Becoming a councellor
Do your best
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Becoming a councellor
Just wanted to hear from any councellors themselves (if any) as although iI work construction its purely for money
I want more than just money
I know I got help from 2 different sources for alcohol problems away from sr and AA
They were all former alcoholics/drug addicts
I was just wondering if anybody else has done this or is thinking about it
What do you think ?
I want more than just money
I know I got help from 2 different sources for alcohol problems away from sr and AA
They were all former alcoholics/drug addicts
I was just wondering if anybody else has done this or is thinking about it
What do you think ?
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakeside, Ca
Posts: 10,208
Originally Posted by soberwolf 
I was just wondering if anybody else has done this or is thinking about it
What do you think ?
after sobering up for some it seems to be the perfect job
but, we must note here
usually a very low paying job
might not make for a happy Queen if you know what I mean
Mountainman
Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 550
Soberwolf, I say follow your heart. Your a great contributor here (at least to me) and if you want to take that one step farther, well why not. Do take the advice of checking the pay scale first. I also hear it's not very much.
Do your best
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Thank you I'm taking on a second volunteer position 2 Tuesdays a month 5-30 10-30 making food for recovering homeless alcoholics I think its in a centre/funded alcoholic shelter I'll know more tomorrow when i apply
Its good as I can show off my recipes and I can do it on a limited budget all my blood is Scottish lol
Really looking forward to it
As for the counselling I'm going to look into but wasn't sure how to start ?
Its good as I can show off my recipes and I can do it on a limited budget all my blood is Scottish lol
Really looking forward to it
As for the counselling I'm going to look into but wasn't sure how to start ?
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 383
I'm actually in an MA program for mental health counseling (on the D&A track) right now. Attending night classes while working during the day. In fact my professor made a joke the other night:
Q: Why do addictions counselors make so little money?
A: Because the work is so hard!
Ah, paradox.
But seriously, as has been said it is pretty common to find a lot of recovery in mental health counseling. I have members of my cohort who work with very difficult populations already and are getting their degree to advance their career - they talk about how scary it was at first but they end up loving the work. Of course your mileage may vary
I know how you feel about wanting to make a difference, and that's a very good motivation to start from - I too do a mundane job (IT office drone) that helped to steer me towards seeking something else.
Probably the hardest part of counseling is realizing it isn't just helping people. It's a very specific, professional line of work and very different from what we do here - SR or AA would be considered peer support and is not counseling. We keep a professional amount of distance between us and a client, whereas at a meeting or here we are just two alcoholics swapping ideas and experiences in hopes it will help the other. In counseling mode I am more of an advocate for the client and not likely to offer them as much (or any) direct advice as I might here or at a meeting. Counselors try to create an environment in which we can reflect back to people what they are saying and thinking so that they can gain new insight into their problem. People are stuck but generally know what they need to do - we try and help them get "unstuck." Therapy is not the same as support.
Good luck with it and PM me if I can help you sort out any specific questions.
Q: Why do addictions counselors make so little money?
A: Because the work is so hard!
Ah, paradox.
But seriously, as has been said it is pretty common to find a lot of recovery in mental health counseling. I have members of my cohort who work with very difficult populations already and are getting their degree to advance their career - they talk about how scary it was at first but they end up loving the work. Of course your mileage may vary
I know how you feel about wanting to make a difference, and that's a very good motivation to start from - I too do a mundane job (IT office drone) that helped to steer me towards seeking something else. Probably the hardest part of counseling is realizing it isn't just helping people. It's a very specific, professional line of work and very different from what we do here - SR or AA would be considered peer support and is not counseling. We keep a professional amount of distance between us and a client, whereas at a meeting or here we are just two alcoholics swapping ideas and experiences in hopes it will help the other. In counseling mode I am more of an advocate for the client and not likely to offer them as much (or any) direct advice as I might here or at a meeting. Counselors try to create an environment in which we can reflect back to people what they are saying and thinking so that they can gain new insight into their problem. People are stuck but generally know what they need to do - we try and help them get "unstuck." Therapy is not the same as support.
Good luck with it and PM me if I can help you sort out any specific questions.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,359
I think volunteer work is great service for your own recovery. I would be careful not to make any huge decisions in the first year, as so many things are changing. This includes marriages, relationships, jobs. It was advice I did not want to heed but glad I did in hindsight.
Do your best
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Originally Posted by jdooner
I think volunteer work is great service for your own recovery. I would be careful not to make any huge decisions in the first year, as so many things are changing. This includes marriages, relationships, jobs. It was advice I did not want to heed but glad I did in hindsight.
I did heed about getting a real job in first 12 months but I'm seriously more than ready at nearly14 tbh
When I go to volunteer its not for my recovery its because I care and want to help
This is going to be good 2 volunteer positions (if I get it)
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,359
Originally Posted by soberwolf
Hi jdooner I'll be 14 months in 9 days I do volunteer at my local hospital and have been doing so for quite some time
I did heed about getting a real job in first 12 months but I'm seriously more than ready at nearly14 tbh
When I go to volunteer its not for my recovery its because I care and want to help
This is going to be good 2 volunteer positions (if I get it)
I did heed about getting a real job in first 12 months but I'm seriously more than ready at nearly14 tbh
When I go to volunteer its not for my recovery its because I care and want to help
This is going to be good 2 volunteer positions (if I get it)
Do your best
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Originally Posted by jdooner
My bad - sorry thought you were earlier, sorry. Sounds like a great change in direction.
Volunteering at the hospital 6 months in was something iI had to do they helped me cared for my mother during end stage cancer they helped my gf
This hospital I owe my life really they helped so much yet get such a bad name
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
Hi Soberwolf,
There was this older thread addressing similar ideas, including some practical aspects:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ounseling.html
There was this older thread addressing similar ideas, including some practical aspects:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ounseling.html
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 2,937
I looked into it a few years ago.
I have a psych degree.
There is a lot of studying and you have to have counselling yourself and then also do a certain amount of practical work where you are assessed.
You should go for it.
I do think doing a wide variety of volunteering jobs gives you great experience too and if you want to apply for a course, you can give lots of practical examples of where you have volunteered, skills gained and it shows you have thought seriously before committing to a course.
Have you ever thought of becoming a mental healthcare professional - a nurse, healthcare assistant etc etc? Then you could work in the NHS and specialise in addiction health?
Some of those vocations attract a busary/grant to, so you would receive funding while you are not doing a paid job.
Why not book an appointment at your local careers office?
They have loads of advice and can tell you in realistic terms how long before you qualify and numbers of applicants for a course and what you need to get accepted on to it.
Wishing you the best xx
I have a psych degree.
There is a lot of studying and you have to have counselling yourself and then also do a certain amount of practical work where you are assessed.
You should go for it.
I do think doing a wide variety of volunteering jobs gives you great experience too and if you want to apply for a course, you can give lots of practical examples of where you have volunteered, skills gained and it shows you have thought seriously before committing to a course.
Have you ever thought of becoming a mental healthcare professional - a nurse, healthcare assistant etc etc? Then you could work in the NHS and specialise in addiction health?
Some of those vocations attract a busary/grant to, so you would receive funding while you are not doing a paid job.
Why not book an appointment at your local careers office?
They have loads of advice and can tell you in realistic terms how long before you qualify and numbers of applicants for a course and what you need to get accepted on to it.
Wishing you the best xx
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,492
Soberwolf, it sounds like you have a dream and I hope you follow it. You got some good advice here too. And, I love to hear about people doing volunteer work. I moved in my first week of sobriety to a place where English was not the first language and I couldn't get a job right away. I immediately got into a volunteer position that turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
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