People Team AI Ask about a date

How exposed to AI is a Mental Health Counselor?

Of the 27 tasks O*NET lists for mental health counselors, 3 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 16 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Behavior AnalystBehavioral Health CounselorCase ManagerClinicianCounselorLicensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Mental Health CounselorMental Health SpecialistMental Health Therapist
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
27
tasks rated for this occupation
100%
hold a degree, from a survey of 28
10 of 14
least protected in community and social work

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

3
  • Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports
  • Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary
  • Learn about new developments in counseling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies

Only with software built on top

8
  • Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment
  • Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes
  • Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge
  • Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests
  • Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status
  • Collaborate with mental health professionals and other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans
  • Gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy
  • Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health or counseling services

Cannot be sped up

16
  • Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships
  • Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts
  • Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes
  • Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems
  • Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others
  • Perform crisis interventions with clients
  • Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy
  • Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information
  • Monitor clients' use of medications
  • Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs on clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives
  • Plan, organize, or lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation, or social activities for clients
  • Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients
  • Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process
  • Supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, or graduate students
  • Coordinate or direct employee workshops, courses, or training about mental health issues
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.