A Degree In Counseling Will Allow You To Help Those With Addictions
Substance abuse professionals counsel patients who are addicted to alcohol and/or other substances. These counselors are tasked with assessing their clients' addiction predicaments and then provide treatment options so that they can recover. This counseling work is accomplished by identifying and understanding the causes and effects of their addictive behaviors.
Substance abuse counselors work alongside various health care providers. They work with doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and social-workers. A counselor specializing in substance abuse needs to be emotionally stable as his or her job can quickly lead into a crisis intervention situation.
Drug counseling degree programs are available as a combination of drug and alcohol abuse or as an individual substance abuse degree. The substance abuse degree program teaches the student through coursework that includes addiction therapy, drug addictions and mental disorders, individual and group counseling, and workload management.
Student's seeking an Associate's degree concentrating in drug counseling should have graduated from high school or received a GED. Some applicants may need to take a college placement test during the application process. A bachelor's degree program for drug counseling offers the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling as well as other related degrees. Those with an undergraduate degree have been trained and equipped with the skills to make a diagnosis and appropriately treat their patients suffering through addiction.
Substance abuse counselors can further their education by obtaining more advanced degrees. The admissions committees of graduate schools prefer applicants with drug counseling professional experience with a four-year degree from an accredited college (preferably with an undergraduate GPA of 2.5). The (GRE) Graduate Record Examination or Miller Analogies Test scores are part of the graduate school application as well.
Substance abuse counselors can achieve a Master of Science degree in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling, among other choices. Graduate classes focus on the development of analytical and research skills as well as advanced theories and strategies for substance abuse counseling.
Every state has licensing requirements that are unique to the state. For instance, there are still several states that allow counselors with only a two-year degree to be licensed; however, an overwhelming majority of states require more than a four-year degree in substance abuse counseling or a similar discipline to be licensed. Statistics show that just a few years back, the average salary for a substance abuse counselor was over $39,000. A growth of 30 percent has been expected for the 10 year period of 2006-2016.
The various degrees available for those seeking a substance abuse counseling degree will mandate that the student participate in a related internship. An internship is a great place to practically use the concepts learned in the classroom. You can fine tune your counseling skills as you counsel real people alongside a licensed professional offering guidance and support.
A substance abuse counselor specializing in treating those trying to recover from a drug or alcohol addiction or an eating disorder, has studied on campus or online professional counseling programs to earn their traditional or online degree. One's work includes counseling clients in both individual and group therapy sessions. The ultimate goal is to help addicts find the best way to overcome their life-altering addictions and live happy and healthy lives. There is always more information from eLearners Online.
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