Description
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.
- • Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- • Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- • 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.
- • 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.
- • 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.
- • Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
- • Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
- • Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- • Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
- • Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
- • Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
- • Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.
- • Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
- • Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
- • Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.
- • Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.
- • Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
- • Develop, implement, or evaluate public education, prevention, or health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions, or communities.
- • Supervise or direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
- • Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
- • Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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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
