Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Military mental health evaluation, diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and crisis intervention transfer directly to civilian mental health social work.
How to prepare: Ask the social work licensing board in your intended practice state to review your credentials and confirm the authorization needed for diagnosis and treatment.
What the civilian work involves
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Acrobat