Youth Counselor Resume Guide

Youth counselors work to provide guidance, support, and resources for young people. They help with problem solving, communication skills development, conflict resolution techniques and stress management strategies. Additionally they can provide assistance in educational planning as well as helping connect youth to community programs that may benefit them.

You have the skills to be an incredible youth counselor, but you need to get noticed by employers. To make them aware of your abilities and experiences, you must write a resume that stands out from the crowd.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

Youth Counselor Resume

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Youth Counselor Resume Sample

Barton Rolfson
Youth Counselor

Summary

Accomplished youth counselor with over 6 years of experience providing social and emotional support to children in grades K-12. Recognized for creating innovative programs that increase student engagement, reduce behavior issues, and promote positive relationships between students and staff. Experienced in developing individual learning plans tailored to each child’s needs. Committed to achieving the highest levels of success for every student under my care.

Experience

Youth Counselor, Employer A
Baton Rouge, Jan 2018 – Present

Formulated effective strategies to assist at-risk youth, helping 50+ young adults develop the necessary skills for successful living and reduce recidivism rate by 10%.
Collaborated with teachers, counselors and parents to create individualized guidance plans for each student; created positive relationships with 75% of students in care during tenure.
Reorganized counseling program structure and practices to better accommodate challenging behaviors within a limited budget; implemented new system that resulted in a 15% increase in program efficiency over 3 months period.
Accurately documented all client interactions according to state regulations while emphasizing confidentiality requirements; conducted regular reviews of existing records ensuring accuracy across 100+ cases per year.
Introduced career development activities into curriculum including resume writing workshops, mock interviews & job shadowing experiences leading to employment attainment rates increasing by 20%.

Youth Counselor, Employer B
Tucson, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Achieved successful outcomes for over 75 youth clients by developing and implementing tailored counseling strategies.
Evaluated the mental health, emotional stability, risk factors and strengths of each individual to create personalized treatment plans that were effective in addressing their issues.
Substantially reduced behavioral incidences amongst the youths through guidance on anger management techniques; decreased incidents by 30% in 6 months alone.
Assessed client progress regularly using various psychosocial tests such as Gottman’s Couples Communication Assessment Inventory (GCCAI) and identified areas requiring further intervention/adjustment accordingly.
Demonstrated excellent communication skills when interacting with parents/caregivers to develop collaborative relationships aimed at achieving better results for their children’s well-being and emotional growth.

Skills

Teamwork
Time Management
Crisis Intervention
Nonprofits
Teaching
Social Services
Mental Health
Program Development
Case Management

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Certified Youth Counselor
American Counseling Association
May 2017

1. Summary / Objective

A resume summary or objective is the first thing a potential employer will read and should be crafted to capture their attention. For a youth counselor, you could mention your experience working with children of all ages, any certifications or qualifications you have obtained in the field, and how your passion for helping young people has been an integral part of your life. Additionally, it’s important to highlight any successes you’ve had while counseling such as increased attendance rates or improved academic performance among students.

Below are some resume summary examples:

Detail-oriented and patient youth counselor with 8+ years of experience working in community-based and residential settings. Highly adept at leading individual, group, and family therapy sessions to help adolescents overcome behavioral issues. At XYZ Agency, provided crisis intervention services during afterschool hours for over 300 clients annually. Received commendation from the Mayor’s office for outstanding service to the city’s youth population.

Diligent and compassionate youth counselor with 5+ years of experience working in a residential setting. Proven track record of helping teenagers build social skills, develop self-confidence, and make positive life decisions. Experienced in developing individualized treatment plans for clients and providing emotional support to help them cope with crises. Committed to creating an environment that is safe and supportive for all participants.

Professional youth counselor with 5+ years of experience providing guidance and support to children between the ages of 12-18. Passionate about helping young people develop emotionally, socially, academically and spiritually. Seeking opportunity at ABC School to utilize counseling skillset in order to create a positive learning environment for students while fostering social development through group activities and one-on-one sessions.

Dependable youth counselor with 7+ years of experience in providing guidance and counseling to adolescents. Possesses an extensive knowledge base of psychological theories, principles, and interventions. Seeking a position at XYZ Center where I can continue to help young people reach their full potentials through utilizing my strengths in communication, problem-solving skills and understanding different cultures.

Reliable youth counselor with 8+ years of experience providing therapeutic guidance to children, adolescents and their families. Adept at creating individualized treatment plans based on each client’s unique needs. Looking to utilize my compassionate nature, effective communication skills and deep understanding of mental health issues in a new position at ABC Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellness.

Committed and passionate youth counselor with over 5 years of experience working with at-risk youths in a residential setting. Proven ability to create and sustain trusting relationships while providing guidance, support, and appropriate interventions when needed. Seeking to join ABC Youth Services as a Counselor where I can use my skillset to help young people reach their full potential.

Determined Youth Counselor with 5+ years of experience providing effective guidance, support, and mentorship to adolescents in need. Proven ability to develop behavioral plans that foster healthy communication between parents and children while promoting personal growth. Seeking an opportunity at ABC Center where I can use my skillset to help build strong futures for young people.

Energetic and passionate youth counselor with 5+ years of experience in the social services field. Dedicated to providing guidance, support, and direction for young people who are faced with challenging personal and family issues. Seeking to apply my professional skillset at ABC Youth Center as a dedicated team member that can help change lives.

2. Experience / Employment

For the experience section, you will want to list your work history in reverse chronological order. This means that the most recent job should be listed first.

When writing about what you did, it is best to stick with bullet points; this allows the reader to quickly digest and understand what you have done. You can also include some detail when talking about each role so that the reader knows exactly what was accomplished and how successful it was.

For example, instead of saying “Provided guidance for young adults,” you could say, “Counseled 30+ high school students on college applications and career paths over a two-year period; 80% of students successfully enrolled in universities or found employment.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:

Facilitated
Counseled
Mentored
Mediated
Monitored
Assessed
Advocated
Supported
Encouraged
Listened
Guided
Collaborated
Educated
Evaluated
Developed

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Advised
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Expedited
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Optimized
Participated
Prepared
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Represented
Revised
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Structured
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Successfully developed and implemented individualized intervention plans for 10+ youth with behavioral issues, resulting in a 15% reduction of disciplinary incidents.
Prepared lesson plans and activities to foster personal development skills such as self-confidence and problem solving; successfully motivated 45+ young adults to meet education goals over the course of 6 months.
Streamlined communication between parents/guardians, school faculty members, medical staff & outside organizations when necessary to ensure a safe environment for each child’s growth & development; improved parent involvement by 25%.
Reduced negative behaviors among children through one-on-one counseling sessions based on best practices; documented measurable progress in 80% of cases within 3 months or less from initial assessment date.
Optimized record keeping processes by developing an efficient system that allowed quick access to data regarding attendance records, academic performance reports & other key indicators affecting students’ wellbeing.

Represented organization at various community events, facilitating the counseling of over 500 underserved youth and families with mental health issues; increased program participation by 45% in one year.
Expedited client intakes process, streamlining paperwork management while ensuring confidentiality of all records as per HIPAA standards.
Proficiently administered psychological tests to assess behavioral problems and developed individualized treatment plans for clients based on assessment results; reduced recidivism rate among juvenile offenders by 25%.
Supported a team of 15+ counselors in providing crisis intervention services and helping resolve conflicts between family members or couples through active listening & positive reinforcement techniques.
Presented educational workshops & seminars addressing topics such as anger management, substance abuse prevention, effective communication skills, self-esteem building etc.; collected feedback from participants that was used to improve delivery methods for future programs offered by organization.

Compiled data from over 100 youth counseling sessions, creating detailed reports and making recommendations for the improvement of the program; improved retention rate by 15%.
Participated in targeted outreach activities to engage vulnerable youths, providing a safe space for them to share their issues and identify areas of growth.
Efficiently organized weekly group meetings with 10+ at-risk youths where topics included conflict resolution strategies and anger management techniques; reduced violent incidents among attendees by 25%.
Spearheaded multiple fundraising initiatives that generated $6,500 in donations towards recreational programs such as sports & outdoor activities designed to develop life skills amongst participants aged 8 – 18 years old.
Improved communication between parents/guardians and counselors through monthly parent workshops focused on topics such as nutrition education and positive reinforcement tactics; increased parental involvement by 40% within 6 months.

Coordinated and facilitated workshops, activities and events for over 200 youths aged 10-18 to help develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem; reduced negative behavior incidences by 35%.
Counseled individual youth clients on a weekly basis to address issues such as stress management, bullying/peer pressure and communication/relationships; improved well-being of 50+ individuals within 12 months.
Developed innovative programs that encouraged personal development through team sports & outdoor activities while teaching valuable life lessons; increased participation rate among target group by 20%.
Meticulously monitored the progress of all participants in assigned programs to ensure they were achieving their desired goals effectively; saved up $5K in program costs by optimising resources efficiently.
Assessed potential risks or problems associated with each project prior to implementation and provided timely solutions when necessary; prevented costly incidents from occurring during any activity/event held at the facility.

Diligently provided counseling services and mentoring to over 200 youths aged 12-17, helping them develop social skills, build self-confidence and make positive life choices.
Utilized therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when addressing issues related to anger management, substance abuse or personal trauma; successfully reduced recidivism rate by 33%.
Educated parents of clients on best practices for parenting teens with behavioral problems; increased enrollment in parental guidance classes by 25% within 3 months.
Structured activities based on the individual needs of each client that facilitated growth through creative expression, physical exercises or group discussions; improved attendance rate from 70% to 92%.
Encouraged healthy lifestyle habits among all participants through weekly nutrition workshops and regular exercise sessions; lowered obesity rates among program attendees by 15%.

Mediated and resolved disputes between children and adolescents, as well as their families; successfully reduced the number of violent outbursts by 45%.
Guided over 50 youths in understanding and expressing their emotions constructively; decreased incidents of verbal abuse by 35% within 3 months on the job.
Listened actively to young people’s problems, offered support and tailored advice towards helping them achieve a more positive outlook on life while staying alert for signs of depression or other mental health issues.
Reliably monitored students’ academic progress in school subjects such as English, Maths, Science & History; achieved an average improvement rate of 20% among counseled students over 6 months period.
Mentored youths aged 12-18 through individual one-on-one sessions twice per month for 18+ months; created an environment that encouraged open communication about personal struggles which ultimately helped with emotional growth and development.

Resourcefully provided guidance and counseling for over 90 youth aged 10-18, facilitating positive behavior change in 80% of cases.
Advocated for the rights and best interests of adolescents from marginalized communities on a weekly basis; successfully addressed issues such as educational access, mental health support, legal representation and substance misuse prevention.
Advised youth on life skills to help them make sound decisions about their future goals; raised graduation rates amongst participants by 14%.
Revised existing curricula based on feedback surveys conducted with students while ensuring that all activities were age-appropriate and aligned with organizational policies; improved student engagement levels by 15%.
Monitored progress reports to ensure that each participant was meeting set objectives within the expected timeline; reduced dropout rate among program attendees by 20%.

3. Skills

Even though two organizations are hiring for the same role, the skillset they want an ideal candidate to possess could differ significantly. For instance, one may be on the lookout for an individual with a background in psychology, while another may be looking for someone with experience working with adolescents.

As such, you want to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job that you are applying for. This is important because many companies use applicant tracking systems these days which scan resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to a human.

Once listed here, it would also be beneficial if you could discuss your skill set in more detail elsewhere; this can help employers understand how they’d benefit from hiring you and why they should pick your application over others.

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Adolescents
Case Management
Coaching
Communication
Crisis Intervention
Data Entry
Editing
Fundraising
Group Therapy
Mental Health
Mental Health Counseling
Nonprofits
Program Development
Psychology
Social Networking
Social Services
Teaching
Team Leadership
Teamwork
Time Management
Volunteer Management
Youth Mentoring

4. Education

Including an education section on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no work experience, mention your education below the resume objective. However, if you have significant work experience to showcase, omitting the education section is perfectly fine.

If including a section for educational background, try to highlight courses or subjects related to youth counseling that might be of interest to potential employers.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your proficiency in a particular field and can be an invaluable asset when applying for jobs. Employers are always looking for applicants who have taken the initiative to stay up-to-date with their industry knowledge, so having certifications on your resume is sure to help you stand out from other candidates.

Be sure to include any relevant certifications that show you possess the skills necessary for the job you’re applying for. This will give employers more confidence in considering you as a viable candidate and could potentially make all the difference between getting hired or not!

Certified Youth Counselor
American Counseling Association
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Barton Rolfson, this would be Barton-Rolfson-resume.pdf or Barton-Rolfson-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is an important part of the job application process. It should be made up of 2 to 4 paragraphs, and provide additional information that can’t fit into a resume.

Cover letters are not always required but they offer you the chance to make a good first impression on potential employers by introducing yourself in more detail and giving them insights about your personality and professional skillset. Writing one is highly recommended if you want to show recruiters why you’re an ideal candidate for the role.

Below is an example cover letter:

I am interested in the youth counselor position at your organization. As a counselor with experience working with teenagers, I know that I would be an asset to your team.

My experience includes providing one-on-one counseling as well as leading group sessions. I have worked with teenagers who are struggling with addiction, mental health issues, and family problems. I am patient and understanding, but I also believe in holding my clients accountable for their actions. My goal is always to help my clients make positive changes in their lives so that they can reach their full potential.

In addition to my counseling experience, I have also been trained in crisis intervention techniques. This has come in handy on more than one occasion when working with clients who were dealing with a difficult situation. Knowing how to defuse a tense situation and provide support during times of crisis is essential for any counselor working with young people.

I am confident that I have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in this role. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss my qualifications further. Thank you for your time and consideration!