Job Requirements of an Addiction Counselor Essay

At the beginning of my training, I was hesitant to work with people struggling with addiction. However, at this point, I am excited to begin working with this population. The raw honesty presented in the group setting along with the anger at the possibility of losing a safe place created a dynamic I wanted to further explore. Research supports that individuals attending group therapy in a 12 step program format succeed if they have the proper support and motivation (Cite). The group dynamic demonstrated that recovery takes time and self-discovery, similar to other situations dealt with in therapy. Subsequently, by using my sense of self and humor with clients struggling with addiction, I can help them in their journey. Furthermore, the client needs to identify accountability at their own pace in the process and not when others dictate. This knowledge and the personalization of addiction will aid me in the future support of my

There are numerous ethical issues a counselor must confront during their work; dual relationships and confidentiality being two of them and are going to be discussed here. Both are important to both the client and the profession, as they set the expectations for how counselors are to act professionally (Miller, 2015). Ethical principles “direct the moral and value-based decisions that affect the counseling process” (p. 557). Without them, the profession lacks these moral and value-based directives and the ship that is “addiction counseling” has no rudder. It is directionless and adrift.

Substance abuse counseling is the profession that I will be pursuing upon my completion of my educational requirements needed

Considering counseling as a career path was never an option or an interest for me. Nevertheless, upon the completion of an internship at the Renaissance Treatment Center, my areas of interest slightly shifted. The Renaissance Treatment Center is a place that address addiction and mental health issues that many individuals are facing. At this internship, my duties were to administer assessments, complete discharges, and co-facilitate individualized and group therapy sessions. The main thing that stood out and propelled my interest for counseling was the lack of cultural diversity. For each individual that walked into the building seeking help, the majority unfortunately were minorities from the African American culture. For me, this was very unfortunate. It made me wonder why this is so, and what led these individuals down this path. After many completed assessments, I realized that the lack of education, poverty, and living in war stricken communities were some of

First, the identification of a licensed chemical dependency counselor would suffice at the moment. A licensed chemical dependency counselor are counselors that specialize in identifying and treating addictive behaviors that are maladaptive, altered from cognitive imbalance, and from physiological discrepancies, or frequent intoxication to achieve homeostasis or functionality to some extent. In other words, licensed chemical dependency counselors establish and implement treatments to help people cure their addictions from substances which they are chemically dependent on. Second, the nature of chemical dependency is to be acknowledged. The nature of chemical dependency is not very well understood by human population. Many people see addictions as diseases, immoral behaviors or sins, as maladaptive behaviors, and some may view such substance dependence as out of control behaviors as well. However, chemical or substance dependency is a mental issue. The mind tells the body that it needs a certain substance to function, it is a craving that is difficult for the body to ignore, and the body cannot function until such a need is met. The change in behaviors, mood and conscious motivates the mind further to continue finding ways to meet this need. Therefore, there is not only an addiction, but a chemical dependency issue as well. It is strong and difficult to defeat. It is strong enough that it may cause some people to conduct criminal activities or infringe upon the rights and

Substance abuse and addiction can impact every aspect of a person’s daily life, relationships, employment, and can have a profound impact on the user’s overall health. The certified professionals at the addiction treatment centers in Silver Spring, Maryland are uniquely qualified to mitigate the physical aspects of detox and withdrawl, but also help the individual to work through and resolve the many issues that evolve out of addiction. The addiction treatment centers in Baltimore, Maryland, and the surrounding area, offer inpatient services, outpatient care, and residential treatment options.

For every problem there is an obvious solution. If this was the case, we would not need addiction counselors. Some problems don’t have a solution at all. Yet, with Addiction Counseling if the client has the will, the counselor will help them find a way. If we look closely into the group we can quickly see that there are many tools and genres to assist in aiding the addict through the process of recovery. As we investigate further it becomes apparent that Addiction Counseling is defiantly a dominant Discourse community. (Gee 485) yet for most addiction counselor’s financial gain is not their primary reason for choosing this occupation. It is to help people who are struggling to overcome their addictions

I have wanted to be a counselor since my freshmen year of high school and in the counseling field there are many specialties that I can focus on. I am fairly certain that I want to specialize in helping people with substance abuse and their families. I have always focused my studies, interests, and work on things that will help me in this field and I have a lot of qualities that help to enhance me in my eventual career. There are difficulties when I get to practice also like what people perceive as correct counseling style, challenges with my gender and race, and finally creating my own counseling style and plans.

The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) is an organization of professionals who focus on addiction counseling. The NAADAC prides itself on four main roles: professional development, public engagement, professional services and to communicate its mission. The organization will aide in professional development by providing the most current education and training to ensure counselors are adopting the newest evidence based practices in their work (Tuohy, C., n.d. para. 2). NAADAC also provides mentorship and a career path, which are always essential for continued growth. While the NAADAC is directed towards addiction professionals; The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors. The ASCA also provides assistance in professional development as well as mentorship for its members. By providing annual conferences, webinars, specialist training to one-day workshops, the ASCA is committed to the professional development of its members (n.d. para 2). Both of these organizations provide publications that administer the latest knowledge regarding the organization and profession. Although a membership fee is required for both of these associations, the benefits make it well worth it.

The staff at the facility should be specialized to treat psychiatric, psychological, and medical conditions of the residents. It is important to find the underlying cause and conditions of the substance abuse addiction (Abadinsky, 2014). “A typical day is from 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. “and includes morning and evening house meetings, job assignments, groups, seminars, scheduled personal time, recreation, and individual counseling” (Abadinsky, 2014, p.

Contact between an addictions counsellor and a client is usually initiated by the client referring him/her self, an outside agency refers them, family physician or the addictions counsellor initiates contact through outreach or other agencies. Assessment can be seen as the beginning of treatment and it becomes an opportunity to encourage the client to begin to move towards change. The initial assessment involves a mutual investigation and exploration between the client

Stevens, P., & Smith, R. L. (2013). Substance abuse counseling: Theory and practice (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

The facilitator has been working as a counselor since 1993. For example, he has spent time as an aftercare counselor, residential treatment coordinator, assessment/intake counselor, and outpatient counselor. He is an Alaska certified Chemical Dependency Counselor Level I and II and has a National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals from the Association of Addiction Professionals. Additionally, the facilitator is a Behavioral Health Aide Level II through the Alaska Native Tribal Consortium

A career path which I am considering for my future is that of a substance abuse counselor. Substance abuse counselors provide assistance and therapy to clients wishing to stop their use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. I am considering this field because of my personal experience with substance abuse and a desire to help others towards recovery, as well. In order to further understand this occupation, an acquaintance who works in the field and who possesses a similar background agreed to meet with me to discuss her career.

The researchers assessed the present state of current addiction training in the programs. From there they compared programs based on degree awarded either PhD or PsyD, APCS membership and the location of the clinic. Then, they evaluated the “potential” changes in addiction training since 1999.