Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 1 An Introduction to Human Services 21 Common Challenges and Rewards Careers in human services can be both challenging and rewarding. Human services workers deal with people in times of crisis and need. This can be challenging and emotionally taxing. Great resourcefulness is often required to bring together sometimes scarce resources needed to solve a client’s given problem. Sometimes clients do not want to change, and their quality of life remains at a standstill. In some human services careers, the hours can be long, and the pay can be relatively low. On the other hand, there are many rewards in helping people achieve their goals, secure needed resources, and maintain healthy relationships. Human services workers see positive stories of renewal and change unfold before their eyes. Knowing that they played a part in providing necessary services is gratifying. They continually enhance their skills, aptitudes, and resources. They often work with diverse clients and develop meaningful relationships. In many skilled human services careers, the hours can be fl exible, and the pay can be very competitive with other professional career salaries. Reading Recall 1. Name three potential challenges from a career in human services. 2. Name three potential rewards from a career in human services. Figure 1.9 There are many options for graduate degrees for careers in human services. For example, a human services worker might want to pursue a graduate degree in school counseling. What other human services careers require advanced degrees? Sample Graduate Degrees for Human Services Careers Master’s in counseling (MS, MA, MEd, MAEd) Master’s in marriage and family therapy (MFT) Master’s in school psychology (MS) Master’s in social work (MSW) Master’s or doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology (MA, MS, PhD) Doctorate in counseling and/or counselor education (PhD, EdD) Doctorate in (general) psychology (PhD) Doctorate in counseling psychology (PhD) Doctorate in clinical psychology (PhD) Doctor of psychology (PsyD) Doctorate in social work (PhD, DSW) Medical doctor (psychiatrist) (MD) ©iStock.com/Steve Debenport