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Going to school to be an Addictions Counsellor and have a couple of question.

Old 06-19-2010, 12:40 AM
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Question Going to school to be an Addictions Counsellor and have a couple of question.

I am not an alcoholic, I have never done any drugs. So my first question for you the community is do you believe I would be a good (Addictions) Substance Abuse Counsellor?

I was also told that I shall not drink in public anymore, I can't go out to the bars or nothing like that. Or else my clients will think why is it ok for you to drink/ get drunk, but it's not for me?

So what do you think about that?

The reason why I want to become an addictions counsellor is I believe the career would be rewarding, and never dull, I am also not codependent. And I would love to help people with their chemical dependency.

Thanks
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Old 06-19-2010, 12:48 AM
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Welcome Darklide

I have no experience with addictions councillours, and I don't know you at all, so I really have no idea whether you'll be good or not

I wish you luck though with whatever you find your vocation to be...whether it's this or something else, do something you love to do.

D
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:01 AM
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This is just my opinion, which you can take or leave.

Although I don't wish alcoholism or drug dependancy on anyone, personally I would feel more confident if the facilitator, experientially, knew what it's like to hit rock bottom, make the conscious choice to stop drinking, and feel the withdrawl symptoms firsthand. The struggles as many of us know don't end there.

I think, and I could be wrong, the fact that we share similar experiences is what makes this site and AA meetings, etc. so helpful. We are all going through it together, We can all relate, and hopefully the facilitator has been there before. Although I haven't been to AA myself, I have been in group therapy sessions with a facilitator.

All this being said, I would guess it is possible to be a good facilitator/councelor having not had a personal background in chemical dependancy. Just don't go into the job wanting to "fix people."
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:08 AM
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I realize that once your an alcoholic your always one. I had to get a Chemical Dependency assessment done and the Manager at the Addictions who done the assessment believed I would be great for the career, and even though I have never been chemical dependent / co dependent I can bring great things to the table other then first hand experience.

And thanks for the quick replies.
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:24 AM
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Originally Posted by darklide View Post
I am not an alcoholic, I have never done any drugs. So my first question for you the community is do you believe I would be a good (Addictions) Substance Abuse Counsellor?

I was also told that I shall not drink in public anymore, I can't go out to the bars or nothing like that. Or else my clients will think why is it ok for you to drink/ get drunk, but it's not for me?

So what do you think about that?

The reason why I want to become an addictions counsellor is I believe the career would be rewarding, and never dull, I am also not codependent. And I would love to help people with their chemical dependency.

Thanks
Welcome!!!

So, do you think it's okay to get drunk?

Your writing was somewhat ambiguous.
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:25 AM
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Originally Posted by darklide View Post
I am not an alcoholic, I have never done any drugs. So my first question for you the community is do you believe I would be a good (Addictions) Substance Abuse Counsellor?

I was also told that I shall not drink in public anymore, I can't go out to the bars or nothing like that. Or else my clients will think why is it ok for you to drink/ get drunk, but it's not for me?

So what do you think about that?

The reason why I want to become an addictions counsellor is I believe the career would be rewarding, and never dull, I am also not codependent. And I would love to help people with their chemical dependency.

Thanks
Hi Darklide,

My name is Melinda and I am in the early stages of sobering up off alcohol. My life had become completely unmanageable and I was slowly killing myself.

I am going to write my feelings in just a train-of-thought style. Here you go:

When I was a struggling teenager I went to a psychologist to work out issues with being gay. Even at 15, if the counselor had not been a lesbian I would not have trusted her any further than I could throw her. She would have absolutely no idea what she was talking about, what I was going through, except for what she had read in a textbook.

I think you could do it and maybe be good at it, but you would never understand the thoughts/motives/feelings or the madness that we addicts feel deep down, in our heads.

There is no logic to it. Sure there's lot of scientific studies and statistics, but I just feel like when someone is sitting there with a counselor for an hour, pouring out their deepest thoughts/feelings/urges/regrets/hopes it is very personal.

The word I am trying to get at here is credibility. Like I said, this is all written just as it comes to my sleep-deprived mind so I apologize if I am making weird generalizations.

I am new in my recovery, going it on my own so far. However, if and when I decide that I want to see an addiction specialist I would expect the first meeting to go something like this: The counselor would introduce themselves and give a brief overview of their history of addiction. If they didn't have any, I would not feel confident. I would feel like I had more to teach them and they did for me.

On all the intervention and addiction documentaries I have watched, the interventionist/therapist has always had a history with addiction. Often at the climax of the intervention when the addict walks out of the room the interventionist follows them out, usually for a cigarette, and tells their own war stories and how they got better. An alcoholic facing rehab won't listen to someone tell them the time of day unless they have experienced addiction .The employees in the treatment centers have almost always had a history with addiction.

If you had grown up in a house full of alcoholics that would give half the credibility score. If you did not and have never experienced addiction, the credibility score would be zero in the simple "I've been there" sense.

I am concerned that you will appear cutesy , trite , and presumptuous if you decide to go ahead with this.

Well there you have it.

I would recommend going into a completely different direction with your counseling career.
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:37 AM
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Darklide,

I apologize if my post was a bit sour. You may be very good at it. I don't know you personally, so who am I too say?

Maybe you can learn something from my post that alcoholic withdrawal turns normally sweet and kind people into moody trolls for a few days.

I wish you luck in your future pursuits.
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:43 AM
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Originally Posted by sailorjohn View Post
Welcome!!!

So, do you think it's okay to get drunk?

Your writing was somewhat ambiguous.
I believe it is ok to get drunk every once in awhile, I belive it's not ok when you get drunk everyday, and when drinking affects your life, drinking should also not be a routine.
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:53 AM
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Originally Posted by MelindaFlowers View Post
Darklide,

I apologize if my post was a bit sour. You may be very good at it. I don't know you personally, so who am I too say?

Maybe you can learn something from my post that alcoholic withdrawal turns normally sweet and kind people into moody trolls for a few days.

I wish you luck in your future pursuits.

In all honesty, he's going to have to deal with this issue if he chooses to be an addiction councelor. You're being honest, and I don't think you should have to apologize.

I didn't get that you are attacking him as a person. Just stating the facts for you.

e.g. I have a degree in a behavioral science field and I am finishing up a second. I've learned about chemical dependacy, addiction, and whatever else the textbooks and professors shared. I did well on the tests, etc., but it was not until I went through withdrawls that I realized I had a major problem. I was completely blindsided by my own addiction and the severity of my withdrawls.

Can he do it? Yes. Will he have to deal with his history of no being an abuser, yes. Can he help? Why not? BUT, what is your true motivation...

Even in these discussions, we are already on the other side of the fence. We will always be alcoholics and he will not.

Those personality/aptitude tests are a tool used by many employers. Many factors play into the results.
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Old 06-19-2010, 01:59 AM
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I do plan to broaden my career spectrum later on in life, I do plan to also get a Bachelors of Social Work. As it seems there is not much money in Addictions counselling around here, starting wage is anywhere around $14.45 - $19.43 which is hard to live on while paying the student loans back.

And just a quick question has anyone heard of Barb Robinson?
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:06 AM
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Have you grown up with an alcoholic or drug abuser? If you have, you've been directly affected by substance abuse.

Money is def. not a reason to get into counseling/social work, and you need a licence to practice (LCSW, which requires a MSW). It's more of an art/calling, imo.

Why do you want to help people?
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:10 AM
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Barb Robinson

Hello again,

I just googled Barb Robinson and I think I found what you want us to see. Please go ahead and tell us what we should know about Barb Robinson.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:14 AM
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Jeebers

Originally Posted by darklide View Post
I do plan to broaden my career spectrum later on in life, I do plan to also get a Bachelors of Social Work. As it seems there is not much money in Addictions counselling around here, starting wage is anywhere around $14.45 - $19.43 which is hard to live on while paying the student loans back.

And just a quick question has anyone heard of Barb Robinson?
Jeebers,

What exactly is going on here? Talking about student loans? I have those too. Broadening your career? Exact figures about how much it pays?

Is this some sort of joke?

Oh my goodness I think I am speechless. Thanks for entertaining me at least for an hour.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:29 AM
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Hi Darklide,

I suppose in theory, with training, it is possible to become an addictions counsellor. I am sure you could find it a very rewarding and challenging career. I could also imagine it could be very frustrating and disheartening too.

One of the reasons why so many alcoholics and addicts find the help they need in AA and NA is that get to talk directly to people who understand exactly how it feels to be addicted. In the early days this is the thing which keeps them coming back.

As a recovered alcoholic in AA, I can help other alcoholics and show them how I got sober. I can't keep them sober or save them and if they die because they can't quit drinking, I understand why.

Would you be able to enjoy a job which mean that you watched people die who you couldn't help? If you understood why they drink/drug then yes you probably still could enjoy your job and know you were doing what you could and helping some, at least.

If you don't understand why they still drink/drug despite all your help, would you still be able to enjoy your job and find satisfaction/purpose?

If you choose this career, I would guess you would come up against addicts who question qualifications for the job. That doesn't mean that they are wrong but I think you need to go into the job with your eyes wide open that it will happen regularly and you will have to deal with it

Whatever you choose to do, good luck.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:30 AM
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Originally Posted by MelindaFlowers View Post
Hello again,

I just googled Barb Robinson and I think I found what you want us to see. Please go ahead and tell us what we should know about Barb Robinson.
Why I asked that question is because I read above about someone reading books on addictions ect, but Barb Robinson is the program head at the school I will be taking this addictions course and she co developed the world's first addictions counselling course. So I am sure it is comprehensive and not crap. Imo.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:33 AM
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I'll read about Barb Robinson if you give thoughtful responses to my post, "mf 150," and "intention."
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:33 AM
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Originally Posted by MelindaFlowers View Post
Jeebers,

What exactly is going on here? Talking about student loans? I have those too. Broadening your career? Exact figures about how much it pays?

Is this some sort of joke?

Oh my goodness I think I am speechless. Thanks for entertaining me at least for an hour.
Well not everybody can choose a career based on love, commitment, passion, most of use have to make money for a living. And living in poverty for the rest of my life is not something I am willing to take.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:36 AM
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Originally Posted by intention View Post
Hi Darklide,

I suppose in theory, with training, it is possible to become an addictions counsellor. I am sure you could find it a very rewarding and challenging career. I could also imagine it could be very frustrating and disheartening too.

One of the reasons why so many alcoholics and addicts find the help they need in AA and NA is that get to talk directly to people who understand exactly how it feels to be addicted. In the early days this is the thing which keeps them coming back.

As a recovered alcoholic in AA, I can help other alcoholics and show them how I got sober. I can't keep them sober or save them and if they die because they can't quit drinking, I understand why.

Would you be able to enjoy a job which mean that you watched people die who you couldn't help? If you understood why they drink/drug then yes you probably still could enjoy your job and know you were doing what you could and helping some, at least.

If you don't understand why they still drink/drug despite all your help, would you still be able to enjoy your job and find satisfaction/purpose?

If you choose this career, I would guess you would come up against addicts who question qualifications for the job. That doesn't mean that they are wrong but I think you need to go into the job with your eyes wide open that it will happen regularly and you will have to deal with it

Whatever you choose to do, good luck.
Thanks, I do understand that many people choose alcohol and drugs for many reasons, stress, sometimes mental disorders, coming out, ect. As a counsellor you got to find out why and refer these people to the right person so they can get help with the above issues then start working on their addiction.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:39 AM
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And to anyone else wondering about my broadening to Social Work I live in Canada and it is possible to have a career as a Social Worker with a bachelors.

I will explain my reasoning in better depth in the morning as it's 3:39 am here and I need to get to bed.
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Old 06-19-2010, 02:40 AM
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I am going to train to be the hitting coach for the Dodgers, but I have never played baseball. Do you think I'll be good at it?

This may sound like an unrelated smart ass comment, but it isn't. I cannot imagine using a counselor that did not have first hand experience as an alcoholic or addict, both in and out of recovery. Your experience is second hand.

I am sure you will be a good student, learn a lot and help people, but there are tons of addiction counselors out there that have been hard core alcoholics/addicts, AND have the same academic credentials you are trying for.

If you were the addict looking for help, who would you choose?
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