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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Job Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Examples

These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $30K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $37K
Median Salary: $48K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $65K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $87K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.

Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.

Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.

Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.

Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.

Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.

Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.

Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.

Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.

Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.

Refer patient, client, or family to community resources for housing or treatment to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness, following through to ensure service efficacy.

Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.

Develop or advise on social policy or assist in community development.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Calendar and scheduling software
Scheduling software
Data base user interface and query software
Database software
Desktop publishing software
Microsoft Publisher
Document management software
Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Medical software
Medical condition coding software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software
Microsoft SharePoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Therapy and Counseling
97%
Importance

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Psychology
94%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

English Language
78%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service
76%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training
74%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Sociology and Anthropology
73%
Importance

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Public Safety and Security
66%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Medicine and Dentistry
61%
Importance

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Administration and Management
60%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Law and Government
60%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Top 10 Skills
Social Perceptiveness
85%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Listening
83%
Importance

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.

Speaking
83%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking
80%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring
80%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension
80%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving
78%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Coordination
78%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Service Orientation
78%
Importance

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Learning Strategies
75%
Importance

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
90%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
85%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity
83%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Comprehension
83%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression
83%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Speech Clarity
80%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Fluency of Ideas
78%
Importance

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Speech Recognition
78%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
92%
Importance

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
92%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Documenting/Recording Information
92%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
90%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
89%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Getting Information
87%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
87%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
85%
Importance

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Developing Objectives and Strategies
84%
Importance

Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
84%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Detailed Work Activities

Counsel clients or patients with substance abuse issues.

Counsel clients or patients regarding personal issues.

Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.

Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress.

Maintain client records.

Collect information about clients.

Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.

Supervise workers providing client or patient services.

Modify treatment plans to accommodate client needs.

Assist clients in handling details of daily life.

Lead classes or community events.

Counsel family members of clients or patients.

Conduct research on social issues.

Maintain professional social services knowledge.

Refer clients to community or social service programs.

Plan programs to address community health issues.

Advise others on social or educational issues.

Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

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?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Structured versus Unstructured Work

To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Time Pressure

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Education
Majors
Major
Social Work
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Interests
Social
100%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Investigative
67%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Artistic
62%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Conventional
43%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Enterprising
39%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Realistic
15%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Top 10 Work Styles
Concern for Others
99%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Integrity
94%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Self Control
93%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance
92%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility
91%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Dependability
90%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Social Orientation
89%
Importance

Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Cooperation
87%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Initiative
85%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Attention to Detail
84%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Work Values
Achievement
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Relationships
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Independence
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.