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What They Do
About This Career
Counsels and advises 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.
This career is part of the Human Services cluster Counseling and Mental Health Services pathway.
A person in this career:
- Completes and maintains accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- Counsels clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Assesses individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
- Follows progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
- Conducts chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
- Reviews and evaluates clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
- Coordinates activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
- Modifies treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
- Develops client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
- Coordinates counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Addictions Counselor — Helps their clients identify and overcome addictive behaviors and may provide counseling to family members or loved ones who have been affected by addiction.
- Case Manager — Deals with individuals involved in accident claims to ensure that the individual receives the best possible options.
- Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor)
- Chemical Dependency Professional
- Clinical Counselor
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADAC)
- Counselor
- Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS)
- Prevention Specialist — Designs and implements prevention services, such as alcohol and drug, for schools, community groups, business and industry, parents, local government, the recovery community and private and public agencies and organizations.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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