Tag: career in substance abuse counseling

What Is the Difference Between a Substance Abuse Counselor and a Therapist?

Substance abuse has the capacity to destroy lives, and approximately half of American families have experienced challenges caused by substance use and addiction. For people dealing with a substance abuse disorder, finding help is essential.

Those who wish to build a career supporting people with substance abuse disorders need to consider where they would like to fit into the recovery process and where their skills are best applied. The most common professional choices for those seeking a career in this field are as a therapist or as a substance abuse counselor. While there are some aspects of these jobs that overlap, each avenue allows you to help substance abuse victims in different ways.

The Main Responsibilities of Substance Abuse Counselors

Substance abuse counselors are trained professionals who help people with drug and alcohol problems. They listen to the client, identify their needs, discuss options for treatment, and create a recovery plan. Substance abuse counselors are experts in their field of study and typically have a master’s degree or higher in clinical psychology or social work.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the many responsibilities of substance abuse counselors.

5 Challenges of Being a Substance Abuse Counselor

It’s still hard for people to talk about addiction recovery without judgment or stigma. However, with increased awareness of mental health issues, more people are starting the dialogue surrounding addiction recovery. Unfortunately, addiction can often be difficult to treat due to these entrenched prejudices—which is why counselors play such an important role in helping those affected get back on their feet and lead healthy lives.

Why You Should Start a Career in Substance Abuse Counseling

Finding a fulfilling career takes time and effort. Many people look for something beyond the financial reward, a career that would allow them to help others become better versions of themselves. This is what a substance abuse counselor does.

There is a significant need for substance abuse counselors, and the demand is growing faster than the supply. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are about 43,000 openings in this field.