Substance Abuse and 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.
Also called: Addictions Counselor · Case Manager · Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADAC) · Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor) · Chemical Dependency Professional · Clinical Counselor
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
- Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
- Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
- Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- ACMS Casewatch Millenium
- Addison Health Systems WritePad EHR
- Allscripts Canopy
- Anasazi Software Assessment and Treatment Plan Systems
- Athena Software Penelope Case Management
- Cadence Solutions extendedReach
- Case management software
- CaseManagement.com E-Reports
- Client System
- danic Technology
- Database software
- Economic Analysis Group EAG CaseTrack
- IBM Lotus Notes
- IMA Technologies CaseTrakker
- Libera System7
- Online informational database software
Knowledge areas
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Sociology and Anthropology