Are you intrigued by the thought of working in some particular capacity of counseling? Have you been spending hours studying your college catalog in search of the most ideal choice for your future? Have you considered pursuing a profession as a substance abuse counselor? If not, maybe it is time that you did. Keep reading below so that you can discover the most pertinent information regarding this possible occupation for you; after all, making an informed decision is half of the battle where your future is concerned! Start your training today and work toward your substance abuse degree from an accredited school.
As a substance abuse counselor you will spend the majority of your time working with individuals who are dealing with issues of addiction to drugs or alcohol. You can also expect to find it necessary to counsel the addict’s family members and to work with potential addicts and former addicts. It will be your responsibility to create a solid informed group who can help the addict to recover in even the toughest of times. Substance abuse counselors, who are sometimes referred to as addiction counselors, are projected to have a promising path of employment throughout the next several years. It is extremely important to understand that this occupation will require you to be completely committed and to be willing to work through the most challenging of times in order to see your client experience success. It is also important to note that as a substance abuse counselor you will not have the ability to prescribe medication to aide in the recovery process. Instead, you will be providing more practical, real life help to your clients, such as helping them obtain gainful employment. In fact, it is quite common for a substance abuse counselor to be working under the direct supervision of a social worker, a doctor, or a psychologist. Within this type of position it will be important that you can serve as a consistent voice of reason for your client and their family members, but that you can be encouraging, motivating, and supportive in all of their daily aspects.
It is common for a substance abuse counselor to seek employment within a hospital setting, at a human service agency, at a treatment center, or at an outpatient clinic. In some of these employment situations you may find that your clients who are working through their recovery are living on the premises full time. In a situation such as this you would be expected to monitor the comings and goings of your clients and to assist with their overall treatment plan on a daily basis. In addition, you will likely be expected to conduct counseling sessions. At times these may be conducted with single individuals, while at other times you may find yourself working with an entire group who are dealing with similar circumstances. Keep in mind, your ultimate goal is to help your clients successfully recover from their addiction and to be able to remain clean even once they are not under your direct supervision.