By Dianna Murphy

 My name is Dianna Murphy and I am an alcoholic. I say that here because I think it makes my uniquely qualified to help others.

 When I grow up I want to be an advanced certified alcohol/drug counselor. Well, I am grown up, I am 48 years old. It has been a long and hard road to get where I am today. But, I think my life experiences will help people.

 I hope that being sexually abused, abandoned by my mother, forced to grow up young, raising a child on my own, fighting for every scrap I got in life, evolving into a hard core alcoholic, going to prison, getting sober, getting my GED, going to college, will all come together to give me empathy for my fellow alcoholics and people suffering from all sorts of addictions.

 You too can become a drug abuse counselor if you’re looking for a profitable career that is also personally rewarding. Besides formal education and some hands-on experience, the only absolute prerequisite for the job is that you are a compassionate individual who feels great satisfaction in helping to rehabilitate former drug addicts.

 Drug abuse counselors identify the underlying causes of an individual’s addictive behavior and then follow the individual through an organized regimen of physical and psychological therapy.

 Based on estimates that the number of Americans who abuse drugs is in the millions, United States’ labor department statistics predict that employment prospects for drug abuse counselors will remain high for many years to come.

 Determine whether you have the personal inclination to become a drug abuse counselor. Perform an honest self- assessment by asking yourself whether you are compassionate enough, emotionally strong enough, and committed enough to rehabilitate afflicted individuals.

 You will need to be able to listen carefully to what a person says, noting tone of voice and other body language to understand content and feelings being expressed and respond in a way that shows understanding of what is said.

 You will need to be able to use you creative thinking skills, be able to use imagination freely, combine ideas or information in new ways, and make connections between ideas that seem unrelated.

 You will need problem solving skills, be able to recognize a problem, a gap between what is and what should or could be, Identify why it is a problem, create and implement a solution; and watch to see how well solution works and revise if needed.

 You we need to use your people skills to show understanding, friendliness, and respect for the feelings of others.  To assert oneself appropriately, stand up for yourself and your ideas in a firm, positive way, and take an interest in what people say and why they think and act as they do.

 You will need to possess great leadership ability to communicate thoughts and feelings to justify a position, encourage, persuade, or convince individuals or groups. To make positive use of rules or values of the organization, and to exhibit the ability to have others believe in and trust you due to your competence and honesty.

 You will need to be able to work with people who have different ethnic, social, or educational backgrounds. You must base your impressions on a person's behavior, not stereotypes.

 After you determine if you have these skills then check the licensing requirements in your state as they vary from state to state. Go to the websites for the American Counseling Association and the Association of Social Work Board.

 Call the local Certification Board for Addiction Professionals in the state where you intend to practice. Make sure you find out whether the certification requirements to become a drug abuse counselor are different from those required for substance abuse counselors in general.

 Pick a college program that will satisfy the licensing requirements in your state. Although not mandatory, studying in the state where you intend to practice can make it easier to become licensed. That’s because some colleges actually base their study programs on the licensing requirements in their state.

 Get a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. This is just the beginning of the formal course work you'll have to complete to become certified. Study fields related to counseling, such as nursing, rehabilitation services, social work and psychology.

 Satisfy requirements for a master’s degree, required in most states in order to become a licensed drug/alcohol abuse counselor. Try to find graduate programs that have received accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), which are favored in most states.

 Expect that you must complete a certain number of hours of supervised experience in a clinical setting in order to satisfy the requirements for a master’s degree.

 Master’s Degree in the Behavioral Science Field, which includes a clinical component.  Documentation of 2000 hours of work experience within the substance abuse clients, within the 12 Core Functions.  Please note: Full or part-time experience is acceptable. Work experience may be paid or voluntary. Practicum hours will count as work experience. A.A., N.A., etc. meetings or having been through treatment does not count as work experience.

 Documentation of 300 hours of supervision with a minimum of ten (10) hours in each of the 12 Core Functions is also required. A supervisor MUST meet the one of the following requirements and provide documentation of qualifications:  in supervision or  an ACADC or  a CCS or  a person with a Master’s Degree and license or certification in addictions counseling  OR an a CADC who has been certified for 3 years and has completed 15 hours of training approved Health and Welfare Clinical Supervisor (QP) under IDAPA

 Please note : Supervision is defined as a formal, systematic process that focuses on skill development and integration of knowledge and generally occurs early in a career. Supervision must take place in a setting where AODA counseling is being provided.  Supervision may be a part of the eligible work experience. Supervision may be completed under more than one supervisor or agency. Please see Section II for additional information regarding supervision.

 Documentation of 180 hours of education specifically related to the IC&RC Performance Domains and Tasks which includes, Assessment, Counseling, Case Management, Alcohol and Drug Education, and Professional Responsibility. No less than 30 hours in each domain.  Documentation of six (6) hours of training in Professional Ethics specific to substance abuse counselors. The six (6) hours must include the following areas: federal and state laws, client welfare as a primary concern, professional competence supervision/development, financial issues, personal wellness, and relationships to professionals and institutions.

 Workshops or seminars approved by IC&RC, NAADAC, State of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, NASW, NBCC, or IBADCC. Documentation of workshop/seminar requires a copy of any certificates of completion.  “In-service” of 5 hours maximum. Documentation of workshop/seminar requires a copy of any certificates of completion.  College/university courses one (1) credit hour equals 15 clock hours.  Please note : Documentation of all college/university courses must include an official transcript. ( Mailed to IBADCC by the institution ) Please note : Practicum hours cannot be counted as education but can be counted as work experience.

 Complete post-graduate training. This extra period of supervised clinical training is now becoming the norm rather than the exception in most states. This training usually takes place at a hospital or mental health clinic and can last between 1 and 2 years.  Seek certification from professional organizations. Consider the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., or the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselors.

 Addiction counselors treat people with a variety of dependencies, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as those with problems such as gambling or eating disorders.

 Counselors may work with people one-on-one, conduct group therapy sessions, work with families, and work in a variety of settings, ranging from inpatient programs to clinics, schools, and other facilities. The ability to work independently as well as in a team is important, as is the desire to help others.

 Jobs in this field were expected to grow by 21 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than most other occupations. There are several reasons for this growth. More people are seeking treatment as addiction issues become more widely known and less stigmatized. Also, an overburdened criminal justice system is more likely to send drug offenders to treatment rather than to jail.

 As of May 2010, the average salary for addiction counselors was $38,120 with the top 10% making $60,400 and the lowest 10% earning $24,690, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary.com reports that the average counselor earned an average of $46,679.

 So, if you can listen use creative thinking and problem solving skills. If your able to show compassion, negotiate, and show leadership with self esteem while being diverse, then you can become a superstar and help change someone's life.

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