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Addiction therapist vs clinical counselor

The differences between addiction therapists and clinical counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an addiction therapist, becoming a clinical counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a clinical counselor has an average salary of $54,191, which is higher than the $53,271 average annual salary of an addiction therapist.

The top three skills for an addiction therapist include patients, social work and chemical dependency. The most important skills for a clinical counselor are social work, patients, and foster care.

Addiction therapist vs clinical counselor overview

Addiction TherapistClinical Counselor
Yearly salary$53,271$54,191
Hourly rate$25.61$26.05
Growth rate9%17%
Number of jobs94,942146,133
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age3941
Years of experience64

Addiction therapist vs clinical counselor salary

Addiction therapists and clinical counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Addiction TherapistClinical Counselor
Average salary$53,271$54,191
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $71,000Between $43,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-Bethesda, MD
Highest paying state-Maryland
Best paying company-Novo Nordisk
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between addiction therapist and clinical counselor education

There are a few differences between an addiction therapist and a clinical counselor in terms of educational background:

Addiction TherapistClinical Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Addiction therapist vs clinical counselor demographics

Here are the differences between addiction therapists' and clinical counselors' demographics:

Addiction TherapistClinical Counselor
Average age3941
Gender ratioMale, 35.4% Female, 64.6%Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage12%15%

Differences between addiction therapist and clinical counselor duties and responsibilities

Addiction therapist example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate working knowledge of community mental health services identify in the Medicaid guidelines and attain contractual outcomes within designate time frames.
  • Conduct psycho-educational support groups on addictive behaviors, patterns and relapse prevention and perform psycho-social assessments on patients.
  • Provide individual and group therapy to chemically dependent and mental health patients in a residential setting.
  • Perform initial evaluations and intakes, make eligibility determinations, conduct rehabilitation planning and problem solving, and counseling.
  • Work closely with a license orthotist/prosthetist to obtain orthotics for children who require them.

Clinical counselor example responsibilities.

  • Manage a caseload of individuals in programs design to provide vocational rehabilitation and other services to the developmentally disable.
  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Perform client intake assessments and conduct monthly assessments to identify progress of patients and determine individuals ready to graduate from program.
  • Review charts to ensure that they are in compliance with OASAS standards.
  • Initial assessment, diagnosis, ASAM criteria, treatment planning , 3rd party contact, group and individual therapy.
  • Maintain appropriate documentation per NYS OASAS regulations and APG guidelines
  • Show more

Addiction therapist vs clinical counselor skills

Common addiction therapist skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Social Work, 15%
  • Chemical Dependency, 9%
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Client Care, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
Common clinical counselor skills
  • Social Work, 36%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Foster Care, 7%
  • Independent Living, 6%
  • Child Abuse, 4%
  • Clinical Services, 3%

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