Health therapist vs addictions counselor

The differences between health therapists and addictions counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a health therapist, becoming an addictions counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a health therapist has an average salary of $55,274, which is higher than the $47,226 average annual salary of an addictions counselor.

The top three skills for a health therapist include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for an addictions counselor are patients, social work, and chemical dependency.

Health therapist vs addictions counselor overview

	Health Therapist	Addictions Counselor
Yearly salary	$55,274	$47,226
Hourly rate	$26.57	$22.70
Growth rate	9%	12%
Number of jobs	104,056	79,459
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	45	39
Years of experience	4	6

What does a health therapist do?

Health Therapists are healthcare workers who help patients overcome their physical, mental, or emotional challenges. They create treatment plans for patients depending on their specialization. They consider the patient's medical history as well as the risk factors. Health Therapists are actively involved in the patient's recovery. They monitor the progress of the treatment plan, schedule therapy sessions, provide activities during each session, and encourage them along the way. Health Therapists help improve the lives of their patients and ease them into their new realities.

What does an addictions counselor do?

An Addictions Counselor helps patients overcome personal addiction problems, such as dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances. They evaluate the condition of their client through examining, asking questions, and recommending the proper treatment options.

Health therapist vs addictions counselor salary

Health therapists and addictions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Health Therapist	Addictions Counselor
Average salary	$55,274	$47,226
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $75,000	Between $32,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Philadelphia, PA
Highest paying state	California	Pennsylvania
Best paying company	Baptist Health Care	Wellpath
Best paying industry	Health Care	Non Profits

Differences between health therapist and addictions counselor education

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

	Health Therapist	Addictions Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Social Work	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	Hunter College of the City University of New York

Health therapist vs addictions counselor demographics

Here are the differences between health therapists' and addictions counselors' demographics:

	Health Therapist	Addictions Counselor
Average age	45	39
Gender ratio	Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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%
LGBT Percentage	15%	12%

Differences between health therapist and addictions counselor duties and responsibilities

Health therapist example responsibilities.

Demonstrate working knowledge of community mental health services identify in the Medicaid guidelines and attain contractual outcomes within designate time frames.
Work with children who have autism by providing direct services.
Provide acute therapeutic intervention to adult and geriatric patients presenting with varying mental health diagnoses, seeking support and stabilization.
Record and maintain daily activities and rehabilitation progress for medical evaluation.
Facilitate therapy groups with adults and adolescents on acute psychiatric units and chemical dependency rehabilitation programs.
Facilitate transfer of patients to appropriate levels of care as determined by interdisciplinary team during or after completing treatment.

Addictions counselor example responsibilities.

Ensure and manage the compliance with Didi Hirsch policies and procedures, contracts and other regulatory agencies, HIPAA and DMH.
Develop treatment plans and recommend a level of care within ASAM and DSM-IV guidelines, and approve requirements.
Restore patients to productive roles by educating them about available community base organizations, and social and employment services.
Perform initial evaluations and intakes, make eligibility determinations, conduct rehabilitation planning and problem solving, and counseling.
Provide drug, alcohol, and rehabilitation counseling and education in a residential therapeutic community for female drug offenders.
Serve as an advocate for family with private/public school-relate agencies (IEP meetings/education plans).

Health therapist vs addictions counselor skills

Common health therapist skills

Social Work, 33%
Patients, 20%
Patient Care, 7%
Substance Abuse, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Clinical Documentation, 3%

Common addictions counselor skills

Patients, 18%
Social Work, 12%
Chemical Dependency, 6%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 5%
Intake Assessments, 4%

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Health Therapist
Health Therapist vs Addictions Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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