Author: John Carter

What Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Do?

Substance abuse counselors help clients identify why they have turned to alcohol, drugs, or other destructive behaviors and work with them on techniques and treatments to help turn their lives around. Specific job duties often vary depending on where professionals work and the type of support they offer. They often counsel individuals or groups to help people understand the factors contributing to addiction. Helping people develop new coping skills and ways of thinking is another important part of what substance abuse counselors do. There are several types of jobs in this field, so as a first step to creating your career path, you’ll want to research what is available in your community and area of interest. Most positions are full time and often require working evening and weekend hours.

It also assists with reducing cravings, avoiding situations, and learning healthy coping skills. CM treats several types of substance use disorders and encourages and reinforces sobriety. It uses positive reinforcement such as monetary prizes to reward good behavior. Mental health issues and behavioral disorders often coincide with addiction. Counselors provide support and guidance for those dealing with addiction or behavioral disorders.

Depending on your insurance type, you could have a portion of your treatment plan paid for. When searching for the right treatment centre, ask beforehand what types of insurance they accept to attend their treatment programs. When you find a treatment facility that treats your type of addiction, you can ensure that you’ll get to interact with other recovering addicts that understand what you’re going through.

What Is Alcohol Counselling?

What they do well is listen to you when you’re telling them about your experiences. With more states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, counselors are being forced to consider the potential pros and cons in their work with clients. REBT assists with understanding one’s thoughts and developing better habits and positive thinking.

1. Substance abuse is similar to addiction in that a person enjoys the mind-altering effects, whether physical, emotional, or psychological.
2. A good counselor can also diagnose and treat any co-occurring mental health problems.
3. Different levels of care during rehab can include inpatient or outpatient, medically assisted therapies, counselling sessions, substance support group therapy, and other types of treatment.
4. Once these patterns have been identified, you will begin finding ways to halt these destructive patterns.

The median yearly earning for those employed in residential substance abuse facilities was $42,900, while the median for those in government settings was $60,450. One study found that people employed as supervisors were more likely to be certified or licensed and hold a masters-level degree. Those with a higher educational status had greater familiarity and acceptance of evidence-based therapies. Counselors working in residential settings tended to have fewer years of experience. Rather than seeing addiction as a personal failing, experts now view addiction as a brain-based condition that involves a complex interaction between genetics, brain circuits, the environment, and individual experiences. From the nature of the work, it would seem that there is a high burnout rate for those entering the profession.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Counselors must also complete continuing education courses annually and pass a state-issued exam. By Kendra Cherry, MSEdKendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.” John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.” By submitting my information, I acknowledge that I have read and reviewed the Student Code of Conduct located in the Catalog.

Once you realize that the emotions you feel can directly influence your cognitive patterns, you’ll be better off. Some treatment centres steer clear of medical therapies and, instead, go straight to more holistic therapies. Knowing how much you’re drinking is crucial when it comes to your treatment because it might help identify why you’re choosing to drink often. This plan will help you know your triggers and what you can do when you’re in a situation where your motivation is present. You might be wondering what an alcohol therapist does in their role as your counsellor.

An individual’s specific educational background and experience will determine the type of services they can provide. 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. Regarding alcohol addiction counselling, everything we’ve included in this guide will be helpful in your journey down the recovery road. Understanding the types of counselling that you’ll receive is the first step to getting your life back. Often, when people undergo counselling for an addiction, they find that they have more issues than just addiction.

The goal is to help people gain greater self-awareness and an understanding of the community resources and treatments available to help them recover. Through education, people are often inspired to enter treatment on their own. If you require more alcohol cessation advice, contact our experienced addiction advisors for free help and advice.

Nonprofit organizations tend to offer lower salaries, while compensation at top-quality residential facilities can be higher. A good drug or alcohol counsellor can help you understand your addiction and how it manifests in you. They can also help you adapt to life as a sober person and teach you methods to help keep your recovery safe and grow in your emotional sobriety.

Therapy for Alcohol Usage

Some addicts suffer from underlying mental disorders, including bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. If you’ve got underlying issues, you’ll want a treatment centre providing dual-diagnosis therapy. Finding the right alcohol counsellor, the one you feel comfortable with, the one that can help you overcome blocks to your personal growth and the one that can help you maintain sobriety, isn’t always easy. When searching for the right drug and alcohol counsellor, it should be noted that they can be accessed no matter what type of program you’re in. A drug and alcohol counsellor’s purpose is to help you recover and get to the bottom of the emotional aspects causing you to drink.

What Makes a Good Addiction Counselor?

But while the work can be quite emotionally and physically taxing, most counselors find that their passion for helping others far outweighs any negatives. And with more experience and education, many move into other types of counseling over the course of their careers. Once you’ve been told that they accept your insurance, the next step is to contact your insurance provider. Your insurance provider will then be able to tell you what portion of your treatment will be covered by them and what part you’ll take care of. This is where we can help; we have a vast number of highly experienced and fully accredited registered alcohol counsellors based all over the UK. We can find you the perfect alcohol counsellor near you and take care of all the necessary arrangements.

Substance Abuse Education

Substance abuse counselors may also utilize an approach known as motivational interviewing to help people with addictions find the motivation to make changes in their lives. Using this strategy, counselors offer empathy and support while encouraging clients to see the discrepancy between where they are now and where they want to be. Some states require completion of 2,000 to 6,000 internship hours before taking an exam, but requirements vary depending on your current academic level. Substance abuse counselor salary ranges depend on several factors, including the level of education, number of hours of field experience, and employment setting.

In being aware of the vulnerability to addiction for those affected by adverse childhood experiences, professional counselors can play a pivotal role in prevention and early intervention. There are a variety of behavioral health therapies for dealing with co-occurring disorders. A good counselor can also diagnose and treat any co-occurring mental health problems. This is crucial – without understanding the underlying issues, long-term recovery is more challenging. These are the types of degrees required for admission to a Masters-level program.