Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors

Overview

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors has a national median salary of $59,350 per year, with +18.4% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this 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.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Achievement
• Independence

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.
• Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
• Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.

Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
• Developing Objectives and Strategies

Detailed Work Activities

• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a doctoral or professional degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Doctoral or professional degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a master's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors:

Video Resources