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Substance Abuse Counselor

Learn what it takes to become a substance abuse counselor.

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Substance abuse counselors help people with alcohol, drug, gambling and eating disorders. They counsel clients individually as well as in group therapy sessions, helping people find strategies for embracing a healthy lifestyle free of addiction.

Substance abuse counselors perform the following duties:

  • Conduct individual and group counseling sessions
  • Provide guidance and encouragement to clients
  • Help clients to find jobs
  • Follow up on clients after treatment
  • Counsel clients' families
  • Conduct educational classes for clients' families
  • Conduct daily client counts in rehabilitation centers
  • Schedule clients' group therapy sessions
  • Participate in conference and staff meetings
  • Write progress reports for courts and other officials
 
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Salaries

According to the 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary report, the median annual earnings of substance abuse counselors are between $30,270 – $48,100. The highest 10 percent earned over $60,400 annually.

As counselors gain knowledge and experience, they can expect a higher salary. Self-employed counselors with well-established practices have almost unlimited earning potential. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects substance abuse counseling to outpace other areas of mental health counseling. One major factor in the government’s projection is that many drug offenders are being sentenced to treatment and rehab centers instead of jail.

Work Environment

Substance abuse counselors frequently work evenings and weekends to accommodate clients who work during the day. They may work in hospitals or rehab clinics, or they may practice privately.

While most counselors find helping people recover from addiction extremely rewarding, a job such as this presents some unique challenges. For instance, there are clients who fail to respond to treatment despite the counselor's best efforts, and there are those who relapse into drug use. This is not the usual scenario, however; most counselors constantly refine and hone their skills to achieve the greatest measure of success.

Training and Education

Training requirements vary by employer and by state, but a master's degree in counseling or social work and state licensure are two commonly required credentials. Prospective substance abuse counselors should check with the agency for which they hope to work to determine which requirements are necessary for employment.

In addition, some counselors choose to become certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, which confers the general practice credential "National Certified Counselor." Attaining this credential entails passing a rigorous exam after two extra years of supervised field study beyond a master's degree. Becoming board certified is usually voluntary, but it may increase one's job prospects.

 
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Did You Know?

  • Treatment centers that cater to celebrities are like resorts—with spas, maid service, blue ribbon chefs and daily massages.
  • At Promises, a residential treatment center in Malibu, the average monthly stay costs $67,550.

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