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The differences between substance abuse counselors and mental health therapists 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 mental health therapist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health therapist has an average salary of $50,259, which is higher than the $43,069 average annual salary of a substance abuse counselor.
The top three skills for a substance abuse counselor include patients, substance abuse treatment and social work. The most important skills for a mental health therapist are social work, patients, and mental health.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $43,069 | $50,259 |
| Hourly rate | $20.71 | $24.16 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 78,643 | 114,386 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
The job of mental health therapists is to guide individuals, groups, couples, and families with problems that are impacting their well-being and mental health. Their duties and responsibilities include encouraging clients to talk about their experiences, examining issues that may affect mental health such as substance abuse and bullying, and assisting clients in defining their goals and action plans. Mental health therapists are also responsible for developing therapeutic processes, referring clients to other services or resources like psychologists, and helping them adjust to life changes.
Substance abuse counselors and mental health therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average salary | $43,069 | $50,259 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Erlanger Health System | Tykes And Teens |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a substance abuse counselor and a mental health therapist in terms of educational background:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between substance abuse counselors' and mental health therapists' demographics:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |