Being a substance abuse counselor is a rewarding career, but is it a good fit for you? Here are some reasons you might consider a career in addiction recovery counseling.
- You Have Personal Experience With Addiction
Personal experience with addiction is one motivational reason why many people move into this career. Sometimes they had been addicts themselves. Or, perhaps you never experienced addiction personally, but a close friend or family member has. If the experience of watching a loved one go through a painful addiction had an impact on you, you may be driven by the desire to help others in their recovery.
- You Enjoy Helping Others
Having personal experience with addiction is not a requirement. Very often addiction counselors are simply people who enjoy helping other people. These are usually people who consider themselves a “people person.” They enjoy talking to people and guiding them through painful periods.
Perhaps you are someone who your friends and family come to with their problems and you provide comfort and support for those around you. Addiction counseling gives patients the tools they need to learn to help themselves. And, the experience they go through in rehab or counselling can be life altering. It is very rewarding to know that your career is making a real impact on people’s lives.
- It’s A Reliable Career
When choosing a career, we must always consider if it will pay well and if there is demand in the field. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the projection for “Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors” as a field looks very promising.
The average rate of pay for 2015 was $39,980 per year (or $19.22 per hour), with a four year Bachelor’s degree listed as the typical entry level qualification. In other words, you can often begin your career without a graduate level degree (though requirements do vary by state). In addition, the projected growth in the field is estimated at 22% which they say is “much faster than average” when compared with other careers.
So, if you’re considering a new career, if you or a loved one have experienced addiction, or if you are simply a compassionate people person who enjoys helping others, the field of addiction counseling has a wonderful outlook for the future and it may be the job for you.
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