Addiction Therapist Vs Addiction Counselor

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As an Addiction Therapist Aurora CO, you will help individuals struggling with substance abuse or addiction to deal with their issues in a safe, effective, and timely manner. If you think you might be a good candidate for this challenging but rewarding career, keep reading. To qualify as an Addiction Therapist, you will need to have a Master's degree in substance abuse and/or addiction, along with at least three years of experience in mental health care. The Addiction Therapist salary range is extremely high, so make sure you are prepared to bring home the bacon.

As an Addiction Therapist, your primary role is to coordinate and provide counseling to clients suffering from addiction. The Addiction Therapist certification process includes both classroom learning and clinical practice. Candidates who successfully complete the certification process to become accredited Addiction Therapists. An Addiction Therapist has the option to either specialize in one of several areas of addiction therapy or be board certified in several areas. Most candidates who select to become Addiction Therapists become certified in both substance abuse and addiction counseling.

A few things you can expect as a Certified Addiction Therapist. You will be helping individuals in need recover from addictions such as: drug abuse, alcohol abuse, smoking, sexual addiction, gambling, use of illegal drugs or substance abuse. You will also be providing ongoing psychological treatment and guidance to your clients as well as administer recovery programs. Addiction therapists also may work in residential or community health care settings to help those with co-occurring disorders such as bipolar and/or bi-polar disorder. You may even find yourself working in a Forensic Mental Health Care Center as an addiction therapist.

There are a few requirements that you must meet in order to become a certified Addiction Therapist. A candidate must hold a doctoral degree in mental health or related field, pass written examinations, and meet state board certification standards. A Addiction Therapist also must have extensive experience in the field, especially in substance abuse or addiction. Some states require that Addiction Therapists are certified by the National Council for Addiction Treatment. All Addiction Therapists are expected to undergo continuing education and professional development on a yearly basis to keep abreast of the latest trends and treatments for addictions.

The role of an Addiction Therapist is to provide treatment and assistance to individuals who are suffering from addiction. In addition to treating the symptoms of addiction, the Addiction Therapist is charged with helping the client to overcome their own negative behaviors and thoughts that contributed to the addiction. The Addiction Therapist and the client will work together to create and develop a personal mental health care plan for the client's recovery. The primary purpose of the mental health care plan is to provide the needed tools, information, and support to the client to assist in their recovery.

Addiction Therapists are licensed at both the state and federal level and in most states require some form of certification to practice. There are many professional organizations that certify Addiction Therapists, including the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Addiction Medicine. A person who wishes to become certified as an Addiction Therapist must attend an approved educational program, pass a written exam, and participate in either supervised clinical experience or on-the-job training. Addiction Therapists can attain certification in several ways including but not limited to: case management/ casework, group therapy, individual therapy, and psychodynamics. The type of education that a person receives will determine what types of degrees they can acquire after completing their education.

Another difference between an addiction therapist and a recovery coach is the involvement of the client in the recovery process. Addiction counselors typically have a one-on-one counseling element to their treatment plan, whereas recovery coaches work within a client's entire recovery plan. This means that the Addiction Therapist will work with the client on every aspect of their life including nutrition, exercise, mental health, family dynamics, social aspects, etc. In contrast, a recovery coach will likely work one on one with the client on one aspect of their life such as exercise. The Addiction Therapist has little involvement in the recovery plan beyond providing support.

Another main difference between Addiction Therapists and Recovery Coaches is the focus on long-term treatment rather than quick fixes. Many addiction therapy programs focus on the current symptoms and behaviors rather than on the underlying reasons for the dependency. This focus leads to disappointment in clients as they do not see long-term results. Most Addiction Therapists work towards lifelong recovery whereas recovery coaches focus on short term solutions.