Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers

Also Called: Case Manager, Clinical Social Worker, Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker

Master's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$37,150

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers do

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.

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

Health Care

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Electronic Mail
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Telephone
  • Contact With Others
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Tools

  • Notebook computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers

Technology

Medical software
Medical condition coding software
Medical procedure coding software
Presentation software
Information presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Internet browser software
Netscape Navigator
Web browser software

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Coordination

Knowledge

Math and Science
psychology
sociology and anthropology
Health
therapy and counseling
Business
customer service
administrative services
Arts and Humanities
English language

Education

  • 57% Master's degree
  • 15% Bachelor's degree
  • 15% Post-master's certificate

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.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Occupational Therapy Aides

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Legal Secretaries & Administrative Assistants

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Child, Family, & School Social Workers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers Currently Selected

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Aaniiih Nakoda College

    Harlem, MT

  • Abilene Christian University

    Abilene, TX

Apprenticeships

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Artistic (Creator)
    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Concern for Others
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self Control
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Relationships
  • Achievement
  • Independence

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Visual Understanding

This is what Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers across the country typically make.

$17.86 / hour
$37,150 /year

Entry Level

$26.90 / hour
$55,960 /year

Median Level

$48.12 / hour
$100,090 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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