Substance abuse counselor vs family counselor

The differences between substance abuse 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 a substance abuse counselor, becoming a family counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a substance abuse counselor has an average salary of $43,069, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.

The top three skills for a substance abuse counselor include patients, substance abuse treatment and social work. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.

Substance abuse counselor vs family counselor overview

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Family Counselor
Yearly salary	$43,069	$41,510
Hourly rate	$20.71	$19.96
Growth rate	-	14%
Number of jobs	78,643	93,253
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

What does a substance abuse counselor do?

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.

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.

Substance abuse counselor vs family counselor salary

Substance abuse counselors and family counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Family Counselor
Average salary	$43,069	$41,510
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $67,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Trenton, NJ	New York, NY
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	New York
Best paying company	Erlanger Health System	Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Professional

Differences between substance abuse counselor and family counselor education

There are a few differences between a substance abuse counselor and a family counselor in terms of educational background:

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Family Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Substance abuse counselor vs family counselor demographics

Here are the differences between substance abuse counselors' and family counselors' demographics:

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Family Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%	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 substance abuse counselor and family counselor duties and responsibilities

Substance abuse counselor example responsibilities.

Ensure and manage the compliance with Didi Hirsch policies and procedures, contracts and other regulatory agencies, HIPAA and DMH.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform assessment of patients using ASAM criteria and recommendation for appropriate level of programming.
Process detox patient admissions on computer system which include - conducting alcohol and drug assessment, taking psycho/social history.
Provide clinical services, patient care, education and opiate addiction counseling services to patients receiving methadone maintenance and detoxification treatment.
Certify for first aid and CPR.

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.

Substance abuse counselor vs family counselor skills

Common substance abuse counselor skills

Patients, 16%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 11%
Social Work, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Intake Assessments, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%

Common family counselor skills

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

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Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance Abuse Counselor vs Family Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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