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Overview

What Is an Addiction Counselor?

A career in addiction counseling is often appealing to those who want to make helping others their life’s work. As an addiction counselor, you will have the opportunity to be a strong, positive influence on the lives of your clients. You may help others turn their lives around, and in doing this you may make a positive contribution to the surrounding community.

While there are many steps for how to become an addiction counselor, you may find a career in counseling to be a meaningful reward for all your hard work.

$442 billion

The estimated annual ‘economic burden’ of alcohol and illicit drug misuse in the U.S. (See disclaimer 1 )

What Does an Addiction Counselor Do?

An addiction counselor works with people from varied backgrounds who struggle with substance use disorders, including addictions to different kinds of drugs and alcohol. Addiction counselors are responsible for helping individuals get treatment. They must be well-versed in teaching coping mechanisms and creating personalized treatment plans based on each individual’s specific addiction, needs and goals.

Depending on company or state requirements, addiction counselors may also be called substance use counselors, alcohol and drug counselors or chemical dependency professionals. (See disclaimer 2 ) Despite the different titles, they will most likely have a similar job description.

What does an addiction counselor do on a typical day? These counseling professionals may be found doing any combination of the following tasks:

Conducting evaluations

They review the mental health, medical history and behavioral issues of new clients.

Creating treatment plans

They develop treatment goals and plans and discuss them with clients.

Offering solutions

These counselors help clients identify obstacles to their recovery and brainstorm solutions for overcoming them.

Referring

These professionals provide referrals to other community resources as clients work to get their lives back on track.

Working with family members

They meet with family members to help them understand the nature of addiction and its treatment options.

Education

What Education and Experience Does an Addiction Counselor Need?

Learning how to become an addiction counselor is beneficial if you are interested in a career helping individuals get the treatment and support they need to address their substance use disorders. Following this educational path may help prepare you with the necessary skills and experiences to pursue a career in the counseling field.

High School Diploma

If you are in high school and considering a career in the counseling field, talk to your guidance counselor about taking related subjects, such as psychology. You may also consider taking courses in life sciences as well as communication or language classes.

College Degree

When choosing a bachelor’s program, make sure your degree provides a solid foundation in counseling so your skills may later be applied toward an advanced degree and licensure. While some states and employers require only a bachelor’s degree for addiction counselors, other states and positions require a master’s degree in order to practice. (See disclaimer 3 )

Internships

In graduate school, your master’s degree curriculum will typically involve a practicum and internship experiences to help you gain the supervised clinical hours you need for licensure. Licensure requirements vary by state, so be sure your intended master’s program meets your state’s requirements.

Entry-Level Roles

Occupations that have similar job responsibilities to an addiction counselor, but may not require a graduate degree or licensure, include: (See disclaimer 4 )

• Health education specialists
• Correctional treatment specialists
• Social and community service managers

Professional Certifications

Obtain your professional license and certification. Check with the licensing board for the state in which you plan to practice and evaluate its requirements. In general, the licensing board may require academic and clinical experience hours, a background check and a fingerprint clearance.

Aspiring addiction counselors may also research national certifications with organizations including the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). This organization, as well as state certification boards, offer a variety of certifications at different levels. (See disclaimer 5 )

Best Degrees for Addiction Counselors

Choosing an undergraduate and graduate degree with a focus in substance use or addiction counseling can offer the foundational skills and practical experience to prepare you for a career as a licensed addiction counselor.

Master’s programs in addiction counseling offer you the opportunity to examine topic areas such as:

Stages, processes and effects of substance use

Assessing and treating co-occurring disorders

Strategies for working with diverse populations

Existential psychotherapy

Reality/choice therapy

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

Degree Programs for Aspiring Addiction Counselors

If you are interested in becoming an addiction counselor, you are invited to explore these relevant degree programs at GCU. If you have specific questions regarding eligibility or requirements, please complete the form on this page to connect with a university counselor.

What Skills Does an Addiction Counselor Need?

Some of the most essential skills and characteristics needed to serve as an effective addiction counselor are:

• Communication: This is essential to be able to clearly explain ideas and concepts and to elicit clear communication from clients.
• Trustworthiness: Clients must be able to trust their counselors before they can voice their innermost feelings.
• Problem-solving: The ability to brainstorm solutions and creatively solve problems is crucial for every counselor.
• Interpersonal skills: Addiction counselors must have a keen grasp of interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence (EQ).

Where Do Addiction Counselors Work?

Some addiction counselors choose to work in private practices, working on their own or with other counselors.

Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers

Some mental health centers hire addiction counselors to provide care through individual and group therapy sessions.

Residential treatment centers

Addiction counselors may offer therapy sessions for those in longer-term stay facilities who are dealing with substance use, addiction and other mental health disorders.

Hospitals

Hospital patients who need both mental and physical intervention, may be treated by an addiction counselor who works in conjunction with medical doctors.

Correctional facilities

Addiction counselors may be hired by correctional facilities to provide a positive and helping relationship to clients or inmates.

$53,710

Median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors (See disclaimer 7 )

71,500

Projected new jobs for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors (See disclaimer 8 )

Advancement Opportunities Within Addiction and Substance Use Counseling

Licensed and experienced addiction and substance use counselors may choose to pursue possible career advancement into supervisory, managerial or administration positions. Another option for advancement is to open a private practice. Some further certifications or credentials may be needed based on state requirements.

Contact a university counselor to learn more about the counseling programs offered at GCU.

• National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers. (n.d.). Understand Addiction . Retrieved Feb. 28, 2024.
• The Association for Addiction Professionals. (n.d.). Certification . Retrieved Feb. 9, 2024.
• The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors as of May 2023, retrieved May 24, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Top Executives nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
• COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors , retrieved Feb. 9, 2024.

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