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Substance abuse services director vs mental health clinician

The differences between substance abuse services directors and mental health clinicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a substance abuse services director and a mental health clinician. Additionally, a substance abuse services director has an average salary of $83,088, which is higher than the $54,359 average annual salary of a mental health clinician.

The top three skills for a substance abuse services director include substance abuse, social work and substance abuse treatment. The most important skills for a mental health clinician are social work, patients, and mental health.

Substance abuse services director vs mental health clinician overview

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Clinician
Yearly salary$83,088$54,359
Hourly rate$39.95$26.13
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs57,82791,347
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Master's Degree, 49%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Substance abuse services director vs mental health clinician salary

Substance abuse services directors and mental health clinicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Clinician
Average salary$83,088$54,359
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $125,000Between $36,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-City and County of Denver Government
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between substance abuse services director and mental health clinician education

There are a few differences between a substance abuse services director and a mental health clinician in terms of educational background:

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Clinician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Master's Degree, 49%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Substance abuse services director vs mental health clinician demographics

Here are the differences between substance abuse services directors' and mental health clinicians' demographics:

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Clinician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 48.1% Female, 51.9%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage15%15%

Differences between substance abuse services director and mental health clinician duties and responsibilities

Substance abuse services director example responsibilities.

  • Manage the departmental budget by adjusting therapist schedules to more efficiently schedule patients.
  • Re-Accredite program with CARF and new accreditation (CARF) of adolescent outpatient and intensive outpatient program.
  • Refocuse strategic mission of psychiatry toward integration and support of hospital services.
  • Perform patient chart audits ensuring proper documentation and patient care are provided per Medicare and Medicaid guidelines.
  • Negotiate contracts for inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation for HMO patients.
  • Create and implement psycho-educational groups pertaining to methadone and substance abuse and behavioral health.

Mental health clinician example responsibilities.

  • Work with children with autism and developmental impairment, providing weekly therapeutic sessions.
  • Provide individual and group psychotherapy for adult population with goal of rehabilitation and community reintegration.
  • Meet productivity standards comply with all DMH documentation standards and participate in on call crisis intervention rotation.
  • Provide psychotherapy with empathy and concern as indicated by supervisory observation and feedback from patients, family and fellow team members.
  • Provide clinical therapeutic services to patients, including individual and group therapy and coordination of treatment for participants with co-occurring disorders.
  • Assess, diagnose, provide psychotherapy and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill adults, children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance.
  • Show more

Substance abuse services director vs mental health clinician skills

Common substance abuse services director skills
  • Substance Abuse, 24%
  • Social Work, 14%
  • Substance Abuse Treatment, 10%
  • Treatment Programs, 6%
  • Treatment Services, 5%
  • Clinical Supervision, 5%
Common mental health clinician skills
  • Social Work, 28%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%
  • Community Resources, 3%
  • Rehabilitation, 2%

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