Author: Gary Jackson

What Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Do?

Many states require you to have a master’s degree for addiction counseling licensure and certification. There’s not a single cause of addiction — it’s a very complex condition. A significant part of how addiction develops is through changes in your brain chemistry. Addiction is a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. Professionals in private practice must be licensed by the state where they work.

  • Finding support can be difficult, especially when there may not be others around who understand your situations and experiences.
  • Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery process.
  • Finding an internal factor is crucial in recovery, which counselors utilizing MI work to establish.
  • Addiction counseling is a scientifically researched and developed treatment for those with substance use disorders.

Counselors are an important part of addiction therapy, and their role and involvement in the treatment process is instrumental to recovery. There are various types of therapy options available that will allow you to understand what caused your addiction, as well as how to develop a recovery plan to stay sober. In principle, NA is opposed to the use of maintenance therapy, although many groups and individuals are more accepting now than in the past. Methadone Anonymous is a 12-step program that acknowledges the value of methadone and other medications in recovery from narcotic addiction.

Common medications used to treat drug addiction and withdrawal

Currently, the FDA has three drugs approved for the treatment of opioid addiction and three for the treatment of alcohol addiction. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities. Substance abuse counselors may also utilize an approach known as motivational interviewing to help people with addictions find the motivation to make changes in their lives.

addiction counseling

Mindfulness is an umbrella term for many of these exercises, including meditation and guided imagery. These are fewer therapies and more techniques in multiple therapy practices, especially DBT. They are used primarily to proactively reduce anxiety symptoms and improve an individual’s ability to be present. The use of mindfulness in recovery has been researched for many years, and many have found it helpful during recovery.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive and uncontrollable substance use or behavior, despite negative consequences. It affects the brain’s reward system, leading to changes in neural pathways and hijacking one’s ability to make rational decisions. Furthermore, addiction can have far-reaching impacts, including financial problems, strained relationships, and deteriorating physical and mental health. To diagnose addiction, your healthcare provider may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist or drug and alcohol counselor. Your provider will ask you (and possibly your loved ones) questions about your patterns of substance use or problematic behaviors.

Studies show family therapy results in lower relapse rates, increased happiness in the family, and helps children of addicted parents manage their situation. Twelve-step programs like Narcotics or Alcoholics Anonymous are also peer support groups. But keep in mind that they aren’t led by a trained psychotherapist and, thus, aren’t the same as group therapy. If you or someone you care about may have an addiction, talk to your provider right away. Over time, the substances or activities change your brain chemistry, and you become desensitized to their effects.

Treatment and Recovery

An addiction counselor (substance abuse counselor) provides expert care and support to people who have substance use disorder (SUD), like alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder. In addition to traditional treatment methods, holistic therapy helps patients practice introspection and learn healthy coping skills. It also gives patients who are not comfortable opening up in traditional therapy sessions a way to communicate their deepest fears and issues in a non-threatening manner. A few forms of holistic therapy that can be useful in treating addictions are yoga, art therapy, music therapy, and equine therapy. Addiction is one of the most common behavioral health conditions impacting millions of Americans every day.

  • Your provider will ask you (and possibly your loved ones) questions about your patterns of substance use or problematic behaviors.
  • Counselors are an important part of addiction therapy, and their role and involvement in the treatment process is instrumental to recovery.
  • Before diving into the vital role addiction counseling plays in the recovery process, it is crucial to understand addiction itself.
  • Fortunately, the popularity of online therapy in recent years has greatly improved addiction counseling access for millions of people.
  • In principle, NA is opposed to the use of maintenance therapy, although many groups and individuals are more accepting now than in the past.

Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support. Those with master’s-level degrees in fields such as psychology, social work, counseling, and related fields can provide individual counseling or may work in private practice. However, individual requirements can vary depending on the state and the employer. An individual’s specific educational background and experience will determine the type of services they can provide. Substance abuse counselors may have a master’s degree or doctorate degree. Around 48% of people working in the addictions field hold a master’s or doctorate.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

Sometimes this may involve being on-call and working weekends, evenings, and nights. DBT is another long-standing, evidenced-based model similar to CBT. It works for various substance use and mental health conditions by teaching individuals how to manage discomfort and distress while it occurs at the moment. In addition, DBT helps teach coping strategies to manage stress and regular emotions healthily.

  • When all these concepts are incorporated together, a treatment plan is established.
  • “FDA approves first buprenorphine implant for treatment of opioid dependence.”
  • Untreated addiction also harms family members, and the effects can last for generations.
  • When people enter treatment, addiction has often caused serious consequences in their lives, possibly disrupting their health and how they function in their family lives, at work, and in the community.
  • EMDR is structured and standardized, which requires additional training on the counselor’s part.
  • The median yearly earning for those employed in residential substance abuse facilities was $42,900, while the median for those in government settings was $60,450.