Mental Health Counselor Training, Skills, and Salary

Mental Health Counselor Training, Skills, and Salary Student Resources Careers Print Mental Health Counselor Training, Skills, and Salary By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on February 01, 2020 Sally Elford / Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips A mental health counselor is a professional who utilizes a variety of psychotherapy methods and techniques to help people experiencing psychological distress. In the United States, about one in four adults are suffering from mental illness at any given time, and research shows that close to fifty percent of adults will have at least one mental illness during their lifetime.?? The prevalence of mental health problems highlights the demand and need for qualified professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental health issues. Spending on mental health care is increasingly high as well. Studies show that Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) costs alone are around $210.5 billion a year.  ?? If you are curious about what a mental health counselor can do for you or thinking about entering this profession yourself, there are a few important things you should know. Learn more about what these professionals do, when you might want to consider seeing one, and what you need to do if you are interested in becoming a mental health counselor. Where Can You Find Mental Health Counselors? All people face different psychological challenges at various points in life, and sometimes people need the help of a professional to cope with these difficulties. It can sometimes be confusing to determine what type of help is needed, particularly because there are so many different types of professionals who specialize in treating mental health issues. Mental health counselors represent just one profession that specifically works with people dealing with cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues. Counselors work with individuals, families, groups, and communities to deal with mental health issues and improve mental well-being. You might find professional mental health counselors working in a wide range of settings including: Mental health clinicsSchoolsPrivate practicesHospitalsCommunity health centersCorrectional facilitiesBusinessesColleges and universitiesSocial service agenciesGovernment agencies People experiencing symptoms of psychological illnesses such as depression, phobias, and anxiety may choose to see a mental health counselor for counseling and psychotherapy services. Counselors may also help people experiencing social difficulties, emotional problems, addictions and substance abuse, grief, self-esteem issues, and marital difficulties. Some mental health counselors choose to work with specific populations such as children, the elderly, or college students. What Do Mental Health Counselors Do? Some of the tasks that a mental health counselor may tackle on a regular basis include: Assessing and diagnosing clients experiencing symptoms of psychological distressProviding psychotherapy to clientsTalking to clients about their experiences, emotions, and thoughtsConducting group sessions with familiesWorking with clients to set goals, develop a treatment plan, and gain insight through treatmentWorking with clients to identify situations, behaviors, and thoughts that interfere with their wellness and recoveryExamining  social issues that may influence a clients mental well-being including peer pressure, bullying, substance use, prejudice, work stress, financial challenges, and health issuesReferring clients to other health professionals as well as to other resources in the community such as other social services, job services, and support groups Counseling tends to view individual needs within a developmental context. Rather than focusing on dysfunction, counselors often see problems as arising from normal reactions to developmental changes or as difficulty dealing with specific life stages. As a result, counselors may focus on personal development by helping you learn the skills and coping abilities you need to deal with such life changes and stages effectively. While counselors are often called upon to treat specific problems, they also tend to take an approach that focuses on overall wellness. Dealing with the immediate problem is important, but counselors also strive to help you function not just minimally, but optimally. Enhancing overall well-being by solving problems, improving resilience, encouraging healthy behaviors, and improving relationships is a key component of a counselors duties. What Training Do  Mental Health Counselors Have? What type of training do mental health counselors need? Many begin by earning a bachelors degree in a human services field such as psychology, sociology, or social work. While having a background in social science is ideal, people with undergraduate degrees in other fields can also enter the field of counseling. This often requires completing a number of basic prerequisite courses before gaining admission to an accredited masters degree program. Basic Educational Requirements The minimum requirements for a licensed mental health counselor are a masters degree in counseling and at least two to three years of supervised practice under a licensed professional. Licensing and Certification States typically require a minimum of 2,000 to 4,000 hours of supervised practice before gaining licensure; however, it is important to check with your states licensing board to learn more about specific requirements. Always be sure to check the guidelines in the state where you plan to study and practice. Once this has been done, aspiring mental health counselors must still pass a state licensing exam. In many states, counselors must first pass a test administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) in order to obtain a license. Licensing requirements for mental health counselors vary from state to state, and specific titles for these professional designations may vary as well. Mental health counselors may be known as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). In most states, the title of Mental Health Counselor is a protected title, which means that only people who have met certain state requirements may legally call themselves by that title. In addition to these basic education and licensure requirements, some counselors also choose to become certified. While this certification is purely voluntary, it is an additional qualification that can make professional counselors more appealing to both employers and potential clients. Continuing Education Even after finishing licensure requirements, counselors must continue to stay abreast of current practices by completing a number of continuing education courses over the course of their professional lives. While this means that you will need to continue taking courses throughout your career, it also allows you to stay current and explore new information and techniques to better hone your skills as a counselor. Skills That Mental Health Counselors Need Aside from training and education, what type of skills should you have in order to succeed in this profession? Becoming an effective mental health counselor requires a solid knowledge base of psychology, therapy, and counseling. In addition to understanding this subject matter and techniques, counselors need to have good listening skills, the ability to communicate effectively, good critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and outstanding people skills. Emotional intelligence, compassion, empathy, and nonverbal communication abilities are also critical. If you are interested in becoming a mental health counselor, it is important to consider both the potential benefits of the career as well as some of the possible drawbacks. One of the greatest rewards of being a mental health counselor is being able to have a direct impact on the lives and well-being of clients. Counseling allows professionals to both prevent and treat psychological distress, which can help clients lead healthier and happier lives. Some potential downsides to consider include the fact that the job can sometimes be stressful since counselors sometimes need to intervene and assist clients who may be emotional, angry, or even combative. Good stress management and emotional regulation abilities can be important in maintaining a good balance in your life as you juggle the rigors of your job and other life responsibilities and goals. How Much Do Mental Health Counselors Earn? The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that mental health counselors held nearly 160,000 jobs in 2016, with the largest percentage working in individual and family services. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a mental health counselor was $44,630 in 2018.?? Individual salaries can vary depending upon a wide range of factors including geographic location and area of practice, with the top 10 percent earning an annual wage of more than $72,990 and the bottom 10 percent earning less than $28,240. Areas that had the highest rates of employment included outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, Individual and family services, and hospitals (state, local, and private). The highest-paying areas of employment for mental health counselors include government positions ($51,690), hospitals ($48,310), and individual and family services ($44,120). While mental health counselors typically earn less than psychologists, this is also a factor that makes them appealing to insurers. Mental health counselors are able to receive third-party reimbursement for the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychological conditions, often at a less expensive rate than some other health professionals.?? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for mental health counselors will grow at a rate faster than the average for all occupations. They suggest that the demand for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors will grow by 22 percent by 2028.?? This need for mental health counselors will be particularly strong in fields that deal with substance abuse and serve military veterans. Reasons You Might Want to See a Mental Health Counselor People often face mental health challenges throughout life. Such struggles can include anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and difficulty in coping with lifes stresses and challenges. Some of the reasons you might want to seek the assistance of a mental health counselor: You are experiencing repeated, uncontrollable thoughts or memories related to a recent traumatic experience.Life seems intense and unmanageable.You feel uninterested in things you used to enjoy and disconnected from the people around you.You have been using substances to cope with your problems.Your anxiety feels overwhelming.Your relationships feel strained and not what they used to be.You just feel like you would benefit from talking about your concerns with a professional. Remember, you dont need to be experiencing symptoms of a psychological disorder to seek help from a mental health professional. Counselors, as well as other mental health professionals, can help you with a wide range of concerns, from stress to health to relationships. Whether your goal is to gain insight into your own behaviors, become a better spouse or parent, or become more motivated to achieve your goals, consulting a mental health professional can help. If you are looking for a counselor, you can use the resources provided by the National Board of Certified Counselors to locate certified counselors in your area. You can also discuss your symptoms and needs with your primary care physician who can then refer you to a mental health counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. A Word From Verywell Mental health counselors play a vital role in the delivery of psychological services. If you feel that you might benefit from counseling, talk to your doctor to learn more about your options and if a mental health counselor might be the right fit for your needs. If you are interested in a career in this field, spend some time researching what you will need to do in order to become a counselor. Mental health counseling is just one career option in this area, and you might want to consider related careers such as becoming a social worker, clinical psychologist, marriage and family therapist, or counseling psychologist.

In Defense of Liberty and Education for All - 1626 Words

In Defense of Liberty and Education for All How does a society become socially free and have equal opportunity for all its citizens? According to the conventional democratic American belief, all people should be granted the same educational opportunities so that everyone has the fair chance to succeed in society. However, in William A. Henrys essay, In Defense of Elitism, he argues for the archaic belief that society should limit higher educational opportunities because most people do not have the capability to compete in college. Henry wants to scale back the number of college students in America to an accomplished few. As such, Henry contends that the educational standards†¦show more content†¦He proposes that the standards of education have dropped with the rise of college students over the years. Henry illustrates his point by maintaining that there is a sheer decline in the amount of work expected in class#8230;. [because the] influx of mediocrities relentlessly lowers the general standards at colleges to the lev els the weak ones can meet(125). Henry bases his claim on the fact that in the 1940s, at the all girls Catholic Trinity College in Washington, A course in Shakespeare meant reading the plays, all 37 of them(125). He uses that information and compares it to the fact that at a particular fancy college, a professor recently told him that in his Shakespeare class students only read four plays and anything more than one a week... is considered too heavy of a load(125). Henrys claim is extremely unconvincing because his method of unfairly comparing and contrasting the evidence only explains the general standards at two different schools at different time periods (125). It could be true to a certain extent that standards have decreased with larger class sizes, but Henry does not support his claim correctly because of several fatal reasons. Henry describes the standards at Trinity College in the 1940s but does not compare it to the standards at Trinity College in the present day. This concl udes nothing because comparing two different schools, that canShow MoreRelatedEssay about Articles of Confederation816 Words   |  4 Pagescommon defense, promote[s] the general welfare, and secure[s] the blessings of liberty. Based on these standards, the Articles of Confederation were effective to a certain degree at the time, but in the end, were too liberal to be effective. Because its main purpose was to ensure the blessings of liberty, the Articles of Confederation had to sacrifice stability and security, which ultimately led to its downfall. The Articles of Confederation promoted the spirit and beliefs of liberty and equalityRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. 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Two important things I learned at church was the importance of having a relationship with Jesus and the importance of having high-quality education for Blacks. My pastor would ask for everyone’s report cards at the endRead MorePublic Policy Is An Objective Oriented Action Plan1646 Words   |  7 Pagesarrays of entities. Defense policy serves as an excellent example in this context. For instance, following the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the president conducted a joint session of Congress to seek the declaration of war. This process, which is usually highly complicated, highlights some predictable features and steps. The most significant objective of public policy is ensuring the formulation and implementation of an acceptable balance between order and liberty. 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Civil liberties are the protections against government actions. Civil rights, however, is positive actions of government should take to create equal conditions for all Americans. Civil liberties are rights forRead MoreThe Controversy of Same Sex Marriages Essay1160 Words   |  5 Pagesdeal. Just a generation ago, many states banned mixed marriages. Seems absurd, doesnt it? Discriminating against an individual like that because of the color of their skin? This is a situation in America that I am sure all of you are familiar with, and most all of us I am sure agree that just because a person has different colored skin does not make them any different on the inside. We dont discriminate against minorities because of their color of their skin, so why is it that we

The Strugge Is Real - 860 Words

The Struggle is Real Today’s world is filled with issues. Bullying and homosexuality are two of the most talked about topics in the news. These topics often cause controversy between people young and old. Some people may feel threatened by people who have sexual preferences other than their own. They may express this fear in a variety of ways ranging from subtle discrimination to overt violence(â€Å"Gay and Lesbian Issues -Discrimination†). Most people do not realizeâ€Å"homosexuals can be found in every race, religion, age group, country, state, and social group.†( â€Å"Know your Rights!†) That doesnt exclude schools. Many people teach their kids that homosexuals are a disgrace to the world. This builds tension between kids at school and later causes bullying and depression. Most students who are bullied by a classmate about their sexuality do not report it ,but out of those that do tell 1/3 of the staff told didnt attempt to cease the problem (â€Å"Gay Bullying Statistics†). Discrimination toward homosexuals in school persecutes their choice of lifestyle and can result in their grades declining† because they feel that good grades can only make it worse. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) youth are often left out and feel bullied or depressed at school. Bullying of the LGBT often begins with name calling like faggot or dyke.Later on it can become really intense with things like physical abuse and no one knows how to make it better. Schools constantly try to keep the problem

What kind of relationship does God want with us Free Essays

There is a great story behind creation which made man wonder who the superior being is, and from scratch it eventually evolves to a deeper relationship of mankind with God. There are series of stages wherein the people began to be aware of God’s existence and atheism or paganism gradually lost its concept because they become attractive to the doctrines of the church leaders which merely addressed human needs superior than their foe. A religious movement was started in first century by Judaism before they had favored the religion of the Roman Empire. We will write a custom essay sample on What kind of relationship does God want with us or any similar topic only for you Order Now 000 years ago in Judea, Christianity started with Jesus Christ, a Jew, together with His disciples who are faithful to him (Pierrakos, 1996). By that time, Jews hated Roman rule as it was governed by the Emperor of Rome and their beliefs are pagan and it is disturbing to Jewish life. The Jews studied the Jewish law and wait for the eventual coming of their promised Messiah and so the ministry of Jesus began. Jesus’ disciples were taught the â€Å"new covenant† wherein God will bring to humanity through Him. Mankind lost its relationship with God because of sins which is why, the new covenant comes to purpose that those who accept it will have a renewed fellowship of forgiveness and love with God. This covenant happened when Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of all humanity. Three days later rose again to become their Messiah. Since His disciples began to proclaim this gospel of hope, the Church has then been built, and the Christian faith has since spread to the world. When we take a glimpse of it, we can see that the history Christianity’s origin seems improbable for people living in the 21st century to consider such events in reality took place. On the other hand, the Christian faith has been a key importance to mankind. So when the church stood up and was established, sermons had been preached by the priest where the first Roman Catholicism emerges. There has been a promise of salvation so the people started to attend the mass every Sunday and asked God for blessings and grace. Man found himself in the likeness of God. God also gave us freewill and we have the power to choose whether we want to believe him or not. What is good about God is that there are people who believe in him because he has many faces. And with this, no two people believe in exactly the same God. Every person has his or hers own individual image of God, thus, different religions arises like Protestants, Catholic, Orthodox and the like. From then on, man’s relationship to god becomes intimate and it is usually done through prayers. God as what people believes to be the creator of everything, has been the ultimate source of everything and since he sent his son, Jesus, people have faith that they will be saved when the judgment day comes. It is by faith that we can recognize and believe the death of Christ as payment for our sins. We can feel that is only by faith that we had a relationship with God; however, it will also show us that faith in God seems to deepen by showing our desire to follow His will, and try to follow the life that Christ lived while He was on earth. The development of mans relationship with God has been started several decades ago and now, we are enlighten that we should be in union with Him if we want to be saved. Numerous messengers from heaven tried to teach the world how to serve God. Relationship becomes deeper when there is a give and take bond and so, we should abide by the rules that He has given us. This relationship with Him tends to be a give and take since man received blessing from God ,hence, man should serve God not only by going to His house and praise Him or pray for selfish favors, but by doing good to our friends, neighbors, relatives and even enemies. What unites man with God is love and it allows man to find peace and harmony with every creation which was wholly developed that allows one to reach the union with God. How to cite What kind of relationship does God want with us, Papers

Vantagon Company

Vantagon Vantagon is the IT company which specializes in developing different types of software and applications. Vantagon’s completed projects include such applications as Taskflight and Semple.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Vantagon Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company follows the principle of focusing on innovation and benefits while proposing new models and paradigms, establishing standards, and overcoming any systems’ drawbacks. The company’s staff is rather small and includes the leadership team, designers, programmers, and marketers. I take one of the leading managerial positions in the company. Preliminary Problem Statement How can the followed management style contribute to the improvement of the company’s performance and employees’ satisfaction? What strategies and approaches can be used to improve the employees’ motivation and add to their orientation to the prolonged cooperation with the company? The Description of the Organizational Problem In spite of the fact that Vantagon’s performance is rather good, and the new projects attract many clients because of their high quality, the company’s performance can be improved while paying more attention to the human resources factor and to the obvious connection between the employees’ motivation and performance. Vantagon’s managers focus much on empowering and motivating employees while responding to their job satisfaction. However, the specifics of the company’s work make the managers focus more on the strategies and perspectives of the project management and stimulation of the part-time employees’ work. The current company’s management style should be examined and evaluated in detail in order to correlate it with the requirements of the project management. It is important to evaluate the appropriateness of the followed management style for contributing to the company’s performance because the managers should also follow the modern effective strategies to stimulate the activities of their employees when they work on developing and implementing the innovative ideas. Furthermore, the company’s managers need more information on the employees’ performance, job commitment and satisfaction in order to make the right decisions while considering this or that employee. From this point, it is necessary to compare the requirements of the project management with the strategies followed in the company to motivate employees to progress.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The current situation in the company supports the idea that there are many opportunities for managers to improve the employees’ performance, but it is necessary to evaluate the used approach in order to decide on the approaches to follow and reject. In this case, the employees’ motivation can be discussed as the key factor to contribute to the employees’ job satisfaction, and as a result, improved performance. Today, the company follows the right path, but the focus on the aspects of management can contribute to changing the managers and employees’ vision of cooperation. Thus, although the company tries to concentrate on the project management principles, it is necessary to focus more attention on the employees’ vision of their cooperation with the company, the principles of which can be changed according to the improved management strategy. In the research, I am inclined to examine and evaluate the followed management style in relation to its contribution to increasing the employees’ motivation and performance. As a result of the research, I choose to focus on the possible recommendations to increase the job performance and improve the performan ce. The TCO Related to the Problem I will relate the research to the TCO according to which I should focus on the theories of motivation and demonstrate their specific application to â€Å"successfully guide employees toward accomplishing organizational objectives†. This research paper on Vantagon Company was written and submitted by user Tiana Morris to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Scarlett Letter essays

The Scarlett Letter essays Hawthorne handles his flirtation with the supernatural in various ways and I feel that they are expressed through three themes and those themes are wildness, the scarlet color, and honesty. Many times with in the story pearl is regarded as being a wild child and fitting in with nature or being an elf child. When Dimmesdale finally admits that Pearl is his child it is if that wildness leaves and pearl becomes a normal human with feelings. The scarlet color is most notably associated with the scarlet letter on Hesters heart but it goes beyond that. The scarlet color is seen in various instances and that is all thanks to the various supernatural events in the book. Honesty is also a main theme in the book that is related to being supernatural, through the entire story Pearl is cautious around Dimmesdale and detects various awkward things about him and that is because he has wet to acknowledge Pearl in public. Often times within the book Pearl is regarded as being wild but that is not wildness starts. Wildness starts when Chillingworth first enters the story and he talks of how he has learned various things in the woods with the Indians. Often times when Hester goes to talk she will tell Pearl to go and play in the forest. Pearl has no problems finding amusement in the forest she often imitates her mothers Scarlet Letter. When Hester and Dimmesdale make the plans to escape New England Pearl is told to go off and play. When Hester calls out for Pearl it is if Pearl will not respond and that is because it seems as if Pearl is one with the forest. Dimmesdale even makes the comment that Pearl must be left behind and that is because the stream is the boundary between two world and Pearl can not cross the stream. During one episode of Pearl playing in the forest she is throwing stones and hits and injures a bird. She stops and is saddened by the fact that she could hurt something as wild as h erself. ...

Finding and Recovering Unclaimed Money

Finding and Recovering Unclaimed Money Unclaimed money is money left behind in the form of forgotten bank accounts, utility deposits, wages, tax refunds, pensions, life insurance policies and more. In most cases, unclaimed money can be recovered by the rightful owners.   Both the state and federal governments may be holding unclaimed money and both provide resources for finding and recovering it. You Might Have Unclaimed Property If†¦ You have moved with or without- leaving a forwarding address. (Moving is the main source of abandoned utility deposits and bank account balances.)You have retired, been reassigned, or laid off from a job.You have not made a transaction on your checking or savings account for over three years.You have stopped payments on an insurance policy.You have an uncashed check made out to you more than 3 years agoYou regularly throw away your mail without reading it.You have noticed that regular dividend, interest, or royalty checks have stopped coming.You have settled a deceased family members estate. State Unclaimed Money Resources States are the best place to look for unclaimed money. Each state handles the reporting and collection of unclaimed property and each state has its own laws and methods for recovering unclaimed property. All 50 states have secure online unclaimed money and property search applications on their websites, along with information on how to claim and recover it. Unclaimed money most often held by the states comes in the form of: Utility deposits (very common), credit balances, store refunds State income tax refundsUncashed checksStock certificates or accounts, bonds, mutual fund accountsLife insurance policy proceedsUndistributed wagesChecking and savings accountsGift certificatesTravelers ChecksSafe deposit boxesRoyalty paymentsCourt awards or deposits Federal Unclaimed Money Resources Unlike the states, no single agency of the U.S. federal government can or will help people recover their unclaimed property. â€Å"There is no government-wide, centralized information service or database from which information on unclaimed government assets may be obtained. Each individual Federal agency maintains its own records and would need to research and release that data on a case-by-case basis,† states the United States Treasury Department. However, some individual federal agencies can help. Back Wages If you think you may be owed back wages from your employer, search the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division’s online database of workers for whom it has money waiting to be claimed. Veteran’s Life Insurance Funds The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains a searchable database of unclaimed insurance funds that are owed to certain current or former policyholders or their beneficiaries. However, the VA notes that the database does not include funds from Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) policies from 1965 to the present.   Pensions from Former Employers While it no longer offers a searchable database, the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation offers information on companies that have gone out of business or ended a defined retirement plan without paying outstanding benefits. They also offer a list of non-government resources for finding unclaimed pensions. Federal Income Tax Refunds The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may have unclaimed property in the form of unclaimed or undeliverable tax refunds. For example, the IRS may have refund money for persons who did have enough income in a given year to file returns. In addition, the IRS has millions of dollars in checks that are returned each year as undeliverable due to out-of-date address information. The IRS’ â€Å"Where’s My Refund† web service can be used to look for unclaimed tax refunds. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may owe you money if your refund was unclaimed or undelivered. Banking, Investments, and Currency Bank Failures: Unclaimed funds from failed financial institutions can be recovered from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Credit Union Failures: Unclaimed funds from failed credit unions can be found through the National Credit Union Administration. SEC Claims Funds: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lists enforcement cases in which a company or person owes investors money. Damaged Money: The U.S. Treasury Department will in most cases exchange mutilated or damaged U.S. currency. Mortgages Persons had an FHA-insured mortgage may be eligible for a refund from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To search the HUD mortgage refund database, you will need your FHA case number (three digits, a dash, and the next six digits- for example, 051-456789). US Savings Bonds The Treasury Department’s â€Å"Treasury Hunt† service allows people to search for forgotten savings bonds issued since 1974 that have matured and are no longer earning interest. In addition, the â€Å"Treasury Direct† service can be used to replace lost, stolen, or destroyed paper savings bonds. Unclaimed Money Scams Where there is money, there will be scams. Beware of anybody – including people claiming to work for the government – who promise to send you unclaimed money for a fee. Scammers use a variety of tricks to get your attention, but their goal is the same: to get you to send them money. Government agencies will not call you about unclaimed money or assets and as illustrated here, there are plenty of ways to get your money yourself. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides tips on how you can avoid government imposter scams.