What Do Outpatient Clinicians Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for outpatient clinicians?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what outpatient clinicians do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Outpatient Clinicians Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about outpatient clinicians by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Outpatient Clinicians assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Popular Job Titles For Outpatient Clinicians
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Mental Health Clinicians
- Behavior Specialists
- Mental Health Professionals
- Behavioral Health Clinicians
- Behavioral Health Specialists
- Behavior Interventionists
- Behavioral Health Case Managers
- Mental Health Specialists
- Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- Behavioral Health Social Workers
- Assessment Specialists
- Mental Health Case Managers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for outpatient clinicians can be found.
Best Industries for Outpatient Clinicians
Outpatient Clinicians Jobs By Industry
- Outpatient Care Centers: 20.4%
- Individual and Family Services: 14%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 11.9%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 11.3%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 10.2%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 4.8%
- Other: 27.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of outpatient clinicians can be found working in the Outpatient Care Centers sector. In 2023, about 20.4% of all jobs for outpatient clinicians were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Individual and Family Services (14%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (11.9%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (11.3%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (10.2%) and State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (4.8%).
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What Do Outpatient Clinicians Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what outpatient clinicians do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work outpatient clinicians do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that outpatient clinicians tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for outpatient clinicians, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Outpatient Clinicians
Based on 67,835 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Outpatient Clinicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 36,890 | 54% |
| Social Work | 30,577 | 45% |
| Behavioral Health | 25,602 | 38% |
| Psychology | 24,377 | 36% |
| Treatment Planning | 20,900 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Outpatient Clinicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 22,301 | 33% |
| Management | 13,246 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 10,807 | 16% |
| Planning | 9,586 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 8,171 | 12% |
Based on 67,835 job postings related to outpatient clinicians, mental health was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 54% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, behavioral health, psychology, treatment planning and case management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for outpatient clinicians, followed by management, coordinating, planning, advocacy and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 36,890 | 54% |
| Social Work | 30,577 | 45% |
| Behavioral Health | 25,602 | 38% |
| Psychology | 24,377 | 36% |
| Treatment Planning | 20,900 | 31% |
| Case Management | 16,978 | 25% |
| Crisis Intervention | 16,439 | 24% |
| Psychiatry | 14,727 | 22% |
| Mental Diseases | 10,849 | 16% |
| Substance Abuse | 9,569 | 14% |
| Human Services | 8,558 | 13% |
| Family Therapy | 8,282 | 12% |
| Community Mental Health Services | 6,941 | 10% |
| Discharge Planning | 6,537 | 10% |
| Psychotherapy | 6,107 | 9% |
| Nursing | 6,024 | 9% |
| Clinical Experience | 5,750 | 8% |
| Medical Records | 5,546 | 8% |
| Group Therapy | 5,269 | 8% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 5,257 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 22,301 | 33% |
| Management | 13,246 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 10,807 | 16% |
| Planning | 9,586 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 8,171 | 12% |
| Writing | 8,021 | 12% |
| Problem Solving | 7,903 | 12% |
| Leadership | 7,582 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 6,834 | 10% |
| Customer Service | 5,959 | 9% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,577 | 8% |
| Multilingualism | 5,496 | 8% |
| Teaching | 5,076 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,986 | 7% |
| Operations | 4,349 | 6% |
| Good Driving Record | 4,324 | 6% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,324 | 6% |
| English Language | 4,125 | 6% |
| Time Management | 4,109 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,041 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Outpatient Clinicians
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Clinicians | 14,750 | 13.6% |
| Behavior Specialists | 6,210 | 5.7% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 7,422 | 6.8% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 6,186 | 5.7% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 8,154 | 7.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was mental health clinicians, with 3,331 unique job postings. Behavior specialists were second, with 2,624 postings, followed by mental health professionals, behavioral health clinicians and behavioral health specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to outpatient clinicians.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Clinicians | 14,750 | 13.6% |
| Behavior Specialists | 6,210 | 5.7% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 7,422 | 6.8% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 6,186 | 5.7% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 8,154 | 7.5% |
| Behavior Interventionists | 7,648 | 7% |
| Behavioral Health Case Managers | 5,361 | 4.9% |
| Mental Health Specialists | 5,410 | 5% |
| Licensed Mental Health Professionals | 7,202 | 6.6% |
| Behavioral Health Social Workers | 5,327 | 4.9% |
| Assessment Specialists | 5,608 | 5.2% |
| Mental Health Case Managers | 4,906 | 4.5% |
| Qualified Mental Health Professionals | 5,459 | 5% |
| Clinicians | 4,966 | 4.6% |
| Behavioral Health Professionals | 3,606 | 3.3% |
| Outpatient Clinicians | 2,597 | 2.4% |
| Mental Health Practitioners | 2,102 | 1.9% |
| Mental Health Social Workers | 2,058 | 1.9% |
| Licensed Behavioral Health Clinicians | 1,768 | 1.6% |
| Behavioral Health Care Managers | 2,076 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for outpatient clinicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for outpatient clinicians.
How much do outpatient clinicians make?
Outpatient Clinicians: How do you become one?
All Occupations
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