A licensed substance abuse counselor helps clients overcome addiction and harmful behaviors through counseling sessions and personalized plans. They may also refer clients to other agencies for assistance and offer crisis counseling. Requirements for becoming a counselor vary by jurisdiction, but many require a master’s degree. The job can be emotionally demanding, but rewarding when clients overcome addiction.
A licensed substance abuse counselor seeks to help and support people suffering from drug or alcohol addiction. Often this help and support also extends to the substance abuser’s family. A substance abuse counselor helps his client recognize harmful behaviors and learn how to overcome them. The counselor can also offer crisis counseling sessions and refer clients to agencies that can help them in other areas. Different states may have different requirements to become a licensed substance abuse counselor, but many require a master’s degree in psychology or a related field.
While one of the rewards of being a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor is seeing clients overcome addiction and live a substance abuse free life, there are also a number of difficult downsides to the job. Many people who start out in the field drop out due to the sometimes severe emotional demands. Counselors must be prepared to watch some of their clients slip back into addiction, go to jail, or even die. They must also be prepared to be exposed to difficult and often sad situations that lead their clients to addiction.
To help people overcome addiction, a licensed substance abuse counselor may have group or individual sessions on a daily or weekly basis. He may also have to develop a personalized plan to help a bully deal with his cravings and stop hurtful behavior. In addition, the counselor may offer crisis counseling, which is short-term counseling that helps a person deal with traumatic issues.
In addition to counseling sessions, a licensed substance abuse consultant may need to help a client find assistance from other agencies. For example, if the abuser has a health problem, the counselor may refer the abuser to a medical clinic. The counselor can also run drug tests and help track a client’s progress, as well as offer help to the client’s family in dealing with the effects of substance abuse. In addition, the counselor may also seek to prevent substance abuse by educating the public.
The way to become a licensed substance abuse counselor varies by jurisdiction, although many places require a master’s degree in a relevant field. In some areas, a certain amount of courses and experience, with or without a college degree, is sufficient for a person to reach a certification level. Other areas only require a high school diploma as well as certification. As each jurisdiction’s or state’s requirements may differ, a person interested in the field should contact the appropriate authorities for more information.
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