What to Look for in a Substance Abuse Counselor

The Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School offers master’s programs in addiction counseling both on-campus and online. As an accredited institution of higher learning, our integrated addiction counseling programs include coursework in mental health and co-occurring disorders. Addiction counseling is https://sober-home.org/ a professional field that promotes lifelong education and personal growth—not only for patients but also for practitioners. The training and best practices for SUD counselors are continually evolving, so you’ll want to keep professional development for counselors opportunities on your radar.

Step 4: Apply for Licensure or Certification in Your State

Participants learn and practice specific problem solving and communication skills using guided role-play exercises. For problems requiring more individualized attention, couples and families are also used alongside drug counseling. It is encouraged for patients to participate in self-help, but they are not obligated to do so, and acceptance of being an addict or alcoholic does not require drug counseling. Treatment for drug and alcohol addictions has developed different psychological and social methods that help people overcome addiction differently and differently.

What courses will I need to take to be a substance abuse counselor?

Through questionnaires and interviews, they determine the severity of alcohol or drug abuse as well as your readiness for change and whether there are co-occurring mental health conditions. Licensed addiction counselors typically spend between 4,000 and 10,000 hours doing supervised training. After discussion with you, your health care provider may recommend medicine as part of your treatment for opioid addiction. Medicines don’t cure your opioid addiction, but they can help in your recovery. These medicines can reduce your craving for opioids and may help you avoid relapse. Medicine treatment options for opioid addiction may include buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The client arrived, finding her own pictures from Facebook printed off and hanging in the house. McDaniel called the former client her “adopted daughter,” and pressured her for methadone. CE4Less’ platform https://sober-home.org/tips-and-methods-for-marijuana-detoxification/ is purpose-built to deliver a convenient, portable experience no matter where, when, or how you want to learn. Every course in our library is designed to be taken any time, anywhere, and on any device.

Although this approach avoids the use of aggressive tactics, it is important to mention that it does not promote a laissez-faire, anything-goes attitude toward client noncompliance. As part of this approach, clients may be given limitations and constructive feedback to improve their motivation for change rather than being required to admit they’re addicted without drug counseling. Clinical flexibility is valued by clinicians who work with clients collaboratively and consider the specific needs of each individual when offering drug counseling. In contrast, traditional treatment programs tend to be aggressive and confrontational. Drug counseling strongly encourages participation in an alcoholic’s assistance program or a similar organization. Various methods of treatment and counseling are provided when an individual enters a rehabilitation program that is focused on helping him or her heal from the trauma and pain caused by substance abuse.

1. Addiction counselors may work in private practice or within a group practice.
2. But there are other reasons a graduate program is your best option if you’re looking for a long-term career in the substance use disorder (SUD) counseling field.
3. In most states and circumstances, substance abuse counselors must be licensed or certified by the state in which they intend to work.
4. Counseling as a career is ideal for someone interested in working with individuals and groups to improve mental, behavioral, and emotional concerns.
5. This typically involves completing a degree or certificate in alcohol and drug counseling, earning supervised experience, and passing a qualifying exam.

As well as supervisory meetings, the drug counsellors participate in daily case conferences to assign new cases and discuss special problems. Once each month, there is an in-service training session on a specific clinical topic. Earning a master’s in substance abuse counseling will typically qualify you for independent state professional licensure as a substance abuse counselor and also for professional certification. At this level, a master’s degree and a license are often prerequisites for the positions available. With the expected increase in substance abuse counselor jobs in the coming years, the outlook for future counselors is bright. Qualifications for these jobs will vary by state, employer, and geographic area, but will typically require state-level license or certification.

Earning a degree in substance abuse counseling will lead to a career as a substance abuse counselor in most states. Many states have a tiered license structure, which means candidates with higher degree levels qualify for a more advanced licensure level. The required amount of supervised experience for each license level corresponds to the degree level. Therefore, in states that grant licensure for candidates with a high school diploma, those individuals generally need to complete more supervised experience than candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Addiction presents different issues that vary from person to person, so counselors need to tailor their treatment plans to address a variety of needs. They meet regularly with patients to help them recover, and they may work intensely with people in crisis. Many addiction counselors also conduct couples and family therapy sessions, using peer discussion and social reinforcement to promote a healthy recovery process. Several states have started recognizing the need for master’s-degree-level addiction counseling licensure and certification. But there are other reasons a graduate program is your best option if you’re looking for a long-term career in the substance use disorder (SUD) counseling field.

The frequency and duration of these sessions can vary depending on your needs and the stage of your recovery. For example, a counselor may need to establish trust with their patients or tell difficult truths. 50.2 million American adults considered themselves to be in recovery from their substance use and/or mental health problems. On March 1, 2022, President Biden announced his administration’s strategy to address our nation’s mental health crisis as outlined in the 2022 Presidential Unity Agenda. To meet this goal, SAMHSA collaborated with federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local partners including peer specialists to develop the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification.

Their treatment locator can help you find drug and alcohol treatment centers near you. Your path to becoming an addiction counselor will vary depending on the requirements of the state where you intend to practice. As a first step, it’s a good idea to look up the licensure or certification requirements of your state and use this information to help plan your education. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse counselors is projected to grow 23 percent from 2020 to 2030. As a licensed counselor with a master’s degree, you can look forward to a strong job market and reliable employment. You might be an undergraduate student thinking about a career in counseling.

The same report found that less than 10 percent of people who needed treatment for substance use disorder received it. It may include clinical treatment, medications, faith-based approaches, peer support, family support, self-care, and other approaches. Recovery is characterized by continual growth and improvement in one’s health and wellness and managing setbacks.

There are many different master’s degrees and counseling programs to fit your goals. The requirements to become an addiction counselor (substance abuse counselor) can vary based on your employer and which state you live in in the U.S. The job outlook for substance abuse counselors is expected to grow 23% from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than the average for other occupations.

A degree from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School will allow you to impact vulnerable individuals, families, and communities positively. Once you gain the necessary training and experience, you’ll have many professional options. To become licensed or certified as an alcohol and drug counselor, you will likely need to pass an exam. Examples include the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium’s (IC&RC) Alcohol and Drug Counselor Examination and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Examination. You may need to pass an exam through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCCAP). All of these qualities play a role in developing what is known as the therapeutic relationship or the working alliance between a mental health professional and a client.

Court-ordered therapy is also becoming more common, creating numerous counseling jobs in correctional facilities and halfway houses. Addiction affects the ability of people to work, go to school and enjoy healthy relationships with family and friends. It’s a social problem that costs the country hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Tragically, hundreds of thousands of people also lose their lives each year due to drug and alcohol abuse.

For many people, substance or alcohol use was a way to self-medicate for depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition. For others, perhaps it began as a way to stay motivated during long hours of working or studying. Look for someone with a relevant degree, experience treating substance abuse, and up-to-date credentials.

The demand for substance abuse counseling services is expected to increase as more states legalize marijuana, and the opioid epidemic continues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a treatment approach that focuses on changing thoughts and behavior patterns. Substance abuse counselors often use CBT techniques to help clients recognize the inaccurate thoughts and feelings that help maintain addiction.