Addiction recovery offers incredible opportunities, but can a previous addict apply for counselor certification? In most cases, recovering addicts can indeed apply for an addiction counseling solution. In fact, many possess the high degree of empathy needed for the position.
Becoming a Certified Addiction Counselor
In most states, a previous addict may become a certified addiction counselor. They must, however, be completely free of drug use for a long period. Addiction counseling, primarily, is about trust. If a counselor can’t sustain their own health and wellbeing, they’ll fail to provide adequate support.
Counselors currently in recovery, of course, must totally separate themselves from former addictions to be safe and effective. Often, it’s difficult for a counselor to treat recovering addicts if their taught techniques failed on themselves.
The Importance of Customized Treatment Plans
Certified addiction counselor training touts the benefits of customized treatment plans, wherein an addiction counselor molds a treatment schedule around the patient. If a counselor has experienced addiction themselves, they may find it useful to implement time-tested-and-true recovery tactics in their practices. A certified addiction professional certainly has leeway when creating a program, and they aren’t restricted from using life experiences as guiding discussion tools.
By imposing useful techniques, a counselor can become more effective. Personal experience may indeed be conducive to another’s recovery, but overindulgence in an addictive past may be detrimental to a patient’s recovery. A certified addiction professional must always put the patient first, pursuing a fulfilling, ever-growing career path.
Are Ex-Addicts Better Counselors?
While previously addicted individuals may relay useful insights, no evidence supports their superiority in the addiction counseling world. That said, an ex-addict’s ability to mold a session’s discussion around their own anecdotes is unique.
In any case, becoming an addiction counselor is difficult. It requires years of education via either online or in-person education. It also requires a significant amount of work experience. Often a high-paying career, addiction counseling is justifiably tough to get into. A certified addiction counselor’s work is never done—nor is their learning.
Where Can You Start?
If you’re a recovering addict, you can still impact the lives of others positively. Online addiction counseling coursework is available, and it’s a viable avenue for those intending to become addiction counselors. Your life plan deserves a strong foundation, and today’s digital learning paths are incredibly effective.
Recovery itself is difficult, but it’s highly rewarding. In many cases, an ex-addict’s completed addiction counseling coursework can serve as repeat therapy. By learning more about addiction, an ex-addict can further reduce the chance of relapse while creating healthy, loving environments. It’s important to continue education at any level, and it’s similarly important to serve the lives of others.
On Education
Learning is difficult—both for “clean” individuals and ex-addicts. For this reason, an ex-addict should be greatly recovered before tackling coursework. Both post-acute withdrawal syndrome and long-term recovery difficulties can impede the learning process.
Education is, however, never locked from an individual. If you’ve received treatment yourself, there’s still hope. You can settle the score with your addiction, assisting the lives of others while preventing relapse. Your life is in your hands, and it’s certainly useful to others who struggle. As a future professional, it’s your responsibility to make yourself as capable as possible.
Discuss options with your learning provider, consider online courses and discover your own potential. The road to becoming an addiction counselor is a long one, but it needn’t be barred from those who’ve struggled with addiction. In some ways, the experience of addiction is a powerful learning tool. In any case, education is needed to enrich the lives of others.