An Appropriate Choice Skulbrick Colorado Mesa University

An Appropriate Choice
For me, an appropriate career choice is that of a substance abuse counselor (SAC). Teaching people with substance abuse and dependence issues to help themselves would give me significant job satisfaction. I have always been interested in the behavior of intoxicated people, the biological mechanisms that result in lowered inhibitions, diminished reasoning, and a tendency toward violence. I seek to understand the biopsychosocial variables that combine to facilitate the consumption of mood altering substances (Wallace, 2012). Additionally, I would like to develop insight into the process of addiction and the evidence based methods of treatment. My observations of impaired individuals tend to convince me of biopsychosocial reasons for substance abuse and associated behaviors. Therefore, my dream is to gain the knowledge to address the underlying motivation for substance abuse and addiction. (Walters & Rotgers, 2012). Employment Outlook As Miller, Scarborough, Clark, Leonard, and Keziah (2010) reported, the credentialing requirements for SACs vary significantly between the states. They asserted that the quality of substance abuse treatment is problematic at best, and they recommend unified SAC credentialing requirements within the US. Currently, educational standards are rising across the country (e.g., high school diploma vs. master’s degree), as SAC case loads increase. Additionally, Miller et al. (2010) comment (and I concur) on the difficulty in navigating the confusing array of SAC credentialing policies, statutes, and standards. I began my search for the future SAC employment outlook in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011). The handbook‘s SAC employment projection for 2010-2020, predicts a gain of at least 28 % with approximately six million new jobs. As this is one of the handbooks highest employment projections, the demand for professional SACs should remain high. This is one of the reasons (among others); I have decided to accept the challenge of credentialing. Education I plan to continue my education in counseling psychology to the bachelor degree level, and then continue on to graduate school to earn a Master of Social Work. My ongoing commitment to further my therapeutic skills development and to understand new research and treatment methods is essential. I will continue with the completion of the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) coursework for Certified Addiction Counselor II while seeking internship experience within the community. Colorado credentialing of SACs consists of four levels as follows: Certified Addiction Counselor, level I (CAC I), CAC II, CAC III, and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) at the master’s degree level. The Colorado rules for addiction counselors are lengthy and are accessed online through The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and DBH. Moreover, all training for CACs and LACs requires DBH approved curriculum, which is administered and regulated by DORA. (Colorado Department of Human Services, 2012). Competencies Addiction counselor competencies are extensive and encompass a broad range of abilities. In my experience, the ability to empathize with a client can facilitate open communication. I hypothesize that sincere empathy is a practical way to reassure the client of the therapist’s altruistic motives and intentions. Of course, the best way to evaluate my hypothesis would be by working in the field. Nevertheless, I have accessed the National Center for O*NET Development (NCOD), (2010) for scholarly information about SAC competency. Their report found interviewing and reflective listening skill important, albeit less important than accurate record keeping ability. Similarly, knowledge of English composition ranked lower than an understanding of treatment methods. Training in human behavior (psychology) ranked high and I could see a general emphasis on the importance of interpersonal relationship skills. The typical workday of the SAC could include client intake, screening, assessment, and diagnosis, followed by group or individual counseling, and finished up with recording progress notes (Seven Cedars Education & Counseling Center, 2012). Conclusion According to the NCOD (2010), the 2011 median wages for SACs were $18.54 or $38,560 annually. Although I assume that the entry-level wage is less, I will nevertheless be better equipped to manage my educational debt by completing my education. Moreover, the personal and professional satisfaction that I will derive from helping others to help themselves will be substantial. Thus, I find SAC to be an appropriate career choice.

References
Colorado Department of Human Services. (2012). Official State Portal. Retrieved from http://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dbh
Department of Regulatory Agencies: State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.dora.state.co.us/mental-health/cac/index.htm
Miller, G., Scarborough, J., Clark, C., Leonard, J. C., & Keziah, T. B. (2010). The need for national credentialing. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 30, 50-57. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225
National Center for O*NET Development (NCOD). (2010). O*NET resource center: Custom report for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors. Retrieved from http://www.onetonline.org/link/result/21-1011.00
Seven Cedars Education & Counseling Center. (2012). Retrieved from http://sevencedarstraining.com/courses/
U.S. Department of Labor. (2010-2011). Occupational outlook handbook. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Wallace, J. (2012). Theory of 12-step-oriented treatment. In S. T. Walters & F. Rotgers (Eds.), Treating substance abuse (pp. 167-190). New York, NY: Guilford.
Walters, S.T., & Rotgers, F. (2012). Treating substance abuse. New York, NY: Guilford