Chemical dependency therapist vs mental health counselor

The differences between chemical dependency therapists and mental health counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a chemical dependency therapist, becoming a mental health counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a chemical dependency therapist has an average salary of $56,575, which is higher than the $49,471 average annual salary of a mental health counselor.

The top three skills for a chemical dependency therapist include patients, chemical dependency and treatment services. The most important skills for a mental health counselor are social work, patients, and crisis intervention.

Chemical dependency therapist vs mental health counselor overview

	Chemical Dependency Therapist	Mental Health Counselor
Yearly salary	$56,575	$49,471
Hourly rate	$27.20	$23.78
Growth rate	14%	9%
Number of jobs	34,075	110,752
Job satisfaction	-	2
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

Chemical dependency therapist vs mental health counselor salary

Chemical dependency therapists and mental health counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Chemical Dependency Therapist	Mental Health Counselor
Average salary	$56,575	$49,471
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $83,000	Between $34,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	-	Longview, WA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Family Life Counseling & Psychiatric Services
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between chemical dependency therapist and mental health counselor education

There are a few differences between a chemical dependency therapist and a mental health counselor in terms of educational background:

	Chemical Dependency Therapist	Mental Health Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Chemical dependency therapist vs mental health counselor demographics

Here are the differences between chemical dependency therapists' and mental health counselors' demographics:

	Chemical Dependency Therapist	Mental Health Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%	Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6%
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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	15%

Differences between chemical dependency therapist and mental health counselor duties and responsibilities

Chemical dependency therapist example responsibilities.

Utilize ASAM's criteria to determine the appropriate therapeutic level of care for patients/clients.
Direct weekly psycho-educational group for parents of patients.
Coordinate intake process for new patients including preliminary individual treatment plans.
Develop and increase knowledge of federal, state and agency regulations regarding confidentiality methadone treatment and substance abuse counseling certification.
Conduct psychological test batteries and write integrative reports for IEP meetings.
Administer state require DWI protocols including breathalyzer tests and obtaining specimens.

Mental health counselor example responsibilities.

Provide clinical consultation to consumers and clients regarding manage care services and other benefits available to them through their EAP programs.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Certify in CPI (crisis intervention technique).
Assist with crisis intervention, (CPI) maintains treatment activities.
Provide mental health assessment and evaluation of detainees refer by facility staff or identify by pre-screening (booking or nursing).
Assess for special needs during booking process.

Chemical dependency therapist vs mental health counselor skills

Common chemical dependency therapist skills

Patients, 31%
Chemical Dependency, 19%
Treatment Services, 11%
OASAS, 7%
ASAM, 6%
Substance Abuse, 3%

Common mental health counselor skills

Social Work, 17%
Patients, 16%
Crisis Intervention, 9%
Patient Care, 6%
Mental Health Issues, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%

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Chemical Dependency Therapist
Chemical Dependency Therapist vs Mental Health Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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