My Journey To Become A Substance Abuse Counselor

Substance abuse as well as addiction is a topic many people choose to ignore or tend to believe that it does not affect them. Addiction itself does not seek out certain types of people but can affect anyone, at any time, for any reason. Stress, per pressure, financial trouble, even genetics all play a role in substance abuse and addiction. Unlike others, I don’t see substance abusers as weak willed but instead in need of guidance and someone to talk to about their problems. That is why, when I decided to go to school I was very interested in becoming an Addiction Counselor. I am one of those types of people who really enjoy learning new things and coming up with solutions for myself or others. The biggest reason that I decided to go to college was to find a job that I was actually fascinated with and wouldn’t dread going to work day in and day out. The biggest concern I have for my future job is stability and job availability. One area that I don’t really find high on my priority list is the money. I want to be able to make enough that I can survive and even thrive at times but I’m not looking for a job just for the financial gain. If I’m going to spend my life in a working profession it might as well be doing something I love.

It was my senior year in high school when my mom told me that my cousin, Mayra, had given birth to a baby girl. However, child protective services decided that Mayra wasn’t adequate to take care of the child; due to her drug abuse. Child protective services from Mexico were trying to place the baby with close relatives. Sadly, there was only three choices, her grandma, my aunt Gloria, and myself. The choices were few and the family small.

The client is an 18-year-old African American female presented to Norfolk State University Substance Abuse Center after a positive urine test for cocaine and marijuana. The client tested positive for both psychoactive drugs during a mandatory routine screening administered by her employer at a local grocery store. She indicated smoking marijuana (pot) every day and uses cocaine typically on the weekend. However, the client has an increase tolerance level of cocaine as evidence by her stating she is using "more and more cocaine to maintain the same effect. She reported in the past snorting only one line of cocaine, but this has increased to five lines of cocaine in the last past 12 months. In addition, she stated she occasionally smokes a couple

Client met with his counselor because he needed to talk about a situation that he was bothering him. Client has concerns about this relationship and wrote a letter to his girlfriend apologizing for his behavior and wanting to make it work between to the two of them. Client shared that he explain to her the he understands how she could feel abandon and he wants to start a new. The client went on to talk about his family and their addiction. Client discuss the his two sister and father and mother were all addicted. both of the sister got clean and one has became a substance abuse counselor and other one work and well. Client further explain that he his mother went onto a program on the day after he was admitted to a program. The client doesn't

CMB is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She currently works at an outpatient non-profit agency and also has a private practice. CMB has been a counselor for over twenty years and has experienced a number of different ethical dilemmas over time. Through this interview, the counselor discussed a specific ethical issue she faced and how she handled the situation.

Another challenge of working with substance users occurs when clients arrive intoxicated for a session. This may at times be a way of testing the counsellor, and although from the outside the client may seem impaired, being intoxicated may be their more familiar, functioning state. If the client is still able to engage, it is possible and often beneficial to continue with the session, if only in a limited way, Helen says.

A certified addictions counselor is a professional who has been trained to help people with many types of addictions. A certified addictions counselor aims to identify the root cause of the addiction and develop strategies that will help people overcome it.

Throughout my life I never really had parents; coming home to a drug abuser who was constantly zoned out was a normal day. I wasn't loved or even thought of as a child. My biological parents never once came to my awards or conferences. I used to lie to my childhood friends and say that my parents had to constantly work. In reality they didn't care at all.As a child I had both of my parents; when I grew up everything collapsed. I was in 7th grade when I realized that my life would change dramatically. My biological mother fell deeply into drugs, as for my biological father he left without saying anything. At the age of 12 , I was placed with a family friend, while my biological mother was in rehabilitation.

This dissertation will study a number of issues surrounding drug intervention programs, gen-der and mental health issues but first I want to introduce female involvement within the crimi-nal justice system (CJS) in the context of their drug addiction and will look at theories which have helped shape criminologists perspectives of female offenders throughout the years.

The Global Criteria for the 12 Core Functions of the Substance Abuse Counselor, by John Herman, defines treatment planning as the process by which the counselor and client identify and rank problems, establish immediate and long-term goals, and decide on the treatment resources to be utilized.  Treatment planning begins as soon as initial assessments are completed.

I want to start by saying I have appreciate your post for the past 7 weeks. I have tried to pick others but I always seem compelled to respond to yours. Substance Abuse Counselor are definitely needed these days. I am a product of two parents who have died of congestive heart failure because the use of drugs throughout their life. No one wants to lose a family member to this disease. I pray that you are able to help heel people along with utilizing God’s words. May you find your field rewarding and may your mind be strong to for those who need

Regardless, it was so inspiring when I did hear some good reports, and I noticed how eager those former clients were to share about what was working for them. In fact, at times it was hard to tell who was more excited about their success, me or the former client. It is sobering to know that this is how working in this field is likely to pan out. What I mean by saying this, is that I must get used to the possibility that most of the clients who pass through whatever facility I am at, are more likely not to succeed (succeed per the agency’s follow-up requirements), than to succeed, and I must not take the client’s shortcomings as a personal failure of sorts. For this reason, I now realize that this is one of the reasons that I hate this disease with such passion, and want to work in my community to improve these statistics, and remove the stigma that has been attached to Substance Use Disorders for far too long.

One day as a drug rehabilitation counselor I’ve seen many different cases of people who have dealt with drug use. But the funniest case I’ve seen so far. Was when one of my patients took a drug called mushrooms also known as shrooms. Shrooms is a hallucinogen and it makes you hallucinate. So one day my patient though he was a pony so he started making extremely funny noises and he would walk on all fours. I thought this was a funny case of my patient.

As many of us became addicted to them many of us could stop right in our paths. As I watched others in my class and younger than us struggler with their addiction, I tried to encourage them and tried helping them many times I failed. I now see status on Facebook of how long they have been clean because of rehab and professional help. Which was half of the reason as to why I wanted to pursue my career in Addiction Counseling. The other main reason as to why I want to pursue my career in Addiction Counseling is, I was always hurt by how many veterans become addicted to alcohol or substance abuse. I always wanted to encourage and help our veterans to maintain their lives in difficult situations. Attaining my Masters in Addiction Counseling is my next goal, the next challenge after getting my bachelors that will allow me to attain another passion of mine, a career in

Projection rates for the need of substance abuse counselors will grow by 31 percent from 2012 to 2022, which is a much faster rate than the average for all occupations (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/#tab-3). This is a major epidemic in our country right now and I want to share my story and give a set of ears to listen in hopes to make a difference. Overview There are many different educational options in order for one to become a substance abuse disorder counselor. A degree can be an asset; however, it is about more than just taking classes. Practicum or an internship is a common requirement (https://addiction-counselors.com).