What does a primary therapist do?
Primary therapists are the main point of contact for patients concerning wellness and overall mental health. Those who choose this career path will be expected to supervise and manage efficient treatment according to plan, and to manage between six and eight patients at a time, keeping in constant communication with these patients and various specialists.
Primary therapist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real primary therapist resumes:
- Case managing, intakes, group and individual session, treatment plans, OASAS standards
- Provide clinical therapy for severely emotionally disturb adolescents and their families to aid in the rehabilitation process.
- Perform crisis intervention, including management of difficult or resistant patients, utilizing clinically appropriate accept techniques and methods.
- Assist in development of extend hour IOP and PHP program.
- experience, IOP, individual sessions, assessments, case management.
- Assist in developing and assessing progress on individual rehabilitation plans.
- Provide intensive group and individual counseling services to patients with a diagnosis of addiction including chemical addiction and process addictions.
- Document contents of counseling sessions as they relate to treatment plans goals and keep OASAS regulations.
- Work in conjunction with teachers, school counselors, administrators, and DCFS.
- Correspond with DCFS case workers, provide quarterly progress reports and advocate for additional services as needed.
- Develop and distribute relevant and comprehensive written materials on DBT.
- Work closely with a license orthotist/prosthetist to obtain orthotics for children who require them.
Primary therapist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Primary Therapists are proficient in Patients, Social Work, and Group Therapy Sessions. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Emotional skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Primary Therapists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 17%
Perform crisis intervention, including management of difficult or resistant patients, utilizing clinically appropriate accepted techniques and methods.
- Social Work, 14%
Supervised the Social Worker, Rehabilitation Therapist, Recreational Therapist, and administrative assistant.
- Group Therapy Sessions, 8%
Facilitate group therapy sessions providing psycho-education and therapeutic activities according to DMH Day Treatment Intensive requirements.
- Eating Disorders, 7%
Develop and deliver community outreach services such as educational presentations on various aspects of eating disorders.
- Patient Care, 5%
Collaborate with key stakeholders in coordinating patient care including schools, case management organizations, and other relevant entities.
- Crisis Intervention, 5%
Performed crisis intervention, conducted family meetings, performed intakes and assessments, and completed clinical and administrative documentation.
"patients," "social work," and "group therapy sessions" are among the most common skills that primary therapists use at work. You can find even more primary therapist responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a primary therapist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what primary therapists do because "clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives." Additionally, a primary therapist resume shows how primary therapists use communication skills: "provide case management, conduct utilization reviews, discharge planning and maintain communication with referring clinicians. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for primary therapists to perform their duties. For an example of how primary therapist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "social workers must analyze their clients’ complex situations and develop practical solutions." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a primary therapist: "facilitate necessary meetings for the purposes of treatment planning, conflict resolution and discharge planning. ".
Organizational skills. primary therapist responsibilities often require "organizational skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment." This resume example shows what primary therapists do with organizational skills on a typical day: "participate in on-going mental health and organizational trainings to improve client care and professional development. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for primary therapist responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of primary therapists all the time, as "social workers must be able to work with different groups of people." An excerpt from a real primary therapist resume shows how this skill is central to what a primary therapist does: "completed training in dialectical behavior therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and group psychotherapy. "
The three companies that hire the most primary therapists are:
- Eating Recovery Center372 primary therapists jobs
- Discovery Behavioral Health131 primary therapists jobs
- RWJBarnabas Health62 primary therapists jobs
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Compare different primary therapists
Primary therapist vs. Addictions counselor
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a primary therapist are more likely to require skills like "excellent organizational," "clinical services," "family therapy sessions," and "mental illness." On the other hand, a job as an addictions counselor requires skills like "substance abuse treatment," "rehabilitation," "treatment services," and "family therapy." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Addictions counselors earn the highest salaries when working in the non profits industry, with an average yearly salary of $47,326. On the other hand, primary therapists are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $61,326.addictions counselors tend to reach lower levels of education than primary therapists. In fact, addictions counselors are 22.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Primary therapist vs. Clinical counselor
A Clinical Counselor interviews clients to assess their mental health and behavioral problems. They examine issues such as substance abuse, depression, stress, aging and self-image.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real primary therapist resumes. While primary therapist responsibilities can utilize skills like "excellent organizational," "patient care," "treatment plan reviews," and "individual therapy sessions," clinical counselors use skills like "foster care," "independent living," "child abuse," and "social service agencies."
On average, clinical counselors earn a lower salary than primary therapists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, clinical counselors earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $53,306. Whereas primary therapists have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $61,326.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clinical counselors tend to reach lower levels of education than primary therapists. In fact, they're 13.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for primary therapists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Cheryl Stenmark Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Director, Industrial/Organizational Psychology Masters Program, Angelo State University
Primary therapist vs. Alcohol and drug counselor
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.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a primary therapist is likely to be skilled in "excellent organizational," "patient care," "treatment plan reviews," and "clinical services," while a typical alcohol and drug counselor is skilled in "rehabilitation," "substance abuse treatment," "treatment services," and "drug abuse."
Alcohol and drug counselors make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $44,333. On the other hand, primary therapists are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $61,326.alcohol and drug counselors typically earn lower educational levels compared to primary therapists. Specifically, they're 27.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Primary therapist vs. Substance abuse counselor
Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery. The mental health counselors aid patients to overcome their chemical dependencies and become self-sufficient individuals. Part of their duty includes meeting clients to evaluate their health and substance issues while creating goals and treatment plans. They teach clients coping mechanisms, refer them to support groups, and engage them in group therapy sessions. Once the patient is stable, they help them re-establish their careers and give updates and reports of progress to the courts. Requirements for the job include a master's degree in counseling and social work.
Types of primary therapist
Updated January 8, 2025
