Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Human Services · Counseling & Mental Health Services
Pay and outlook shown for
New workers start near $36,710; experienced workers reach $79,210. About 660 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.
Job outlook
Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.
- Employment change
- +23.2%
- Openings a year
- 61
- Employed in 2024
- 517
Typical entry education: Master's degree · Training: Internship/residency
Alamo Colleges programs that lead here
3 programs, with the college that teaches each.
Skills this career uses
The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.
- Social Perceptiveness5.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Service Orientation4.1
- Coordination4.0
What the work is
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.
Education people in this job have
Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.
- Bachelor's degree19%
- Master's degree81%
Job zone 5, extensive preparation: A graduate or professional degree, usually after a bachelor's.
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