Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
21-1011.00
Median wages
$34,510
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate individuals' mental and physical condition and to determine their suitability for participation in a specific program.
Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.
Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.
Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.
Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.
Supervise or direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
Develop, implement, or evaluate public education, prevention, or health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions, or communities.
Analytical or scientific software — Statistical software
Calendar and scheduling software — Scheduling software
Data base user interface and query software — Database software; EAG Economic Analysis Group CaseTrack; Online informational database software
Electronic mail software — Email software; IBM Lotus Notes
Internet browser software — Web browser software
Medical software — Addison Health Systems WritePad EMR Systems; Athena Software Penelope Case Management; STI Computer Services ChartMaker; Varian Medical Systems
Office suite software — Microsoft Office
Presentation software
Project management software — Practice Technology Prevail
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.