I work one-on-one with kids in a group home setting, guiding them through their emotional challenges. My day involves 45-minute to one-hour therapy sessions, both individual and group-based. I get to help them process their feelings through talk therapy, meditation, and other methods, while also preparing them for their return home. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the progress as they reintegrate into their families, continuing their healing process even after they leave.
CAREER
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$48,720
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+16.8% (much faster than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Master's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Do
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.
Other Job Titles Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers May Have
Case Manager, Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Therapist, Clinician, Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker, Substance Abuse Counselor, Therapist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Social worker/peer advocate
Seeing my clients and making their day a little better by visiting with them.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- 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.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (79%)
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Social worker/peer advocate
Suggested Path
High School
Associates
Bachelor
Psychology, General
Graduate
Social Work
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Graduate
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Social worker/peer advocate
Personal first hand experience with mental illness, knowledge of DSM criteria, familiar with psychotropic medications, being nonjudgmental, and being able to remain clinical and detached but still be able to provide support, encouragement, and education about mental illness.
You need that element of relatability to work with other veterans. I think that being a veteran yourself is crucial, because you have to have that connection and those shared experiences to get them to invest in you and your advice. You also need to keep an open mind.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Research is key. Volunteering somewhere in the local community that works with people, for example, a homeless shelter or a helpline is a way to see if the career is suitable for you.
College Students
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
