Drug Rehabilitation Counsellor
Community & Social
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- 2Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- 3Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
- 4Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
- 5Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
- 6Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
- 7Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
- 8Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
- 9Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
- 10Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
- 11Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
- 12Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- 13Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- 14Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate individuals' mental and physical condition and to determine their suitability for participation in a specific program.
- 15Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.
- 16Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.
- 17Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
- 18Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
- 19Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.
- 20Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
- 21Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.
- 22Supervise or direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
- 23Develop, implement, or evaluate public education, prevention, or health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions, or communities.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- LPC
- SAC
- ADAC
- CADC
- DATS
- LADC
- CASAC
- Clinician
- Counselor
- Case Manager
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
Typical entry
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Therapy and Counseling100%
BiologySports Science
- Psychology99%
- Education and Training90%
- English Language83%
English
- Customer and Personal Service83%
- Administrative71%
Business
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleConstant contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
- Leading or coordinating othersHigh
- Handling conflict situationsEvery day
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
- Noisy environmentAlmost never
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
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About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org