Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

What the work involves

• 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.
• 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.
• Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
• Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
• Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.

What to study

The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.

• Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsSee 138 colleges that teach it
• Social WorkSee 621 colleges that teach it

Who it suits

O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.

• Helping and teaching

• Analytical and curious

• Organised and precise

Careers like this one

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• Child, Family, and School Social Workers$59,550
• Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary$77,570
• Community Health Workers$51,850
• Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350
• Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580