Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
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
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earns a median of $60,060/yr with +9.7% projected growth. Typical entry: Master's degree. Top skills: Integrity, Dependability, Cooperation.
$60,060/yr
+9.7%
14
Master's degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (18)
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Knowledge (7)
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
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.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
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.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
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.
Abilities (15)
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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).
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Technology (7)
Work Activities (25)
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Work Styles (6)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in response to criticism or difficult situations at work.
Careers with Overlapping Skills
These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.
Healthcare Social Workers
Community and Social Service · 200 shared skills
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Office and Administrative Support · 198 shared skills
Urban and Regional Planners
Life, Physical, and Social Science · 196 shared skills
Administrative Services Managers
Management · 196 shared skills
Office Clerks, General
Office and Administrative Support · 196 shared skills
Mental Health Counselors
Community and Social Service · 196 shared skills
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Office and Administrative Support · 196 shared skills
Advertising and Promotions Managers
Management · 195 shared skills
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