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Occupation Description

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. Exclude "Social Workers", "Psychologists", and "Mental Health Counselors" providing these services.

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State and National Wages

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

Location	Pay Period	2009
		10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$11.82	$14.36	$18.13	$23.11	$28.87
	Yearly	$24,600	$29,900	$37,700	$48,100	$60,000
New York	Hourly	$12.85	$15.95	$20.29	$24.35	$28.61
	Yearly	$26,700	$33,200	$42,200	$50,600	$59,500

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: New York Wage Information

State and National Trends

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: New York State Department of Labor

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

Knowledge:

• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills:

• 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.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Source: Occupational Information Network: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

• Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
• Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
• Complete and maintain accurate records and reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, and other required information.
• Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
• Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.
• Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services and other post-treatment agencies.
• Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals and other health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and social workers.
• Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.
• Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
• Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate public education, prevention, and health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions and communities.
• Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
• Instruct others in program methods, procedures, and functions.
• Intervene as advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• 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.
• Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
• Participate in case conferences and staff meetings.
• Plan and implement follow-up and aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
• Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services and programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
• Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
• Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.

Generalized Work Activities:

• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Detailed Work Activities:

• adhere to safety procedures
• advise clients in emergency situations
• analyze psychological testing data
• assess therapy needs of patients
• assist clients in understanding personal or interactive problems
• coordinate social service activities with resource providers
• counsel individuals with personal problems
• develop plans for programs or projects
• develop treatment plans
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• empathize with others during counseling or related services
• evaluate client progress against measurable recorded goals
• evaluate patient response to therapy
• follow confidentiality procedures
• follow patient observation procedures
• manage detailed case records in a social work setting
• monitor client progress
• obtain information from individuals
• plan therapy treatment program
• recognize physical or emotional abuse
• record client's personal data
• refer clients to community services or resources
• relate to clients' socioeconomic conditions
• use agency mission as a guideline in social services delivery
• use behavior modification techniques
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use counseling techniques
• use grief counseling techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use intervention techniques
• use interviewing procedures

Source: Occupational Information Network: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

Tools and Technology

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors  View Detailed Report

Tools:

• Alcohol analysers - Breathalyzers
• Desktop computers - Desktop computers
• Notebook computers - Notebook computers
• Personal computers - Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers - Personal digital assistants PDA

Technology:

• Data base user interface and query software - Database software, EAG Economic Analysis Group CaseTrack, Online informational database software
• Electronic mail software - Email software
• Medical software - ACMS Casewatch Millenium, Addison Health Systems WritePad EMR Systems, Allscripts Canopy, Anasazi Software Assessment and Treatment Plan Systems, Athena Software Penelope Case Management
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word, Word processing software

Source: Occupational Information Network: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

Education and Training

Occupation: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Bachelor's degree
Related Instructional Programs:

• Clinical/Medical Social Work
• Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other
• Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.labor.state.ny.us/ETP/default.asp

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Occupational Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Recreational Therapists
• Residential Advisors
• Social and Human Service Assistants

Web Resources

Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists
Religious Workers

• Career Counselor, Princeton Review
• Career Guidance Technicians, California Occupational Guide
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers, CareerZone
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers, California Occupational Guide
• Community and Social Service Workers, Job Futures
• Counselors, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Counselors and Social Workers, Saludos.com
• Counselors, Rehabilitation and School, California Occupational Guide
• Educational, Vocational and School Counselors, Learn More Resource Center
• Genetic Counselor, American Medical Association
• Guidance Counselor, Princeton Review
• Health educators, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Probation Officers and Parole Agents, California Occupational Guide
• Rehabilitation Counselor, American Medical Association
• School Counselor, The Council for Exceptional Children
• School Social Worker, The Council for Exceptional Children
• Social and Human Service Assistants, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Social and Human Service Assistants, California Occupational Guide
• Social and Human Service Assistants, CareerZone
• Social Work, WetFeet.com
• Social Worker, Princeton Review
• Social Workers, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Social Workers, Job Futures
• Substance Abuse Counselor, Princeton Review

• Clergy, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Clergy--Priest, Rabbi and Minister, Princeton Review
• Directors, religious activities and education, Occupational Outlook Handbook