Tovar, Clinical Psychologist, explains why it’s important to not only focus on developing hard skills as a healthcare professional:
One common misconception is that working in healthcare is purely about technical skills and knowledge. In reality, much of the work involves navigating complex interpersonal dynamics, both with patients and within the healthcare team.
Resume examples for different industries
Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.
Make a resume in minutes
Pick your template, fill in a few details, and our builder will do the rest.
6 Counselor Resume Examples & Template
-
Facebook
-
Twitter
-
Linkedin
Copy link
