The career that I am thinking of pursuing is substance abuse counseling. A substance abuse counselor or addiction counselor teaches clients how to deal with various problems in a positive way that doesn't involve substance use. They also help clients to be able to discuss their struggles with friends and families so that they can work to fix personal relationships. They may also help clients work to reestablish their careers. They may work with their clients individually or in group sessions. Many addictions counselors also incorporate principles of different programs to guide their practice. Counselors may work with specific populations like veterans or people with disabilities. Addictions counselors can also specialize in crisis or non-crisis intervention. Counselors who specialize in crisis intervention help people who are endangering their own lives. Non-crisis counselors encourage people with issues such as addiction to get help.
Some things that I like about being a substance abuse counselor are that they help people to regain control of their lives, gain positive coping skills, and to be able to rebuild professional and personal relationships. The only thing that I dislike about this profession is that it is extremely stressful and some patients would be more difficult to help. Most positions as a substance abuse counselor require a bachelor's degree, but the amount of education needed may vary. Workers with a master’s degree in the mental health field are able to provide more services to clients. They also don’t require as much supervision as those with less education would. There are no set licensing requirements for substance abuse counselors across the US, so the different states will require different things. Counselors in private practice must have a master’s degree and a few thousand hours of supervised experience. They must also pass an exam. After this, they must complete classes to continue their education every year. For those outside of private practice, many states don’t require a specific degree, however, most require candidates to pass an exam. Substance abuse counselors may make anywhere from $29,520 to $76,080, with a median annual wage of $46,240. There are currently 319,400 jobs for substance abuse counselors. There is a bright outlook for this job because more people are seeking help to deal with substance abuse and many states are seeking treatment for drug offenders instead of just giving them jail time. Substance abuse counselors may work in a large variety of settings. The number of jobs available for substance abuse counselors is expected to increase by 25%, resulting in 79,000 more positions. They may work in prisons, juvenile detention facilities, halfway houses, probation or parole agencies, detox centers, or mental health centers. Some may also work in residential or outpatient treatment centers. Substance abuse counselors work full-time, and they may also need to work nights or weekends.
Although the work of a substance abuse counselor can be potentially stressful, as in most situations clients often put their lives or the lives of others at risk, I believe that it suits me. I sincerely want to help these people start a new happy life without addiction and help improve their interpersonal relationships.