Substance Abuse Therapist - What It Takes

One doesn’t just decide become a substance abuse therapist. You have to complete very specific schooling and certificate requirements. Perhaps more importantly though you need to be an empathetic listener and be able to truly connect with your client. Gaining the respect and trust of your client is tantamount to helping them overcome the addictions that haunt them.

First, you need to start simple. Getting the right education to becoming a counselor is the first step toward a career in addiction therapy. If you do not all ready have a college degree, consider enrolling in a sociology, psychology, education or some other related four year program.

Completing a bachelor’s degree is not the only education you will need to pursue a career a substance abuse therapist. You will also need to higher education degree, depending on the type of counseling you care thinking of pursuing. It is wise for other reasons to continue your education after your first four years. Getting accepted into a prestigious masters or doctoral program can help your chances of getting a more lucrative position and to attract more clients.

Licensed therapists with graduate degrees are able to reach out to many types of clients. From marriage to addiction, a counselor will be able to create a practice on their own or work among other counselors. Establishing a good reputation in a community means providing good counseling and keeping up on continuing education credits necessary for your licensing.

You will also need to keep polishing your listening and empathizing skills. A client does not need you to completely understand and relate to what they are going through, but it does help to at least be a bit empathetic. Asking the right questions and relating the right stories at the appropriate times is something that comes naturally to some and needs to be learned by others.

A substance abuse therapist has to learn to balance the trust and respect of their client. Because of the nature of the addiction and abusing substances, the client likely is sensitive or fearful about the matter in which they are receiving counseling. Perhaps they are not even undergoing therapy on their own accord. Family members may have coerced them to meet with you to discuss their addictions. You have to match their sensitivity and gain their trust.

Many therapists maintain the trust of their clients who are battling addiction by agreeing with them that addiction is difficult, it is hard to overcome and the road through therapy to become sober will not be an easy one. Make sure you are fully prepared to take on a certain case and if you are every unsure about a challenge, don’t be afraid to refer a case to a colleague. Sometimes doing the best thing for a client means passing their case on to a different office or counselor.

Getting the right education, finding the right specialties and learning how best to gain your client’s trust are just a few things they you will need to become a substance abuse therapist.