Addiction Counselor 101
The most important part of becoming an addiction counselor is the desire to want to help others in need. The pay is not great, the average being around $38,620 a year according to the statistics. Depending on the facility and education level the pay may be as high as $60,000. For example, if one has a master’s degree he or she might be more qualified for a higher position and salary. The more education in this field the better. Also, applicants must pass a background check for felonies or child abuse.
Substance Abuse Counselor Overview
A substance abuse counselor provides treatment to those in need of treatment whom are suffering from an addiction or are in recovery and trying to stay sober. They are an essential part of society as they provide the necessary needs for addicts. The process of becoming certified according to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics (BLS) educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a master’s degree, depending on the setting, type of work, state regulations, and level of responsibility. Workers with a high school diploma typically go through a period of on-the-job training.
A Typical Day as a Substance Abuse Counselor
There is probably no such thing as a typical day as a substance abuse counselor, but this article: A Day in the Life of a Substance Abuse Counselor by Douglas Klier, M.A., C.A.C., Adjunct Faculty, Assumption College provides a good description of what counselors do on a daily basis.
Counselors in Recovery
Being a substance abuse counselor is one of the few professions where having a “checkered” past can actually be an advantage. While it isn’t like it was 30 years ago, when most substance abuse counselors were in recovery, there are still a significant number of addictions professionals, who identify themselves as recovering addicts or former drug users. I continue to have clients who express an interest in using their life experiences to help and encourage others in their recovery. This may be in the form of a sponsor or mentor, but some wish to make a career out of helping
Getting Started
How do most substance abuse counselors get started in this field? I have noticed three common scenarios, but I’m sure there may be others. Scenario #1: They battled addiction themselves and, through recovery, found that they want to use their life experiences to help others. Scenario #2: They have someone very close to them who has battled addiction, or maybe have even lost someone due to drug or alcohol problems.
Scholarships for Recovering Addicts
Are you interested in finding scholarships for addiction counseling programs? Here's your chance to explore what's out there to take advantage of. Scholarships for recovering addicts and those who are looking into starting a program in substance abuse recovery are available if you know where to look. This article will help you understand the importance of education and financial support in recovery. Scholarships can go a long way in supporting your mental health education. I'll provide a simple yet comprehensive way to find scholarships to support your instance abuse education dreams. No matter your reason for applying for scholarships, I
Group Therapy Tips
I previously posted about some of the pros and cons of group counseling. I would like to now share some of my tips for conducting group sessions.
Group Ideas for Substance Abuse
Have you ever wondered why group ideas for substance abuse are considered a valuable thing? Group ideas for substance abuse can be beneficial in many ways. When you are in the same group as other people going through the same challenges, it can help create such a wonderful experience for you. This is also very helpful, particularly if you love to help other people and need an outlet or platform to do so. Group ideas for substance abuse have to do with the ideas you come up with to help set up a group for those struggling with addiction or
Emotional Core Therapy
I am excited to share with your website my exciting new discovery in the field of psychology and addiction and mental health treatment. My Emotional Core Therapy (ECT) approach is the simplest behavioral psychology approach to treating teen and adult addictions because my techniques are all rooted in modern psychology. The psychology field is evolving and getting better every day. What I have done with ECT is utilize the best psychology tools available to get at the root cause of addictions. I will note that my ECT approach is also the simplest approach available to treat depression, anxiety, anger, marital
Why You Should Become a Substance Abuse Counselor
The success rate is very low You only work with criminals They don’t want to stop using drugs The clients lie and manipulate Substance abuse counselors aren’t as well respected as other counselors It probably isn’t going to make you rich. There seems to be a lot of burnout with substance abuse counselors These are just a few of the reasons you may hear those in, or considering the counseling profession say that they don’t want to work with drug addicts. Let’s look at why you should consider becoming an addictions professional.