What Do Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors 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. They also complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients’ histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.

Other tasks include:

• Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• 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.
• Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
• Review and evaluate clients’ progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
• Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.

We asked Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 85% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients’ histories and progress, services provided, or other required information. They 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.

A typical day for a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor will also include:

• 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.
• Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.

We asked some Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	71% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	63% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	58% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	36% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	64% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors also participate in case conferences or staff meetings. They may also plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff. They might also Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.

In addition, they Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Review and evaluate clients’ progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.

To some Certified Alcohol Drug Counselors, it is also their responsibility to Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-and-behavioral-disorder-counselors.htm

http://www.nattc.org/

http://www.naadac.org/

http://www.counseling.org/