A corporate wellness consultant, also called a corporate wellness coach, is a professional who helps employees work toward better physical, mental, social and emotional wellness. These professionals help companies design and implement wellness programs that are intended to boost employee wellness and morale. In doing so, the intention is to improve productivity, employee retention and recruitment efforts.
As a corporate wellness consultant, you might help employees with:
- Stress management techniques
- Healthy self-care routines
- Motivation to achieve a healthier diet and exercise program
There are no specific degree requirements or other credentials that are necessary to become a corporate wellness consultant. However, you may wish to consider a health psychology certificate program that may allow you to explore relevant health topics.2
Similar to therapists, social workers help people cope with various life problems. Social workers provide counseling, for example, but they also help clients connect to needed resources, such as housing assistance, childcare services, vocational training and food stamps. They may also respond to crisis situations, such as mental health emergencies.
Social workers act as advocates. They help their clients find their voice, and they may advocate for needed resources to public servants, such as elected officials.
Social workers may choose to specialize in a particular client population, such as neglected or abused children, elderly individuals, unhoused individuals, minorities, refugees or those with mental health issues.
Unlike some other alternative careers for therapists, becoming a social worker will require going back to school. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) needs a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, along with supervised field experience and state licensure. It is not necessary to first earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW); you can apply to an MSW program with a bachelor’s degree in any field.3
Also known as case workers and clinical social work aides, social and human service assistants provide client services in an assistant role to professionals such as social workers. A case worker might interview a new client to determine what sort of help they may need and what challenges they're facing. They may then research services and community resources that can be helpful and connect clients to those services.
There are no strict requirements to become a case worker, which may provide an easy transition for former mental health therapists. Do note, however, that employers establish their own hiring requirements, and some may prefer to hire case workers with a specific bachelor's degree, certificate or relevant experience.4
Health writers create informational materials, often for a general audience, about various health-related topics. For example, they may write about physical fitness, dieting, chronic disease management and stress management. Health writing is distinct from medical writing, which is highly technical and scientific in nature and is not intended for a general audience.
There are no specific job requirements for becoming a health writer, making this a potentially ideal alternative career for therapists, although individual employers will have their own requirements. In general, health writers may be expected to hold a bachelor’s degree and some writing experience, along with a portfolio of writing samples.5
