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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)
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