Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors
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.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- 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.
- Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
- Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
- Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
- Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
- Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
- Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
- Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
- Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
- Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
- Intervene as an 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.
- Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.
- 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.
- Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
- Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.
- Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.
- Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
- Supervise or direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
- Develop, implement, or evaluate public education, prevention, or health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions, or communities.
Skills
Knowledge
Build a Resume for Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.
Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
100%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
98%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
98%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
95%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
92%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
89%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
87%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
78%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
78%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
78%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
76%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
74%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
73%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
73%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
71%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
70%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
68%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
66%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
65%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
62%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
60%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
57%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
52%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
51%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
46%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
39%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
37%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
30%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
29%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
23%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
20%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
20%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
20%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
19%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
19%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
19%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
14%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
12%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
10%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
10%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
9%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
6%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
3%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
3%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
3%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
2%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
2%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
2%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
1%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
1%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
1%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
0%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
0%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
0%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
0%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
0%
Education
Master's degree
High school diploma or equivalent
Interests
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Work Styles
Work Values
Ready to pursue a career as Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors?
Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.
Build Your Resume Now