Alcoholic and Substance Abuse Counselors: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
Job Overview Alchoholism and drug abuse are becoming common cases destroying peoples lives as well as those of their families. Those who are diagnosed as having these kinds of conditions have been chronically addicted to substances like alcoholic beverages of all sorts, as well as illict drugs and controlled drugs ranging from marijuana, heroine coccaine to even cough syrups and opiods. Rehabilitation is needed for them to be able to go back to their usual level of functioning. The people who give them guidance and counseling are called alcohol and drug abuse counselors. Through series of counseling sessions, they assist their clients who are substance abuse victims understand what they are going through and promote a behavioral change from destructive to constructive. At present, there are around 76,000 alcoholic and substance abuse counselors in the United States.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
As early as high school, one can prepare to be excellent alcohol and drug abuse counselors by taking subjects with focus on Psychology, Biology, Health as well as Sociology. Communication subjects are very important since counseling is basically the use of therapeutic communication to facilitate recovery from or cure the person's addiction. In college, the minimum educational level that is needed is an associate's degree in alcohol and drug technology. However, other courses that may be taken up are bachelor's degree in Social Work, Physchology, Conseling and Health Sociology. The best path to take is taking first a Bachelor's degree in Counseling, and afterwards obtaining a Master's in Drug and Substance Abuse.
Skills and Abilities
As couselors, they should possess a wide understanding of human psycholgy. As alcohol adn drug abuse counselors, they should be more knowledgeable on the proper interventions and techniques of comminicating with these special sets of rehabilitation clients. A strong yet understanding personality is required. Communication and counseling skills are the most important skill highly appraised in this kind of job.
Duties
To be able to see a significant change in the behaviors of these substance abuse and alcoholic patients, the goal of care must be focused on eliminating destructive behavior and replacing them with the constructive ones. They work not only with the patients but also with the families or the significant others of the patients. They begin their task by learning about the background and getting as much information as they can that are realted to the present case of the client.
They may retrieve records from previous confonemnet, police records, health and illness pattern as well as pschosocial and support system available for them. They conduct interviews witht he clinet and their friends and families, making sure that confidentiality is observed. Afterwards, using these information, they plan for the activities and specifics on counseling sesssions. The rehabilitation process involves individual, group, as well as family counseling sessions that involves listening, opening up of feelings, and creation of behavioral contracts. They facilitate the session and evaluate the progress of the client from time to time.
Job Outlook and Earnings
Among the factors that affect the salary of an alcohol and substance abuse counselor are the level of education, experience, state of work as well as the employer.The median salary for this kind of job is around 32,130 U.S. dollars per annum. Salary can range from as low as 21,000 to 49,000 U.S dollars on a yearly basis. When it comes to the job outlook, the emplyment for this job and industry is projected to grow faster than the average presently up to the year of 2014.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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