Substance abuse counselors work with work with patients who have alcohol or substance abuse issues. They interview patients to assess their substance abuse issues. determine courses of treatment, work with patients to complete their treatment plan and provide recovery support. They may work one on one with clients or run group therapy sessions, or liaise with patient’s family, partners and employers to help facilitate their recovery.
Typical Positions Available
Substance abuse counselors work in a variety of settings, including:
Hospitals, where they asses and treat emergency admissions and work within substance abuse clinics
Residential Treatment Facilities, where they assess and treat patients admitted voluntarily or involuntarily
Correctional Facilities, where they work with prisoners who have substance abuse issues
Public Outreach Settings, where they work with patients in the community to help them overcome …show more content…
Substance abuse counselors typically earn between $25,000-$50,000 per year, with salaries averaging at about $35,000 per year. Salaries generally increase with experience and education. This is extremely low compared to disciplines like psychology, where average salaries are considerably higher, but in terms of personal satisfaction and rewards it rates highly among those who have a passion for their work.
Burnout is a prevalent issue among substance abuse counselors, and anyone considering this as a career should think carefully about whether they have the passion and capacity to work long term in this challenging yet low paying field.
Career Advancement
Opportunities for advancement are not as prevalent as they are in other fields, as most positions and salaries are more static than other caregiving professions. With increased training and experience there are opportunities to progress into supervisory and management roles, or go into education or training.
Associations and