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These counselors help clients address the root causes of their addictions, develop coping strategies, and work toward sustained recovery. Their work goes beyond treating the addiction itself; they focus on helping clients improve their overall quality of life, regain control, and build healthier relationships. Requirements to become a substance abuse counselor can vary, often depending upon the type of setting and employer.
Internship / Practicum Experience
Our evidence-based treatment gives clients the medical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual help Twelve-step program they need to move to a full, healthy life. Founded in 1980, Homeward Bound, Inc. has helped more than 250,000 people move toward sobriety. HBI now serves 19 counties in North Texas and 6 counties in Far West Texas. HBI, one of the largest, oldest, and most respected non-profit substance use disorder and mental health treatment agencies in Texas, is renowned throughout the state for excellence. Substance abuse and addictions counselors often work in the settings of correctional institutions, schools, social and human care agencies, and hospitals.
In family therapy, a counselor facilitates discussions and problem-solving sessions with the entire group, as well as with select individuals or subgroups. In many cases, an educational component is included so that spouses, siblings, parents, and children better understand the disease model of addiction. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an international network of community-based meetings for people recovering from drug addiction. It’s modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), so it’s a 12-step program with a defined process for overcoming addiction. While any counseling therapy for drug abuse treatment is better than none, group therapy is generally preferred over individual therapy.
The client is often interviewed for this purpose, and they’re encouraged to be absolutely honest about their behavior. Counselors who work with substance-abuse clients may also be able to tell something about them based on specific behavioral and physical characteristics. Factors like co-occurring mental illnesses, trauma, and the severity of substance use mean that each patient requires a tailored treatment plan.
Step 4: Learn About Substance Abuse/Addictions Counselor Salaries
Over the years, ICS has grown both its staff and its reputation as a sought-after outpatient treatment program where clinical practice is complemented with evidenced-based clinical research. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nearly9.2 millionAmericans suffer from co-occurring disorders (e.g. mental health conditions) alongside a substance use disorder. Substance abuse treatment at The Recovery Village includes a dual diagnosis process to identify co-occurring disorders so that mental health counseling can be integrated accordingly.
Essential Skills for Substance Abuse Counselors
Started in the 1970s to treat people who were suicidal, DBT has been adapted for other uses, including substance use disorders. In treating substance use disorders, the emphasis is on curbing substance use and behaviors that lead to it and boosting healthy behaviors (like starting positive relationships) that help the person avoid using. 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. Counseling and therapy for addiction help individuals understand what causes addiction, learn to recognize risk factors for relapse and develop tools for coping with stressful situations. Common techniques include cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and dialectical behavioral therapy.
You might be an undergraduate student thinking about a career in counseling. There are many different master’s degrees and counseling programs to fit your goals. In some settings, substance abuse counselors may need to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Substance abuse counseling is one of the fastest growing fields in mental health work.
In this method, therapists try to motivate you and help you maintain your abstinence from drugs or alcohol. If you’re prompted by love of family or returning to work, these issues may become the focus of your treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, teaches you how to recognize moods, thoughts, and situations that fire up drug cravings. You’ll learn to replace negative thoughts and feelings with healthy ones that will help you stay clean. If you’re experiencing challenges related to substance use, an addiction counselor can help you.
- Studies show family therapy results in lower relapse rates, increased happiness in the family, and helps children of addicted parents manage their situation.
- Or it could be an exam through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCCAP).
- HBI now serves 19 counties in North Texas and 6 counties in Far West Texas.
- You can contact your state licensure or certification board directly with any questions.
- Sessions cover topics like resilience, stress management, assertiveness, and relaxation.
- Look for someone with a relevant degree, experience treating substance abuse, and up-to-date credentials.
These institutions demand that these employees refrain from using drugs or alcohol for a certain amount of time — often two or three years prior to their employment. This particular experience criterion stems from the tenet of the original 12-Step Program for alcoholics that only an alcoholic in sobriety can assist another alcoholic in sobriety. Following the initial assessment, counselors develop personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique circumstances. These plans address the specific needs and challenges identified during the assessment. Many mental health organizations also have online directories of licensed therapists. A good resource is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Trusted sources can give you a personal touch, suggesting counselors they know and respect. A good counselor who truly cares about your well-being can see things from your perspective. They’ll listen without judgment and create a safe space where you feel comfortable opening up. Psychodynamic therapy consists of open conversation about current concerns, fears, desires, and goals.6 It is distinguished from similar modalities by its emphasis on overcoming contradictory feelings.
The frequency and duration of these sessions can vary depending on your needs and the stage of your recovery. This approach helps patients achieve lasting recovery, connects them with a community of supportive peers, and provides access to a judgment-free environment. Through motivational interviewing, therapists inspire patients to alter behaviors that negatively impact their health.5 This modality is ideal for addicted individuals who are unmotivated or unprepared for change.
Additionally, many jobs are becoming available in the criminal justice system as more and more courts are moving towards sentencing drug offenders to counseling in favor of incarceration. We work closely with the criminal justice field offering evaluations and assessments as well as court ordered treatment. These show that the counselor has met the education, experience, and ethical standards needed. This may be the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium’s (IC&RC) Alcohol and Drug Counselor Examination or Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Examination. Or it could be an exam through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCCAP). Whether you are searching for individual treatment for depression or other difficulty, our staff will do our best to make you as comfortable as possible.