Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Community & Social Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 21-1023
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe PageMaker, Client records software, Corel WordPerfect Office Suite, Database software, Desktop computers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Mental Health Counselors
• Healthcare Social Workers
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
• Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.