These counselors in the substance abuse counseling field may also find employment with hospitals, medical clinics, correctional facilities, halfway houses, schools, youth centers, government agencies, or non-profit organizations. Substance abuse counselors help people with alcohol, nicotine, or drug addiction. A substance abuse therapist or addiction counselor can also work with people who have other dependencies, such as gambling addictions. Having a doctorate can also open the door for other opportunities in this field.
What Do Substance Abuse Counselors Do?
All programs will require supervised internships and the completion of a very specific type of online psychology degree. There are different types of credentials you can earn to become a certified substance abuse counselor. The education requirements of an addiction counselor depend on governing boards and state licensing agencies. Here we’ll take you step by step through becoming a substance abuse counselor—from earning your addiction counseling degree to getting licensed or certified in your state. Residential (meaning you live at a treatment program)Residential care usually lasts for a few weeks to a few months. Treatment for more serious conditions may mean staying with a program for a year or more.
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary
The counsellor works collaboratively and cooperatively with the client to overcome these obstacles. When non-compliance occurs, the counsellor actively engages with the client’s resistance and finds creative approaches to drug counseling. The purpose of each session is to enhance the client’s motivation for change and improve his or her ability to cope adaptively with the problems of everyday life without reverting to psychoactive drug use.
Research Conducted at NIMH (Intramural Research Program)
Besides strong communication skills, the counselor should also establish rules of conduct that are consistently enforced in the therapeutic (nonpunitive) setting with clients undergoing drug counseling. Our clinical staff members are all required to have a master’s degree in social work, drug counselling, or psychology. Addiction and mental health counseling is an opportunity substance abuse counseling to change lives and strengthen communities. It’s a chance to give back and make a positive difference in the world, one person at a time. When you see someone you’ve counseled who has made it to recovery and turned their lives around, the sense of fulfillment is truly incredible. Find information about salary ranges and earning potential for substance abuse counselors.
If you decide to stick with the program, you may eventually want to earn a graduate degree. I confirm that the information provided on this form is accurate and complete. I also understand that certain degree programs may not be available in all states. The Graduate School continues to monitor the education and experience requirements around the country. We try to give our students the education they need to become professional counselors in as many states as possible.
- Problems in complying with the treatment program are framed regarding the client’s ambivalence, reluctance, and fears about change.
- Some graduate counseling programs are specifically designed to prepare you for licensure.
- While names may vary from state to state, the requirements for substance abuse counselor certification tend to be identical.
These functions include everything from patient intake to evaluation to conferring with other professionals and much more. You can begin your practicum experience as soon as you’ve completed your first course – Introduction & Overview of Drug and Alcohol Addiction. As with any career, your salary could be determined by a number of factors including your education level, work experience, level of responsibility, geographic location, and type of employer. Substance abuse counselors often work full-time during regular business hours, but the nature of the field may also require evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours. This is especially the case at residential facilities and hospitals which are open around the clock.
Types of Counseling Licensure
- Individual treatment durations are adjusted based on predefined behavioural contingencies.
- You might also want to talk with a substance abuse counselor in your community.
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned an average annual wage of $53,490 in the U.S. as of 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Each territory and state regulates the practice of different health professions, like addiction counseling, within their borders.