A support specialist is someone who works with clinicians and other care team members in the care of patients with behavioral health issues. The support specialist job description will include specifics about the job, such as the skills and experience needed and the types of care programs you will support. A support specialist job is a great starting off point for job seekers just out of college and looking to gain experience in a specified field.
Behavioral Health Jobs is a dedicated job board for people wanting a career in the behavioral health industry. The behavioral health field is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, and new jobs are opening up in hospitals, private practices, community centers, and other care organizations across the country. You can search our job board for new jobs by job title or keyword search, experience level, job type, and other criteria.
To see all available support specialist jobs near you, check out the Behavioral Health Job website today to start a new career search.
Support Specialist Job Description
In healthcare organizations, support specialists assist technicians, psychologists, and therapists in treating patients with substance use disorders, behavioral disorders, and other treatable mental health illnesses. While each job will have specific duties and responsibilities, a general description of a support specialist job may include:
- Assisting or leading group and private therapy sessions.
- Implement treatment plans developed by supervising clinicians.
- Maintain patient progress reports.
- Plan and facilitate activities that work on improving communication and coping skills.
- Teach holistic life skills that promote better mental health and long-lasting sobriety.
- Work with families of patients to foster stronger family connections and a supportive home environment.
- Collaborate with other team members to assist in the care of all patients.
- Participate in continuing education to stay current with new treatment methodologies and mental health trends.
The Behavioral Health Jobs website is where you will find new jobs in the behavioral health industry and other career information to help your job search. Our career advice section includes details about support specialist job descriptions, resume-building tips, and other information to benefit your job search.
Support Specialist Job Requirements
As a support specialist, there are certain requirements you need to meet before you can work in a healthcare organization and help treat patients.
Support Specialist Education Requirements
If you are interested in becoming a support specialist in the behavioral health field, you will need to complete certain education requirements. All candidates need a minimum of a high school diploma or GED and an Associate’s degree in healthcare administration or management, medical assistant, medical coder, or other specialty areas.
While not necessary for this position, those who want a 4-year degree can obtain a bachelor’s in healthcare administration, health information management, nursing, or public health. Earning a post-secondary degree will allow you to advance to more senior-level positions and increase your earning potential. Plus, some certifications may require you to complete a bachelor’s degree to qualify.
Certifications for Addiction Support Specialist Jobs
If you are interested in finding an addiction support specialist job, you will find plenty of work, as addiction is one of the more common mental health disorders in the U.S. After completing a bachelor’s degree, you can obtain certifications that indicate you specialize in addiction recovery. There are several different types of certifications you can earn:
- Certified addiction counselor (CAC), level 1-3
- Licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC)
- Certified co-occurring disorder professional (CCDP)
- Certified peer recovery specialist (CPRS)
- Certified addiction registered nurse (CARN)
- Certified addiction medicine physician (CAMP)
- Master addiction counselor (MAC)
Support Specialist Soft Skills
In addition to technical skills that you will learn through school, there are certain personal skills that you will need to hone in order to succeed in this field. Your soft skills are those skills you learn through everyday interactions with your friends, family, and peers. They include essential skills like being an effective communicator and expressing empathy.
Other top soft skills for support specialists include:
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Organizational skills
- Patience
- Critical thinking
- Able to think clearly in crisis situations
- Resilience
- A strong desire to help others
Support specialists are needed in a number of healthcare organizations, from mental health treatment centers to hospitals, community outreach programs, government agencies, and other care organizations. Be sure to read the job description carefully to make sure you meet all of the requirements.
Behavioral Health Jobs: Find Support Specialist Jobs Near You Today
The Behavioral Health Jobs website is for healthcare professionals who are interested in finding a new career as a support specialist for addiction recovery and other behavioral disorders. You can start a new career search by entering the job title or keywords, like addiction support specialist, and then further filter your results by industry type, experience level, distance from home, and other search captions.
To view all of the addiction support specialist jobs that are available today, go to the Behavioral Health Jobs website and begin a new career search.
