Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors

client patient progress social interests information substance abuse professional family member individual problem

Addictions Counselor, Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor), Counselor, SA Counselor (Substance Abuse Counselor)

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
  • Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
  • Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.

Knowledge

Health

  • therapy and counseling

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • sociology and anthropology

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Business

  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Sincerity
  • Optimism
  • Adaptability
  • Empathy
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self-Control

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Medical software

  • Addison Health Systems WritePad EHR
  • Varian Medical Systems

Education

master's degree or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Certifications
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Salary:

$59,350
$38,940
$97,590
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors.