Job Requirements of an Addiction Counselor Essay -- Career

The job of an addiction counselor specializing in, but not limiting my choice to substance abuse is the job profession I have chosen. The opportunities for this field are very open in my area of the country and throughout the Unites States. The counselors that work within range of me are very busy, and have little time to offer to a person in training. I was able to arrange an email interview with a particular counselor working at a rehabilitation facility for alcoholics and drug addicts. His job entailed monitoring the day-to-day progress of several people assigned to his case load. These clients were monitored for coping skills, stress levels, emotional stability, and general state of health. These areas were not limited to whether it was personal, romantic, or job related, but covered all aspects of the client’s day. The interview consisted of a brief explanation of each of the five questions and was performed via email. The counselor replied stating that his job duties included; group and individual therapy sessions. Other areas of responsibility were taking notes, treatment planning and management of each case including referrals and all documents. The counselor mentioned the most difficult obstacle was resistance from the client and being able to carry out a treatment plan. He also mentioned there is always the difficulty of emotional detachment. This is also one of the reasons the job is rewarding. The fact that this is a very engaging and challenging job, but there are times it can be sad. With alcoholics and addicts you never know what they will do next, since they can be unpredictable. This can be a fun and interesting profession, and is one that keeps you on your toes. The counselor explained that these are the t... ...lenging and rewarding, and yet sometimes they would bring sadness. One has to be a strong and caring person to work with people who have addictions. In the end, the result would be for the patient to feel better about their self and gain the desire to succeed. Works Cited Kartha, D. (2010). Substance abuse counselor job description. Retrieved December 16, 2010 From http://www.buzzle.com/articles/substance-abuse-counselor-job-description.html Smith, J. (2010). Addiction counselor careers. Retrieved December 16, 2010 from http://www.ehow.com/list_7191834_addiction-counselor-careers.html Thompson, E. L. (2010). The role of substance abuse counselors. Retrieved December 17, 2010 From http://www.ehow.com/about_6630288_role-substance-abuse-counselors.html