Description
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.
- • 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.
- • Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.
- • Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- • Develop or advise on social policy or assist in community development.
- • Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- • Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
- • Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- • Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
