A good counselor resume shows your ability to help individuals navigate personal, emotional, and social challenges. Whether you aim to work as a mental health counselor, guidance counselor, or camp counselor, your resume needs to reflect your sense of empathy and service. Follow these steps to build a resume that reflects your qualifications.
Counselor Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
Counselor Resume Example
Why this counselor resume example is strong:
This resume stands out by displaying relevant certifications, client satisfaction metrics, and the counselor’s ability to handle diverse caseloads and group sessions.
Mental Health Counselor Resume Example
Why this counselor resume example is strong:
This resume shows the counselor's extensive experience and ability to manage a large caseload, along with the quantifiable success of group therapy sessions.
Summer Camp Counselor Resume Example
Why this counselor resume example is strong:
This resume emphasizes the counselor’s relevant soft skills such as leadership in activity planning, along with initiatives that boosted camper engagement.
Guidance Counselor Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
This resume's experience section contains impressive performance data, showing the scope and impact of Susan’s current role.
Camp Counselor Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
Jason introduces himself in the clear, forthright tone recommended for resumes, with profile phrases like “committed to” and “focused on.” Use simple phrases like these when writing your own profile. Avoid flowery language and overly self-promoting terms like “excellent” or “outstanding at.” A good rule of thumb: Only write phrases you can see yourself saying out loud at an interview or job fair.
College Admissions Counselor Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
This resume excels with a prominent skills section showing the different ways the job seeker can add value to a college community.
Psychologist Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
This resume follows a consistent structure and format to ensure hiring managers can read it easily. See how the job seeker puts basic details in a consistent order (title, organization, location, dates), letting the reader quickly scan their career progress so far.
Counselor Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Counselor Resume
1. Write an engaging profile showcasing your counselor skills
A good profile section gives three to five key reasons you’ll excel in your target job. Cite your years of experience, key counseling approaches, and relevant certifications. Tailor your profile to the counseling job you’re applying for, and focus on your ability to support clients’ mental, emotional, and social well-being. (Note: Most job seekers find it easier to write this section last.)
Strong Profile Example
Licensed mental health counselor with over eight years of experience providing psychotherapy and crisis intervention for individuals with mood disorders, trauma, and substance abuse issues. Adept at providing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), developing personalized treatment plans, and facilitating group therapy sessions.
Weak Profile Example
A counselor with years of experience working in mental health. Skilled in helping clients overcome their challenges and conducting therapy sessions.
2. Highlight your counselor accomplishments in a results-driven experience section
In this section, describe your counseling experience in terms of achievements and outcomes rather than duties. Where possible, incorporate relevant data such as client satisfaction scores or caseload size.
Strong Professional Experience Example
Mental Health Counselor, Serenity Wellness, Chicago, IL | May 2015 to present
- Provided individual and group therapy to over 150 clients dealing with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, achieving a 90% client satisfaction rating
- Conducted crisis interventions and developed safety plans for clients in distress, reducing hospitalization rates by 15%
- Created and led a 12-week CBT group for adolescents with anxiety, leading to a 25% improvement in coping skills, as measured by self-reporting tools
Weak Professional Experience Example
Mental Health Counselor, City Counseling, Boston, MA | July 2018 to present
- Met with clients to discuss mental health issues
- Provided therapy and support as needed
3. Showcase your counselor qualifications with relevant education and certifications
Counseling positions often require specific degrees and licenses. To demonstrate your knowledge base, list your highest degree and any relevant certifications, such as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Education
Template
- Degree Name — [Major, Minor], School Name, City, ST or online | [Year]
- [Relevant honors, activities, or coursework]
Example
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology
- University of California, Los Angeles, CA | 2013
Certifications
Template
- Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
- [Description]
Example
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), State of Illinois
- Certified Trauma Specialist, International Association of Trauma Professionals
4. Showcase the key skills needed for your counselor position
Include a list of your relevant soft skills, such as empathy and active listening, as well as technical skills, like specific therapeutic approaches. The purpose of this section is to quickly show the different ways you can work with clients and advance the hiring organization’s larger goals.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Active listening | CBT |
| Client and family relations | Client assessment |
| Conflict resolution | Crisis intervention |
| Emotional intelligence | Group therapy |
| Individual therapy | Motivational interviewing |
| Rapport building | |
How To Pick the Best Counselor Resume Template
As with most vocations, counselors should use a resume template that’s simple and straightforward. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template complies with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by employers to screen resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions: Counselor Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for counselor resumes?-
Use these action verbs to make your professional experience section more dynamic:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Advised | Assessed |
| Collaborated | Conducted |
| Consulted | Counseled |
| Created | Developed |
| Educated | Facilitated |
| Guided | Implemented |
| Improved | Led |
| Mediated | Monitored |
| Organized | Planned |
| Prevented | Provided |
| Reduced | Scheduled |
| Supported | Trained |
| Treated | Validated |
How do you align your resume with a counselor job posting?-
First, carefully review the job posting to understand the skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then match the language of the job posting with your resume, focusing on key skills and experiences that make you a strong fit. For instance, if a position emphasizes crisis intervention and trauma care, use your profile and experience sections to describe your work in those areas. This approach helps to show employers that you meet their needs directly.
What is the best counselor resume format?-
Most counselors should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section, and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. As a result, you can present yourself both clearly and strategically. With this format, hiring managers get the best view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can make an informed decision to contact you for an interview.
How long should my counselor resume be?-
A counselor resume should typically be one page long, especially if you have less than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume may be appropriate for seasoned professionals with extensive achievements, but only if every detail adds value to your candidacy. Focus on conciseness and relevance by tailoring your resume to the job you're applying for. Highlight your most impactful accomplishments, certifications, and key skills rather than listing every career detail.
Including work experience from the last 10 to 15 years is generally recommended. Older positions can be summarized briefly or omitted unless highly relevant. Remember, your resume is a snapshot of your qualifications, not an exhaustive career history. Prioritize clarity and impact to make a strong impression.
When applying for counselor roles, include a customized cover letter. This is an opportunity to describe your counseling philosophy and experiences that qualify you for the job. It also allows you to expand on areas that may not fit in the resume, like why you’re passionate about helping others in your community.
For more tips on writing a great cover letter, check out our detailed school counselor and camp counselor cover letter guides.
Craft your perfect resume in minutes
Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!
