Alcohol and drug counselor vs family counselor

The differences between alcohol and drug counselors and family 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 alcohol and drug counselor, becoming a family counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an alcohol and drug counselor has an average salary of $45,758, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.

The top three skills for an alcohol and drug counselor include patients, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.

Alcohol and drug counselor vs family counselor overview

	Alcohol And Drug Counselor	Family Counselor
Yearly salary	$45,758	$41,510
Hourly rate	$22.00	$19.96
Growth rate	-	14%
Number of jobs	77,461	93,253
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

What does an alcohol and drug counselor do?

A drug & alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities. A drug and alcohol counselor will evaluate to determine the progress has been successfully made towards recovery. They help patients better understand and overcome their addictions. Counselors help through offering support, rehabilitation, and guidance by using various techniques. Drug & alcohol counselors seek to help an addict find the source of their addiction.

What does a family counselor do?

A Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.

Alcohol and drug counselor vs family counselor salary

Alcohol and drug counselors and family counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Alcohol And Drug Counselor	Family Counselor
Average salary	$45,758	$41,510
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $68,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	California	New York
Best paying company	Montage Health	Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Best paying industry	Professional	Professional

Differences between alcohol and drug counselor and family counselor education

There are a few differences between an alcohol and drug counselor and a family counselor in terms of educational background:

	Alcohol And Drug Counselor	Family Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Alcohol and drug counselor vs family counselor demographics

Here are the differences between alcohol and drug counselors' and family counselors' demographics:

	Alcohol And Drug Counselor	Family Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5%	Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7%
Race ratio	Black 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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	6%

Differences between alcohol and drug counselor and family counselor duties and responsibilities

Alcohol and drug counselor example responsibilities.

Plan and implement follow-up and aftercare programs for clients to be discharge from treatment programs.
Practice cognitive behavioral, motivational enhancement and structural family therapy.
front office, counseling and aftercare.
Administer UA test onsite and send out.
Improve IOP successful completion rate while facilitating seven groups per week.
Collect and organize statistical data as required by DASA, and NEWTA.

Family counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Assist the clients in completing their DCF case plan, helping to remove any hindrances they may encounter.
Counsele and test patients who requesting confidential HIV testing services
Collaborate and coordinate patient care with resident/faculty physicians to provide appropriate levels of care to patients.
Receive and process referrals from DCF and community-base case managers for individuals suspect as substance abusers.
Utilize PowerPoint presentations to facilitate ongoing new student orientation, ensuring students understand rules and regulations.

Alcohol and drug counselor vs family counselor skills

Common alcohol and drug counselor skills

Patients, 15%
Social Work, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 6%
Treatment Services, 6%

Common family counselor skills

Social Work, 22%
Community Resources, 13%
POC, 7%
Family Support, 5%
Family Therapy, 5%
DOD, 4%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Alcohol And Drug Counselor
Alcohol And Drug Counselor vs Family Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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