While the movies make it seem like all addiction counselors work in dramatic inpatient facilities, a certified addiction counselor has a wide range of options when it comes to work environments. Each option brings with it unique experiences and challenges. Here’s a brief overview of the typical work environments you might encounter as a counselor.
Rehabilitation Facilities
The facilities specialize in structured treatment programs for individuals with a substance use disorder. As a certified addictions counselor, you might work with clients in inpatient or outpatient settings, providing intensive therapy, group sessions and continuous support during the recovery process.
Private Practices
Once you’ve earned your credential and become a certified addictions counselor, you might consider working independently or perhaps with a group of counselors in a private practice. This setting allows for more personalized and flexible therapeutic relationships with clients. Often, clients will choose a private practice because this can be a more discreet approach to treatment.
Hospitals
Hospitals treat patients with substance use disorder every day, and having an addiction counselor on hand can be a valuable resource for any medical facility. Healthcare facilities often employ addiction counselors to work with patients who have been admitted for issues related to substance use, including detoxification and medical treatment. Counselors in this setting work closely with a medical team to provide comprehensive care.
Schools & Colleges
Educational institutions increasingly recognize the importance of mental health services, including addiction counseling. Counselors in these settings help students with substance abuse issues and often participate in educational programs to prevent addiction.
Schools often hire individuals known as Prevention Specialists (PS) to help create programs that teach students about healthy life choices and educate them about the dangers of substance use. Once you’ve become a certified addiction counselor, you can consider also earning certification as a PS and working in this type of setting.
Government & Nonprofit Groups
Many counselors work in programs funded by government or nonprofit entities, focusing on public health approaches to addiction and recovery. These positions often involve community outreach and education, along with traditional counseling duties. Again, as with educational facilities, this might include traditional alcohol and drug counselors, as well as prevention specialists.
Correctional Facilities
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that perhaps 65% of prisoners have a substance use disorder. That statistic alone showcases why it is desperately important that our jails and prisons have expert addiction counselors on hand.
This can be a highly challenging workplace, but the rewards can be huge. This setting requires counselors to address a range of complex issues, including the intersection of addiction and criminal behavior. If you are interested in this career path, you can work toward becoming certified as a Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional, or CCJP.
Each of these environments presents unique opportunities and challenges, requiring counselors to adapt their approaches to meet the specific needs of their clients. The variety of settings also means that counselors can find a niche that suits their skills and career preferences.
How To Become An Addiction Counselor
Once you’ve researched this career thoroughly and determined that it’s a good fit for your skills and interests, the first step you’ll need to take is to complete your educational requirements, and we can help. At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we offer a quality curriculum for students wishing to become certified addictions counselors.
Specifically, our addiction studies curriculum is designed for those who want to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). A CADC is a common type of addiction specialist, and it is sometimes known by other names such as Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or perhaps a Substance Use Disorder Counselor, or SUD counselor.
Unlike many traditional college and university programs, our addiction studies program can be completed in just six months and online. We also offer rolling admissions, so that you can get started at any time. Our curriculum is CCAPP-approved, NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved, and can be used throughout the United States, except Alaska, North Dakota and Montana.
As a counselor in training, you must complete 315 units of education as well as 255 hours of practicum experience (an internship) as well as pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. Our program includes your educational units as well as your practicum experience and will leave you well-prepared for the IC&RC exam.
Once you complete these steps, you must complete your supervised work experience hours. To become a CADC-I, you will need to complete 3,000 hours. A CADC-II will need 6,000 hours and a CADC-III will need 4,000 hours. The CADC-III also must have earned a bachelor’s degree. No degree is required for CADC-I’s or CADC-II’s.
Apply At Sober College Today!
To get started on your path toward becoming a certified addiction counselor, just head to our homepage and select the Apply tab. Under this section, you can find links to our application as well as a link to Speak With Someone if you have any questions about our program.
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