Substance abuse counselor vs primary therapist

The differences between substance abuse counselors and primary 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 primary therapist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a primary therapist has an average salary of $59,826, 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 primary therapist are patients, social work, and group therapy sessions.

Substance abuse counselor vs primary therapist overview

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Primary Therapist
Yearly salary	$43,069	$59,826
Hourly rate	$20.71	$28.76
Growth rate	-	9%
Number of jobs	78,643	85,127
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Master's Degree, 49%
Average age	39	45
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 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.

Substance abuse counselor vs primary therapist salary

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

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Primary Therapist
Average salary	$43,069	$59,826
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $67,000	Between $43,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City	Trenton, NJ	Thousand Oaks, CA
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	California
Best paying company	Erlanger Health System	Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Finance

Differences between substance abuse counselor and primary therapist education

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

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Primary Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Master's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Substance abuse counselor vs primary therapist demographics

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

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Primary Therapist
Average age	39	45
Gender ratio	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%	Male, 27.1% Female, 72.9%
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%

Differences between substance abuse counselor and primary therapist 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.

Primary therapist example responsibilities.

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.

Substance abuse counselor vs primary therapist skills

Common substance abuse counselor skills

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

Common primary therapist skills

Patients, 17%
Social Work, 14%
Group Therapy Sessions, 8%
Eating Disorders, 7%
Patient Care, 5%
Crisis Intervention, 5%

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Substance Abuse Counselor vs Primary Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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