Cleveland Clinic’s primary care providers offer lifelong medical care. From substance abuse counseling sinus infections and high blood pressure to preventive screening, we’re here for you. Welcome to Prodigy Healthcare, where we redefine Substance Abuse Counseling and rehabilitation through cutting-edge practices and compassionate care. Our commitment is to empower individuals on their journey to recovery.

Step 1: Complete a Substance Abuse/Addictions Counselor Degree

Addiction counselors may also work with specific populations, like teenagers, veterans or people with disabilities. For example, a counselor may need to establish trust with their patients or tell difficult truths. Details about regional licensing requirements are available through each state licensing board. National standards are also supported by organizations such as the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Vouchers for goods and services, or privileges in a more rigid treatment setting, Sober living house are common.

• Residential therapy separates you from the place and things that led you to use drugs.
• If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, substance abuse counselors are there to help you get sober, feel better, or simply take control of your life.
• It’s almost as if life itself is inviting us to embrace difficulty—not as punishment but as a design feature.
• These types of counselors’ median annual wages, according to the BLS, range from $59,790 in California to $49,480 in Pennsylvania, two of the states with the greatest employment levels in this profession.
• It’s a social problem that costs the country hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

What Skills Are Essential for SA Counselors?

In order to practice substance abuse counseling, you must be licensed or certified by your state board. Since every state is unique, check your state regulatory board for how to apply. Practicing in more than one state or a telehealth setting is possible. However, depending on where your clients live, you may need to maintain credentials in multiple states. Remote learning makes becoming a certified substance abuse counselor possible without entering a college classroom. Earning an addiction counseling degree online is ideal for students with substantial work or family requirements.

Take the First Step Toward Your Career: Earn Your Master’s Degree in Addiction Counseling at Hazelden Betty Ford

Addiction counseling is a professional field that promotes lifelong education and personal growth—not only for patients but also for practitioners. The training and best practices for SUD counselors are continually evolving, so you’ll want to keep professional development for counselors opportunities on your radar. Continuing education is essential to maintain your addiction counselor certification and stay current with any developments in the addiction field. At the master’s level, students complete a counseling degree specific to substance misuse and addiction.

You might be an undergraduate student thinking about a career in counseling. There are many different master’s degrees and counseling programs to fit your goals. Additionally, some substance abuse and addictions counselors might opt to start their own private clinics. Founded in 1980, Homeward Bound, Inc. has helped more than 250,000 people move toward sobriety. HBI now serves 19 counties in North Texas and 6 counties in Far West Texas.