In our adult lives, we spend the majority of our days busy at work. Unfortunately, research shows that an overwhelming majority of adults loathe their careers. Fewer than half of Americans report being satisfied or extremely satisfied with their current jobs.
When you don’t like your job, you’re at a higher risk of developing resentments, fatigue, and complete burnout. You’re more likely only to provide the bare minimum- and the days, weeks, and years will subsequently drag.
On the other hand, what if work could provide you with the resources and financial security you need- while also securing you a sense of profound fulfillment? What if work could offer you satisfaction, joy, and personal growth?
There is no doubt that a career in alcohol addiction treatment or substance abuse counseling can be incredibly rewarding. From helping people to learning new skills to collaborating with a passionate team, the work can indeed represent a labor of love. Let’s get into what you need to know.
What Is Substance Abuse Counseling?
Substance abuse counseling refers to professional support and treatment for overcoming Substance Use Disorders. It is an essential part of most structured addiction treatment programs.
Substance abuse counseling can be broad and overarching. Counselors provide extensive services to help their clients learn new ways to cope with the challenges present in early recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. They have both experience and education in multidisciplinary studies of human behavior, chemical dependency, and psychology.
Individual Counseling Sessions
Addiction counselors typically meet with their clients for a set amount of time each week. In these sessions, you will help clients identify their recovery goals. You will also help provide viable solutions that increase the chance for change and success.
Your addiction counseling sessions may include:
- Assigning and reviewing homework
- Discussing and addressing problems within the community (i.e., conflicts with other clients, issues with another member of the treatment team)
- Examining and exploring alcohol or drug cravings and addiction triggers
- Discussing involvement in other areas of care (medication, therapy appointments, support groups)
Regardless of whether they struggle with drug or alcohol abuse, building rapport with your clients is essential. Ideally, they should trust and respect you- even if they don’t always like what you have to say. Your clients should also feel comfortable disclosing their feelings and experiences with you. For these reasons, excellent addiction counselors tend to have the following traits:
- Strong, professional, and fair boundaries
- Willingness to learn (as opposed to thinking you are always right)
- Open-mindedness
- Warmth and compassion
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Desire to take risks
- Strong and assertive communication skills
- Passion for recovery
- Time management skills
- Comfort in working in acute, high-risk, fast-paced environments
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention is one of the primary goals of any successful counselor. Many times, clients enter treatment for drug or alcohol abuse without the resources or tools needed to sustain sobriety. They may feel hopeless, scared, or angry when they first seek help. Likewise, they may have previously attempted sobriety in the past, but they did not receive the results they wanted.
Substance abuse counselors provide their clients with appropriate relapse prevention strategies. These strategies will vary depending on the individual’s needs and preferences. However, they may include:
- Consistent schedule of meetings
- Creative expression (journaling, artwork, creating music)
- Mindfulness and grounding exercises
- Cognitive-behavioral techniques (changing negative thoughts, looking at pros/cons)
- Motivational interviewing (reflecting on ambivalence, inspiring positive change)
- Specific homework assignments related to addictive thoughts or behavior
- Self-care recommendations
- Communication skills (learning how to confide and talk to someone else)
- Accountability through monitoring
Referrals and Coordination of Care
Most substance abuse counselors work as part of a larger team. This team may consist of several professionals including:
- Therapists and social workers
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Medical doctors
- Dietitians
- Other addiction or substance abuse counselors
Clients tend to benefit from working with specific addiction treatment professionals who meet their particular needs. Substance abuse counselors work to provide wraparound care that facilitates and coordinates these referrals. Counselors will also coordinate with important personnel in the client’s life. These people may include attorneys, employers, and probation officers.
Family Involvement
Most experts agree that addiction is a family disease. Thus, successful counseling often entails including the family as part of the treatment plan. Addiction counselors may work with family members in the following ways:
- Providing education about substance use disorders and treatment
- Giving updates about the client’s progress and prognosis
- Teaching and supporting the implementation of healthy boundaries
- Discussing aftercare options
- Encouraging family recovery resources (Al-Anon, family therapy, etc.)
Group Facilitation
Many substance abuse counselors facilitate group therapy to support clients in their recovery journeys. Sometimes, addiction counselors follow a set curriculum when facilitating these groups. Other times, however, counselors will bring in unique material to share and discuss.
There are many different kinds of groups, but common group topics include:
- Process groups
- Managing triggers and cravings
- Healthy coping skills
- Family dynamics
- Trauma
- Creative expression
- Spirituality
- Responsibility and accountability
- Healthy relationships
- Self-esteem
Counselors maintain the structure and flow within a group. They are in charge of enforcing group rules and instilling respect among members. It is not uncommon for alcohol or drug-addicted clients to become agitated, bored, or inappropriate in groups. However, counselors hold the responsibility of ensuring that everyone feels safe and supported.
Aftercare Support
Successful addiction counseling requires preparing the client for optimal chances for future success. The relapse rates for substance use disorders remain stubbornly high. Unfortunately, even if an individual has good intentions for sobriety, the stress of daily living can quickly take its toll.
Counselors work to provide efficient and seamless aftercare for their clients. This may include referrals for long-term treatment. It may also include coordination with housing arrangements, such as sober living facilities or halfway houses.
Another option for lasting recovery may be monitoring. For example, Soberlink remote alcohol monitoring connects the clients to the counselor and other loved ones to keep them accountable long after treatment is over.
Becoming A Substance Abuse Counselor
The requirements for becoming a substance abuse counselor vary depending on the location and employer. Certain titles will require certain degrees and levels of experience. Thus, counselors have many different backgrounds.
Start first by checking with your state licensing requirements. You will likely need to enroll in school and complete a certification or license program. You will also need to complete a designated number of counseling training hours. Finally, you may need to successfully pass one or more board exams.
Substance abuse counselors come from all walks of life. Some people find their passion after entering their own drug or alcohol recovery. They want to give back to others who may be struggling.
Others enter the profession after a significant career change. They may realize that they want to start helping people and enter this field with that very intention. Finally, some professional therapists, psychologists, or social workers may provide substance abuse counseling as part of their practice. They may contract with various agencies, addiction treatment centers, or work in private practice.
Benefits Of Substance Abuse Counseling
There are many rewards associated with substance abuse counseling. Let’s explore some of the standout advantages.
Helping Others
All helping professions have this inherent reward. It feels good to give back and knowing that your work makes a difference feels good.
If you are in recovery yourself, you may feel a responsibility to help others in the way you have been helped. There’s a strong chance you will be able to relate to some of your clients- and there’s also a strong chance they will feel like they can relate to you as well.
Continuous Novelty
Some people prefer the comfort of a predictable day-in and day-out routine. However, if you’re the type who’s up for an adventure, who enjoys something new every day, and who gets bored quickly, counseling may be the right profession for you.
With counseling, you’ll continually grow and learn about yourself and others. No two days look exactly alike. That’s because you’re working with people every day- and we all know that no two people are identical.
Nonstop Learning
Do you like the idea of learning more about human behavior? Counseling requires continuous education- both practically and academically. Depending on your state, certification, and license, you will likely need to complete continuing education units every year.
Likewise, your job may also include training and workshops. You may be assigned a supervisor who will consult with you about your cases and provide feedback on your struggles.
Personal Growth
As an addiction counselor, you will often work “out of your comfort zone” in substance abuse treatment. Certain tasks and clients will inevitably challenge you and make you reflect on yourself and the work that you provide. While these challenges can sometimes be stressful and uncomfortable, they can propel you towards tremendous growth.
Team Support and Camaraderie
Many substance abuse counselors make lifelong friends with their coworkers. That’s because there is an inherent intimacy involved with alcohol or drug-related work. You handle sensitive issues all day, and you are “in the trenches” with your work and clients.
These friendships can be good for your profession and good for your health. Research shows that work friendships can help reduce stress while also positively boosting your professional network.
Final Thoughts
There are numerous benefits to working as a substance abuse counselor. Each day brings something different. Likewise, each client provides you with a new experience. You will witness transformative change, and you will be a part of helping change lives.
About the Author
Nicole Arzt is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in providing psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups struggling with Substance Use Disorders and psychiatric illnesses. She received her MS Degree from California State University, Long Beach in 2014. She has extensive experience working in a variety of dual-diagnosis treatment centers, providing services for all levels of care from detoxification to long-term outpatient therapy.