Essay on Profile of a Substance Abuse Counselor - 1123 Words

Introduction A career path which I am considering for my future is that of a substance abuse counselor. Substance abuse counselors provide assistance and therapy to clients wishing to stop their use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. I am considering this field because of my personal experience with substance abuse and a desire to help others towards recovery, as well. In order to further understand this occupation, an acquaintance who works in the field and who possesses a similar background agreed to meet with me to discuss her career. Interview Summary I met with Christine, an acquaintance I know through members of a twelve step program. We met for about 20 minutes over coffee. As we spoke, I asked the questions that I prepared,†¦show more content†¦She meets with each of them each day individually. The main focuses of individual therapy include helping her clients transition into recovery, increasing mood and outlook on life, and developing strategies for not using. A group therapy session is held with all of her clients each day, and focuses on sharing problems and issues and building unity within the group. She also has larger group sessions with all the clients at the facility, sometimes focusing on a specific issue. Christine also says she holds a family session with each client and the members of their family at least once during their stay at the rehabilitation center. Family sessions allow the addict and the members of the family to talk about past issues and to develop goals for the future. A lot of time i s spent each day documenting each client’s treatment. Records are kept of notes from each treatment sessions, treatment plans, and progress reports. I then asked Christine about the best and worst parts of her job. She answered that the best part was helping to change the lives of people for the better. She claimed the worst parts were emotional drain and having to deal with setbacks in a client’s recovery. A question that I was curious about asking dealt with how individuals in recovery function as substance abuse counselors. From experience, I have noticed that most substance abuse counselors are themselves in recovery. When I was in treatment, I related much better toShow MoreRelatedMental Health And Behavioral Issues Essay765 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Work degree from an accredited college or university, including clinical coursework, perform 100 supervised clinical hours post-degree, and pass the licensure exam (Social Work Licensure, 2016). Licensed Marriage and Family Counselors and Licensed Mental Health Counselors have similar educational and licensure requirements to Social Workers, with slightly varying methods of practice (Psychology and Counseling Group, n.d.). 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