The Fulfilling Benefits of Becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor

According to the National Institutes of Health, 1 out of every 10 Americans will have a substance abuse issue in their lifetime. Of these, only one-quarter report getting help.

For those who do get help, counseling will play a vital role in their treatment and may help them understand themselves and why they turned to substances. In many cases, there is some underlying issue the person is trying to deal with.

Helping people overcome addiction is an amazing feeling and becoming a substance abuse counselor will allow you to do that every day. That’s just one benefit of working in this field, and we’ll discuss some of the others in this article.

Making a Positive Impact

Any anthropologist will tell you that humans are social creatures. We thrive in groups, and we prefer to be surrounded by like-minded people.

Charity is an extension of this. Functional MRIs have shown that helping others releases dopamine, much like sex or, ironically, drugs.

There’s something to be said for seeing the looks on people’s faces as their struggles become easier, if only for a moment. Counseling allows us to see our successes and be happy for them.

No Shortage of Jobs

Substance abuse counseling is a very in-demand career, so you should have no trouble finding a job. Much of this is owing to the current opioid crisis, which you can play a small role in stopping it.

While there are a lot of jobs available for substance abuse counselors, that doesn’t mean they’ll take anyone. Becoming a substance abuse counselor involves earning a Master’s Degree in a related field.

The good news is that you can get an addiction studies certificate online. Keep in mind that certificates are best used to supplement degrees. They teach skills related to a career field, but most of the foundational information for most fields is taught in college.

Personal Growth

Helping others to overcome their problems can help you grow as a person. Interacting with other people and seeing them at their worst can give you a greater understanding of the human condition, and may shape your philosophy on life.

Wanting to be an addiction counselor is a sign that you’re already showing personal growth. Wanting the best for others and wanting to leave the world better than when you came into it are both signs of growth.

Pursuing a career as a substance abuse counselor will help you to grow more. It will help you understand people’s motivations and backgrounds. There’s also a good chance you’ll become more empathetic because you’ll understand people and how they function on a mental and emotional level.

The Many Benefits of Becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor

Becoming a substance abuse counselor will allow you to make the world a better place, and offer numerous other benefits. We’ve discussed some of these benefits in the paragraphs above, but there’s always more to learn.

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