Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors

• Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• 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.
• Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
• Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
• Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
• Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
• Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
• Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
• Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
• Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.
• Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
• Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.
• Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
• Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
• Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
• Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.
• 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.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• 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.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.