Drug and alcohol addiction counsellor
Also known as: substance abuse counsellor, addictions counsellor, drug and alcohol addiction social counsellor, drug and alcohol worker, alcohol counsellor, drug counsellor
About this occupation
Drug and alcohol addiction counsellors provide assistance and counselling to individuals and families dealing with drug and alcohol addictions, monitoring their progress, advocating for them, performing crisis interventions and group therapy. They also assist the persons with the consequences of their addictions which can be unemployment, physical or mental disorders and poverty. Drug and alcohol addiction counsellors may also prepare educational programs for high-risk populations.
A specialisation of social counsellor.
Essential skills and knowledge
- behavioural therapy
- relate empathetically
- communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields
- provide social counselling
- cooperate at inter-professional level
- undertake continuous professional development in social work
- client-centred counselling
- organise relapse prevention
- social sciences
- maintain the trust of service users
- manage social crisis
- follow health and safety precautions in social care practices
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (O*NET 19-3033.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- Typical education (US)
- Post-Doctoral Training
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Writing, Critical Thinking, Speaking
US median pay: US$100,580 a year (2025), 75,990 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyExtremely important (5.0)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (3.6)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Post-Doctoral Training
- Education
- Most of these occupations 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).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- 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.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Psychiatrists
- Healthcare Social Workers
- School Psychologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.