Research Summary. Below we've compiled a list of the most important skills for a program counselor. We ranked the top skills based on the percentage of program counselor resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.3% of program counselor resumes contained developmental disabilities as a skill. Let's find out what skills a program counselor actually needs in order to be successful in the workplace.

  • The most common hard skill for a program counselor is developmental disabilities. 11.3% program counselors have this skill on their resume.
  • The second most common hard skill for a program counselor is patients appearing on 11.1% of resumes. The third most common is community integration on 8.6% of resumes.
  • Three common soft skills for a program counselor are analytical skills, compassion and interpersonal skills.

Community integration pertains to the different procedures that help patients integrate and become well-functioning members of a community.

Below we've compiled a list of the most important skills for a program counselor. We ranked the top skills based on the percentage of program counselor resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.3% of program counselor resumes contained developmental disabilities as a skill. Let's find out what skills a program counselor actually needs in order to be successful in the workplace.

15 Essential Program Counselor Skills For Your Resume And Career

1. Developmental Disabilities

Here's how developmental disabilities is used on program counselor resumes:
  • General Job Description: Responsible for assisting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at a vocational and skills advancement center.
  • Support adults with other developmental disabilities to learn life skills in a motivating, personalized, and professional environment.
  • Attend Individualized Educational Plan conferences and advocate for and educate parents regarding children with learning or developmental disabilities.
  • Developed and coordinated behavior programs and activities for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness.
  • Provided a safe and holistic approach for clients with personality disorders and developmental disabilities.

2. Patients

Here's how patients is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Provided health education to patients and families; trained and supervised Physician assistant's residents engaged in specific clinical activities.
  • Provided individual, group and family therapy for caseload of approximately 20 patients diagnosed with severe mental illness.
  • Developed concise aftercare plans and treatment goals for medically monitored crisis and medically monitored detox program patients.
  • Provided education, within hospital setting, to adolescent psychiatric patients regarding substance abuse and dependency issues.
  • Received comprehensive training and expanded knowledge of crisis intervention for patients in a locked psychiatric facility.

3. Community Integration

Here's how community integration is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Provide Care to individuals with developmental/physical disabilities* Pass medications* Provide community integration
  • Program planning, overall plan of service, community integration, incidental teaching and recreational activities including Special Olympics.
  • Facilitate and promote community integration and safety.
  • Encourage clients with community integration.
  • Formulated treatment plans, goal setting, harm reduction, and relapse prevention for community integration.

And if you’re looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:

  1. CovenantHealth Jobs (15)
  2. CHRISTUS Health Jobs (6)
  3. Florida International University Jobs (7)
  4. Meridian Bank Jobs (82)
  5. Wisconsin Youth Jobs (17)

4. CPR

Here's how cpr is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Maintain training in CPR, First Aid, Rule 40, OSHA, Vulnerable Adults and medical equipment.
  • Certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED for children and adults by American Red Cross.
  • Record progress to program manager Skills Used Customer Service CPR and First Aid Certified Home Health Aide competency
  • Provided health support in administered medication, CPR, First Aid, and utilized an AED.
  • Achieved Red Cross certifications in child and adult CPR, First Aid, and AED.

5. Social Work

Here's how social work is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Communicate on a daily basis to the families, doctors, nurses, social workers of residents.
  • Promoted from Operations Counselor to Program Counselor in six months with no prior social work experience.
  • Worked with developmentally disabled adults as well as interacting with their social workers and job coaches.
  • Coordinated with program social worker to ensure students' success in the program and beyond.
  • Maintain collateral contacts with client's psychiatrist, case manager, social worker etc.

6. Medication Administration

Here's how medication administration is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Support residents with daily activities that may include medication administration.
  • Experienced in documentation of activities and medication administration.
  • Provided assistance with client medication administration and documentation.
  • Received certification in First Aid, as well as training in Safety Care, MANDT, Nursing Orientation and Medication Administration.
  • Job duties include: direct patient care, medication administration, CPR/First Aid training, and assistance with daily living.

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7. Crisis Intervention

Here's how crisis intervention is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Provided supportive psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and case management for veterans with persistent mental illness.
  • Conducted post-crisis intervention planning through brief intensive individual and family counseling directly after a psychiatric hospitalization discharge
  • Provided crisis intervention and support services, made appropriate referrals and after-care planning through case-management services.
  • Offered individual and group counseling services to all participants, and conducted crisis intervention when necessary.
  • Provide one-to-one and group counseling sessions and administer crisis intervention as needed.

8. Substance Abuse

Here's how substance abuse is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Provided residential counseling and case management for adolescent girls referred by Juvenile Justice for behavioral and substance abuse problems.
  • Maintained current substance abuse/dependency knowledge while adhering to all State and Federal regulations for methadone maintained clients.
  • Participated in Community Outreach Programs to market substance abuse prevention and education among at-risk youth.
  • Provided substance abuse, anti-criminal, and anger management counseling for residents.
  • Completed comprehensive assessments of clients' substance abuse history and treatment requirements.

9. Behavioral Interventions

Here's how behavioral interventions is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Provided supervision, behavioral intervention and employment assistance to brain injury clients.
  • Carry out behavioral interventions and provide activity of daily living assistance.
  • Implement behavioral interventions to reduce severity, frequency, and duration of aggressive behaviors across 7 students.
  • Provided verbal and physical behavioral intervention as required to protect the safety of clients and staff.
  • Provide consumers with meaningful at home and community experiences, while carrying out behavioral interventions.

Program Counselor Jobs

10. Behavioral Issues

Here's how behavioral issues is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Report any misconduct or behavioral issues
  • Document in resident files and report all incidents or behavioral issues to shift supervisor and program manager.
  • Reported any behavioral issues from a student to my supervisor.
  • Facilitated group therapy for pre-adolescents with trauma and behavioral issues.
  • Counseled trouble youth with behavioral issues Assisted youth with everyday living skills

11. Compassion

Here's how compassion is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Handle emotional situations with compassion and maturity.
  • Show compassion to the clients by engaging them in numerous community activities so they do not feel marginalized in the society.
  • Provided care for children with special needs and display compassion for hurting children and their families.
  • Demonstrate high level of commitment to client services, attention to detail, and compassion.
  • Developed an excellent rapport with the children, treating them with compassion and dignity.

12. Direct Care

Here's how direct care is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Provide direct care for individuals with developmental behavioral health and/or physical disabilities including mental illness.
  • Provided direct care to clients and completed documentation of behavior modification programs.
  • Provided direct care for individuals who have development and physical disabilities.
  • Provide direct care to mentally and physically handicapped adults.
  • Direct care for developmentally disabled residents.

13. Physical Disabilities

Here's how physical disabilities is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Assisted consumers with moderate to severe developmental and physical disabilities with daily living skills.
  • Provide direct overnight care for individuals with behavioral, developmental, and physical disabilities.
  • Assisted individuals with mental/physical disabilities complete work assignments in the place of employment
  • Care provider for residents presenting with severe mental and physical disabilities.
  • Assist individual with mental and physical disabilities in a residential setting.

14. Relapse Prevention

Here's how relapse prevention is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Completed certification requirements/training for Relapse Prevention Therapy to provide RPT services to clients who struggle with relapse in recovery.
  • Provide appropriate resource and referral information related to discharge, aftercare and relapse prevention planning.
  • Provided clinical assessments, case management, and designed social and cognitive skills for an after-care program based on relapse prevention.
  • Provided drug intervention, relapse prevention, drug education, anger management, and parenting skills in a group setting
  • Led three group sessions weekly focusing on relapse prevention, anger management / communication, and open process.

15. Discharge Planning

Here's how discharge planning is used on program counselor resumes:
  • Utilize Secure Manage to maintain 40 clinical charts using according to company and accreditation standards along with providing comprehensive discharge planning.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary treatment teams to formulate and review individualized treatment plans and assisted in coordinating discharge planning.
  • Documented services and discharge planning in electronic medical record.
  • Completed assessments, led group therapy sessions, facilitated family therapy sessions, provided discharge planning.
  • Participate in daily patient staffing- discussing and processing patient issues, progress and discharge planning.
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The eight most common skills based on Program Counselor resumes in 2023.

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List Of Skills To Add To Your Program Counselor Resume

According to recent trends, the most relevant program counselor Resume Keywords for your resume are:

  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Patients
  • Community Integration
  • CPR
  • Social Work
  • Medication Administration
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Substance Abuse
  • Behavioral Interventions
  • Behavioral Issues
  • Compassion
  • Direct Care
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Discharge Planning
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Mental Health Issues
  • Incident Reports
  • Behavior Management
  • Meal Preparation
  • Anger Management
  • Mental Illness
  • Community Resources
  • Therapeutic Environment
  • Independent Living
  • Medical Appointments
  • Role Model
  • Summer Program
  • Intellectual Disabilities
  • Group Therapy Sessions
  • Psychosocial Assessments
  • Medical Care
  • Individual Sessions
  • Direct Services
  • Crisis Situations
  • Vital Signs
  • Allergies
  • Discharge Summaries
  • ADL
  • Community Outings
  • Doctor Appointments
  • PowerPoint
  • Vulnerable Adults
  • Leadership
  • Community Involvement
  • Groceries
  • Domestic Violence
  • Parent Support
  • ADHD
  • Treatment Plan Reviews

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Online Courses For Program Counselors

One of the best ways to acquire the skills needed to be a program counselor is to take an online course. We've identified some online courses from Udemy and Coursera that will help you advance in your career. Since program counselors benefit from having skills like developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration, we found courses that will help you improve these skills.

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1. Essentials of Palliative Care

coursera

This course starts you on your journey of integrating primary palliative care into your daily lives. You will learn what palliative care is, how to communicate with patients, show empathy, and practice difficult conversations. You will learn how to screen for distress and provide psychosocial support. You will learn about goals of care and advance care planning and how to improve your success with having these conversations with patients. Finally, you will explore important cultural...

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2. Symptom Management in Palliative Care

coursera

This course should be taken after the Essentials of Palliative Care course and continues building your primary palliative care skills – communication, psychosocial support and goals of care. You will learn how to screen, assess, and manage both physical and psychological symptoms. You will explore common symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, and distress and learn specific treatments. You will continue to follow Sarah and Tim’s experience and learn cultural competencies critical for optimal...

See More on Coursera

3. Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education

coursera

This course is about caring for and educating children (and youth) with severe to profound intellectual disability. We use the idea of 'circles' to position the child at the center of the many levels of support needed. Around the child are circles of care and education - such as the parents, family, friends, caregivers, educators, health care workers and others such as neighbors, business owners and community members. Each one has an important role to play in the life of a person with an...

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4. Value-Based Care: Population Health

coursera

COURSE 2 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to the concept of population health and related key terms. Refine your understanding of population health and what influences health care costs. Gain an overview of population health management, beginning with a high-level review of four critical areas: addressing behavioral and social determinants of health, the prevalence of chronic disease, attributes of an aging population, and key barriers of access to health care. Use the Population...

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5. Health Care Innovation

coursera

In this course, you’ll learn the foundational economic theories behind health care innovation and how to optimize your own health care practice or organization. Designed to help you gain a practical understanding of the theoretical frameworks of behavioral economics and operations management in the health care setting, this course will help you apply these frameworks to assess health care practices and apply innovation while managing risk. You’ll also explore the best practices for evaluating...

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6. Transitions in Care from Survivorship to Hospice

coursera

This course should be taken after the Symptom Management course and continues building your primary palliative care skills – communication, psychosocial support, goals of care, and symptom management. You will explore transitions in care such as survivorship and hospice. You will learn how to create a survivorship care plan and how to best support a patient. The course also covers spiritual care and will teach you how to screen for spiritual distress. Finally, you will learn the requirements...

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7. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

coursera

This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

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8. Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution

coursera

Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution is a growing area of importance considering the pace and volume of global transactions. The ease of global communication using technology, the abundance of cheaper transportation costs, and the frequency of businesses using cross-border talent is fostering millions of interactions a day between people of different cultures. Examine how the process of communication can be further complicated during interactions between people of different...

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9. Conflict Resolution Skills

coursera

Resolving conflict in a positive manner is a skill that can be developed and practiced. Being heard can be one of the most important goals of someone engaged in conflict. Knowing how to listen and deploy appropriate communication tactics is determinative of whether a conflict will have a positive or negative resolution. Examine listening skills, appropriate and strategic verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and how to assemble a conflict management plan likely to yield positive...

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10. Anger Management & Conflict Resolution Program - (4 hours)

udemy
4.5
(565)

How to manage anger and ensure it does not explode into rage. Enhance your life by building quality relationships...

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11. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs

udemy
4.7
(1,379)

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...

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12. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)

udemy
4.7
(287)

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...

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13. Crisis Intervention Seminar

udemy
4.5
(369)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

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14. PowerShell for Active Directory Administrators

udemy
4.5
(3,341)

Use PowerShell to manage Active Directory users, computer, groups, security settings and more on Windows Server...

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15. Managing mental health issues in the workplace

udemy
4.5
(884)

Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...

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16. Complete Guide to Conflict Management in the Workplace

udemy
4.4
(8,523)

Conflict management: learn conflict resolution skills & effective listening, communication & problem solving techniques...

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17. Active Directory Administration for Helpdesk Technicians

udemy
4
(616)

Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...

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18. Strengthening Community Health Worker Programs

edX (Global)

Despite medical and technological advances, half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services, and over 8.9 million preventable deaths occur every year. There is an acute global shortage of health workers, a gap that will grow to 18 million by 2030. Studies show that training high-performing community health workers can help close these gaps and save more than 3 million lives annually. In the past few decades, many community health worker programs across the world have...

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19. Applying Health Coaching in Patient Care

edX (Global)

For health practitioners, having knowledge of treatment protocols is not enough. They must be able to inspire behavior change in their patients. In order for the treatment to be effective patients must be empowered to implement therapeutic approaches in their lives. In this course, you will learn about health coaching, which is an effective method for helping patients change their behaviors. Health coaching uses a blend of evidence-based strategies, interventions and communication to actively...

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20. Crisis Resource Management

edX (Global)

Research suggests that lack of crisis resource management skills in the healthcare profession result in at least 100,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. This course will arm you with the critical skills to effectively make decisions and manage teams in a crisis situation, especially teams of strangers—a common occurrence for many health workers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The course provides real-life examples and simulations for medical professionals to practice these...

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