Becoming a drug counselor in San Francisco
October 16, 2017 6:55 PM Subscribe
I am interested in getting certified as a substance abuse counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm looking for feedback on different certification programs in the area, as well as general feedback from anyone who works in the field of substance abuse counseling.
The two certification programs I have my eye on are UC Berkeley Extension and CSU East Bay. I would love to hear from anyone who has experience or knowledge of either of these programs, or any other program in the Bay Area. Or from anyone in the field who has advice on what I should be looking for in a program.
I would also love to hear from anyone who works as a substance abuse counselor who is willing to share their experience or advice. What kind of setting do you work in? Do you like your job? What are the greatest challenges or drawbacks? Are you in recovery yourself? Is this a career path you would generally recommend to others?
A little background about myself, if it matters: I am a recovering addict in my mid-thirties who dropped out of an English PhD program (ABD) a few years ago, but only recently decided not to go back and finish. Now I'm looking for a new career path. I've always been interested in social work, but at this point I am not willing to go back to school for a Master's Degree. I was an addict for all of my 20's and have been to rehab twice, and that is what sparked my interest in being a drug counselor. Ideally I would love to work at an inpatient rehab center, but I don't know how realistic that is, and I'm open to working in other settings.
Sorry this question is kind of general and unfocused. Basically, if you are a drug counselor and have anything at all to share, I would love to hear it. Thanks in advance!
The two certification programs I have my eye on are UC Berkeley Extension and CSU East Bay. I would love to hear from anyone who has experience or knowledge of either of these programs, or any other program in the Bay Area. Or from anyone in the field who has advice on what I should be looking for in a program.
I would also love to hear from anyone who works as a substance abuse counselor who is willing to share their experience or advice. What kind of setting do you work in? Do you like your job? What are the greatest challenges or drawbacks? Are you in recovery yourself? Is this a career path you would generally recommend to others?
A little background about myself, if it matters: I am a recovering addict in my mid-thirties who dropped out of an English PhD program (ABD) a few years ago, but only recently decided not to go back and finish. Now I'm looking for a new career path. I've always been interested in social work, but at this point I am not willing to go back to school for a Master's Degree. I was an addict for all of my 20's and have been to rehab twice, and that is what sparked my interest in being a drug counselor. Ideally I would love to work at an inpatient rehab center, but I don't know how realistic that is, and I'm open to working in other settings.
Sorry this question is kind of general and unfocused. Basically, if you are a drug counselor and have anything at all to share, I would love to hear it. Thanks in advance!
P.S. Congrats on your recovery!
posted by crunchy potato at 7:54 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchy potato at 7:54 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Though I am not a substance use counselor, I work in the field and am involved in a project in California which is turning drug treatment away from a social model and more toward a medical model. Your best bet will be to get yourself certified (I have no recommendations on Bay Area programs) and then plugged into a program affiliated with a hospital or federally qualified health center. With the recent passage of SB323, you are going to find more FQHCs recruiting SUD counselors and they are focused more on certifications and licensure rather than lived experience. But do let them know about your recovery. It will set you a notch above others.
posted by eleslie at 6:16 AM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by eleslie at 6:16 AM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I practice in Chicago, started my MSW in California.
Substance abuse certification without the masters in counseling pays shit. Like way worse than social workers. In Chicago, a CADC with a full time job can get between 20 and 30k a year.
It's concidered an associate level certification. The higher the pay, the more likely you will be competing with a whole bunch of social workers for these jobs as well because social work doesn't pay either.
Regardless of the route you take (msw, masters in psychology
or substance use certification) you will end up needing an unpaid internship. That's the hardest part because it just eats your time.
I do lots of substance use interventions (i work in a urban ER at night!) And previously worked in harm reduction housing first programs.
These are really neat programs, but the work is intense. And dangerous. And requires your own car to go into bad neighborhoods all the time. I've seen drugs, been offered drugs and threatened by people who are high. If you are not 100 percent solid in your recovery it is not for you. I've known counselors to relapse , it's fairly common actually.
Of course where you work increases or decreases your chances of being exposed to drugs that you previously used. If you with on an inpatient ward, your likely not to see much because everyone is screened. Abstinence only programs (even outpatient) less likely and then in home services the most likely. But anything can happen. Been on inpatient units where people have snuck stuff in.
The work and counselling itself is interesting work. I love doing it. Substance abuse groups are so much fun to run. Though at an associate level be aware that you will be given very clear instructions not to diviate from printed material or curriculum which can be boring sometimes.
Here in IL there are is more personal sharing amongst the just substance use counselor group because the philosophy is very different . Of course, there is still a heavy emphasis on 12 step regardless of your feelings about the program, and such though things like SMART recovery, MAT treatment, other approaches are becoming more available every day.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:50 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Substance abuse certification without the masters in counseling pays shit. Like way worse than social workers. In Chicago, a CADC with a full time job can get between 20 and 30k a year.
It's concidered an associate level certification. The higher the pay, the more likely you will be competing with a whole bunch of social workers for these jobs as well because social work doesn't pay either.
Regardless of the route you take (msw, masters in psychology
or substance use certification) you will end up needing an unpaid internship. That's the hardest part because it just eats your time.
I do lots of substance use interventions (i work in a urban ER at night!) And previously worked in harm reduction housing first programs.
These are really neat programs, but the work is intense. And dangerous. And requires your own car to go into bad neighborhoods all the time. I've seen drugs, been offered drugs and threatened by people who are high. If you are not 100 percent solid in your recovery it is not for you. I've known counselors to relapse , it's fairly common actually.
Of course where you work increases or decreases your chances of being exposed to drugs that you previously used. If you with on an inpatient ward, your likely not to see much because everyone is screened. Abstinence only programs (even outpatient) less likely and then in home services the most likely. But anything can happen. Been on inpatient units where people have snuck stuff in.
The work and counselling itself is interesting work. I love doing it. Substance abuse groups are so much fun to run. Though at an associate level be aware that you will be given very clear instructions not to diviate from printed material or curriculum which can be boring sometimes.
Here in IL there are is more personal sharing amongst the just substance use counselor group because the philosophy is very different . Of course, there is still a heavy emphasis on 12 step regardless of your feelings about the program, and such though things like SMART recovery, MAT treatment, other approaches are becoming more available every day.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:50 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
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But, if you decide to market yourself as a peer support specialist, for example, you cannot even get the job unless you're in recovery and willing to mentor others.
Working in substance abuse can be challenging and rewarding with lots of deception and relapse and two steps forward, four steps back, and there are still folks who can see beyond the veil and make big changes and it's beautiful to see. When people are sober long enough you can see incredible breakthroughs. Self-care is critical or you can become a martyr. Some people burn out and can become rather distancing/dehumanizing about the population. Some people such as case managers regularly violate protocol and ethical guidelines with a combination nod and look-away from the supervisor because doing the job by the book is impossible due to constraints on time or the fact that they would never get off the phone with other regulatory bodies.
Case managers are often in the field and they do lots of informal counseling. They don't document it like the "counselors" do, but many recovering addicts open up to the case worker more than the counselor.
You can work inpatient, or in Medication Assisted Treatment, or at a nonprofit that receives federal substance abuse funding. You can also work as a behavior tech in an inpatient facility. Lots of natural counselors in mental health and substance abuse get their start as behavior techs. MeMail me if you have any specific questions.
posted by crunchy potato at 7:09 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]