Exploring pathways to mental health careers
By: Mary Lynne Bartlett (she/her)
Today, many careers in mental health extend beyond counselling offices and clinics. Mental health careers span a wide range of industries and professions. When University of Waterloo Arts students began asking about pathways into mental health, career advisor Alicia Flatt and programming specialist Lindy Bancroft from the Centre for Career Development (CCD) partnered with the Psychology department in the Faculty of Arts to address the gap.
CCD developed the Exploring careers in mental health event to help address some of the challenges students were facing and integrate industry trends into an offering for students. “We wanted to create more employer and industry-related events where students could explore different fields,” Bancroft says. “There’s not just one path to going into any industry.”
The event features a panel of professionals who work in counselling, occupational therapy and psychotherapy. After the panel, there is a “social hour” for students to connect with peers and panellists.
“We’ve named it a social hour to offer a more relaxed take on networking. Our goal is to help students feel comfortable asking questions and building connections,” Bancroft says. “I'm hoping that students can engage in conversation, ask the questions that they're wondering about to the people who are doing the work and who've done all the steps to get where they are in this field.”
Lindy Bancroft, career programming specialist, Centre for Career Development
Alicia Flatt, career advisor, Centre for Career Development
This event helps students explore various pathways that can lead to careers in counselling and individual or group therapy. Organizers will invite panellists to discuss additional roles that influence mental health beyond counselling, offering students a broader perspective on career options in the field. “If you take a mental health lens to almost any role, there are tonnes of ways to make an impact,” says Flatt.
Flatt and Bancroft hope this becomes part of a broader "Exploring Careers In..." series, helping students discover opportunities across fields.
CCD moved to a faculty-aligned career advising model last year and aims to empower students to explore their possibilities with confidence.
If students at the event have questions about further education options, CCD will provide on-the-spot support. Career advisors will be available at the event to answer students’ questions and book appointments for deeper career discussions.
“We’re not just here for résumés and cover letters,” Bancroft said. “We’re here for the bigger conversations, like what students can do with their degrees and how they can make a difference.”
Whether you're curious about counselling, interested in occupational therapy or simply wondering how your Arts degree can lead to meaningful work in mental health, the Exploring careers in mental health event offers a welcoming space to learn, connect and take the next step. Explore your possibilities with the Centre for Career Development.