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Counselor, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder
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| Related Jobs |  | Physician, Family and General, Social Worker, Child, Family, and School, Therapist, Physical, Therapist, Recreational, Nurse, Registered, Therapist, Occupational, Social Worker, Mental Health and Substance Abuse |
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| Job Outlook | | Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors held about 83,000 jobs in 2006. Demand is expected to be strong for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors because drug offenders are increasingly being sent to treatment programs rather than to jail. Mental health counselors will be needed to staff statewide networks that are being established to improve services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and for their family members. Under managed care systems, insurance companies are increasingly providing for reimbursement of counselors as a less costly alternative to psychiatrists and psychologists.
Overall employment of counselors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2016. In addition, numerous job openings will occur as many counselors retire or leave the profession. While job prospects will vary with location and specialization, opportunities generally should be very good because the number of job openings that arise should exceed the number of graduates of counseling programs.Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors and rehabilitation counselors, in particular, should experience excellent prospects.Counselors also are forming group practices to receive expanded insurance coverage.
Some substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors work in therapeutic communities where addicts live while under treatment. Counselors also work in organizations engaged in community improvement and social change, as well as in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and state and local government agencies. A growing number of counselors work in health maintenance organizations, insurance companies, group practice, and private practice. |
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| More Information | | American Counseling Association, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, American Counseling Association, National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. |
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| References | | Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Counselors, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm
O*NET OnLine, on the Internet at
http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/21-1011.00 |
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