Overview of Advocates & Counselors

An “Advocate” or a “Counselor” may qualify as a “Career” (as defined within this collection of career stories), IF the person is paid sufficiently to be self supporting; i.e. compensated well enough to cover at least basic living expenses such as housing (rent or mortgage), food, utilities, clothing, medical, dental, pharmacy, health insurance and transportation. 

When advocating for an individual or group or when counseling an individual BUT NOT PAID A LIVING WAGE, your services are very useful to that individual or group and to the general welfare of society, but these are VOLUNTEER activities, not a career as we define it within this collection of career stories.  

Volunteers need not abandon their service to others to financially support themselves; just secure employment to support yourself and then volunteer when off-duty from employment responsibilities, such as evenings, weekends, and vacations. (See the story within the category HUMAN SERVICES – ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION TO COUNSELOR as an example).

For more examples of advocates and counselors who somehow are paid for such services or have other types of careers and volunteer their services when off-duty from their paying jobs, see the category within this collection: HUMAN SERVICES