Counselor Resume Example
Professional Counselor resume example with ATS-optimized template. Learn how to highlight your clinical experience, therapeutic techniques, and client outcomes to land counseling positions.
Last Updated: 2026-02-08 | Reading Time: 8-10 minutes
Quick Stats
Counselor Resume Example
Jordan Whitfield
jordan.whitfield@email.com
(555) 514-7832
Denver, CO
linkedin.com/in/jordanwhitfield
Skills
Certifications
Education
Profile
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 4 years of experience providing individual and group counseling to adolescents and adults. Specializes in anxiety, depression, and life transitions using person-centered and solution-focused approaches. Skilled in telehealth delivery, maintaining a caseload of 30+ weekly sessions with a 90% client retention rate.
Professional Experience
- —Maintain a caseload of 32 weekly individual and couples counseling sessions, achieving a 90% client retention rate over 12-month engagements
- —Specialize in treating anxiety and depressive disorders using solution-focused brief therapy, ACT, and mindfulness-based interventions
- —Facilitate a weekly process group for adults managing life transitions, growing participation from 4 to 12 consistent members
- —Complete clinical documentation within 24 hours of each session, maintaining 100% compliance with practice and insurance requirements
- —Provided individual and group counseling to 20+ clients weekly, including adolescents, adults, and families in a community mental health setting
- —Administered and interpreted standardized assessments including PHQ-9, GAD-7, and AUDIT to guide treatment planning
- —Completed 3,000 supervised clinical hours toward LPC licensure, receiving formal training in trauma-informed care and multicultural counseling
Why This Resume Works:
- Quantified achievements with specific metrics
- Keywords match common job descriptions
- Clean, ATS-compatible formatting
- Strong action verbs throughout
How to Write a Counselor Resume
Professional Summary
State your license type (LPC, LMHC, LCPC), years of clinical experience, and the populations and presenting concerns you specialize in. Include a performance metric like client retention or caseload size to demonstrate demand for your services.
Work Experience
Describe your caseload size, session frequency, and therapeutic approaches. Quantify outcomes where possible, such as client retention rates, group growth, or assessment completion rates. Specify populations and clinical settings.
Skills Section
Lead with therapeutic modalities and assessment tools. Group skills by category: therapeutic approaches, assessment, and clinical operations. Include any specialized training areas relevant to the target role.
Action Verbs for Counselors
Counselor Resume Keywords
These keywords appear most frequently in Counselor job descriptions. Include relevant ones in your resume:
Technical Keywords
Clinical CounselingIndividual TherapyGroup TherapyTreatment PlanningClinical AssessmentCrisis InterventionTelehealthSolution-Focused TherapyCBTACTMotivational InterviewingDSM-5Industry Keywords
Mental HealthBehavioral HealthCommunity Mental HealthPrivate PracticeSubstance Abuse CounselingSchool CounselingTeletherapyTools & Technologies
SimplePracticeTherapyNotesDoxy.mePHQ-9GAD-7AUDITBDI-IIWiley Treatment PlannersZoom for HealthcareElectronic Health Records (EHR)Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not specifying your license type and supervised hours
Clearly state whether you hold a full license (LPC, LMHC) or are provisionally licensed (LPCC, LAC). If you recently obtained licensure, mention total supervised hours completed to validate your training.
Using overly clinical jargon without context
While clinical terminology is expected, explain its application: instead of just listing "ACT," write "Utilized ACT to help clients manage chronic anxiety, resulting in clinically significant symptom improvement in 70% of cases."
Omitting telehealth experience
Telehealth proficiency is now expected. If you provide virtual sessions, mention the platforms you use, your telehealth caseload percentage, and any telehealth-specific training or certifications.
Counselor Resume FAQs
How should a Counselor present licensure on a resume?
Include your credential after your name (e.g., "Jordan Whitfield, LPC, NCC") and create a Licensure section listing the full credential name, state, and license number. If you hold provisional licensure, clearly note it and include your expected full licensure date.
What is the best resume format for Counselors?
A reverse chronological format works best for most counselors. Lead with a professional summary, followed by licensure and certifications, clinical experience, education, and skills. This format highlights your career progression and clinical hours.
Should I include my supervised clinical hours on my resume?
Yes, especially if you are early-career or recently licensed. Stating that you completed 3,000+ supervised clinical hours demonstrates the depth of your training. As you gain post-licensure experience, you can reduce emphasis on this detail.
How do I tailor my Counselor resume for different settings?
Emphasize the skills and experience most relevant to the setting. For private practice, highlight your caseload management and client retention. For community mental health, focus on diverse populations served and crisis intervention skills. For schools, emphasize developmental counseling and collaboration with educators.
Ready to Optimize Your Counselor Resume?
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Last updated: 2026-02-08 | Written by JobJourney Career Experts