California CareerZone

Job Definition: Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.

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

Tasks: Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.; Develop, implement, and evaluate public education, prevention, and health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions and communities.; Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.; Instruct others in program methods, procedures, and functions.; Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.; Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services and other post-treatment agencies.; Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.; Participate in case conferences and staff meetings.; Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.; Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.; Plan and implement follow-up and aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.; Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.; Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals and other health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and social workers.; Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.; Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services and programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.; Intervene as advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.; Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate individuals' mental and physical condition, and to determine their suitability for participation in a specific program.; Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.; Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.; Complete and maintain accurate records and reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, and other required information.; Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.

Skills: Active Listening - 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 - Talking to others to convey information effectively.; Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.; Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.; Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Knowledge: Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.; Psychology - 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.; Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.; Customer and Personal Service - 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 - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Education: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed; A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also 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).; 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.

School Classes: Clinical Psychology. - A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of clinical psychology, involving the analysis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of psychological disorders and behavioral pathologies. Includes instruction in clinical assessment and diagnosis, personality appraisal, psychopathology, clinical psychopharmacology, behavior modification, therapeutic intervention skills, patient interviewing, personalized and group therapy, child and adolescent therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, supervised clinical practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.; Clinical/Medical Social Work. - A program that prepares individuals for the specialized professional practice of social work, in collaboration with other health care professionals, in hospitals and other health care facilities and organizations. Includes instruction in social work, psychiatric case work, clinical interviewing techniques, therapeutic intervention strategies, patient testing and evaluation, patient and family counseling, social rehabilitation, patient care planning, record-keeping, and support services liaison.; Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. - A program that prepares individuals to help prevent substance abuse, counsel individuals and families with drug and alcohol problems, and perform intervention and therapeutic services for persons suffering from addiction. Includes instruction in individual and group counseling skills, psychology of addiction, sociology, crisis intervention, substance abuse identification methodologies, substance abuse treatment modalities, substance abuse prevention and treatment resources, pharmacology and behavioral aspects of abused substances, treatment evaluation, patient observation and education, group dynamics, professional standards and ethics, and applicable law and regulations.; Counseling Psychology. - A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of psychological counseling, involving the rendering of therapeutic services to individuals and groups experiencing psychological problems and exhibiting distress symptoms. Includes instruction in counseling theory, therapeutic intervention strategies, patient/counselor relationships, testing and assessment methods and procedures, group therapy, marital and family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, supervised counseling practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.; Social Work. - A program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counseling, and that focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. Includes instruction in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counseling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counseling.

Wages: In 2007, the California average annual wage was:

$24,148 for entry level workers, and $40,935 for experienced workers.

Outlook: During 2006, there were approximately 9,600 people employed in this field in CA.; We estimate that in 2016 there will be 13,000 employed in CA. This represents an increase of 340 new positions each year (3.10%). Additionally, 190 jobs per year will become available due to employee turnover.

Similar Occupations: Residential Advisors - Coordinate activities for residents of boarding schools, college fraternities or sororities, college dormitories, or similar establishments. Order supplies and determine need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings. May maintain household records and assign rooms. May refer residents to counseling resources if needed.; Recreational Therapists - Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.; Physical Therapists - Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.; Occupational Therapists - Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to disabled persons.; Social and Human Service Assistants - Assist professionals from a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, to provide client services, as well as support for families. May assist clients in identifying available benefits and social and community services and help clients obtain them. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or adult daycare.; Child, Family, and School Social Workers - Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist single parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers on how to deal with problem children.

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