A career in counseling can give individuals an opportunity to draw on their life experiences to augment professional training and qualifications, and ultimately make a positive difference in many people's lives.

Crata Jordan, a Los Angeles-born counselor who now works with high school children in Texas, said her own experiences growing up in a much-traveled Navy family taught her the importance of having emotional security and stability, the East Texas Review reports.

It also taught her to strive to do her best in life - but never at the expense of those around her.

"I'm no better than anyone else, but in the same thought no one is better than me," she said.

After passing her qualifications, she now applies some of these attitudes, along with attributes such as dedication and compassion, to her counseling work, which the site says helps guide young people towards more successful futures.

According to the Department of Labor, to become a counselor graduates usually require a master's degree.

In 2006, counseling accounted for around 635,000 jobs in the American economy, which were mostly distributed between health care organisations, as well as state and local government.

The average earnings for the profession in May 2006 were $47,530.