licensure

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Addiction Counseling:
According to Lewis, substance abuse and addiction have become a serious problem in our society today taking a serious hold on individuals, families, communities, and occupations. Addiction and substance abuse counselors work with clients who have severe to moderate substance abuse problem and or substance dependency problems. The purpose of a substance abuse counselor is to address the issue of the addiction through group or individual counseling sessions like narcotics anonymous or alcoholics anonymous. Group counseling sessions help the client to understand that they are making a change for the better, while also showing the client that there are other clients struggling with the addiction that you are struggling with. This fosters a feeling of belonging; these sponsors will work with them day and night to help overcome this life long addiction or dependency. “A key implications for counseling to help clients re-establish relationships with others (as opposed to the chemical) in order to heal.” (Lewis, pg. 6, in press)
Within the addiction counseling field there are several certifications available, they are as follows:
CDCA: Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant Phase I and Phase II, LCDC II: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II, LCDC III: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III, LICDC: Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor, LICDC-CS: Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor-Clinical Supervisor. (OHIO.gov)
From a personal standpoint I like working in the substance abuse and dependency counseling. First, no day is the same working with clients with abuse and dependency issues. This career field offers a great way for young non-licensed associate counselors to get their feet...

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...I don’t want to work in an environment like that. However, I could see myself giving my time and effort to the addiction counseling agencies to get help with invaluable experience, continuing education units and also help with attaining my masters and doctorate. I feel that this would be a worthy trade off in payment of licensure, degree cost and CEU’s for a few years of learning how the system works.

References
Lewis, T.F. (in press). Addictions counseling. In D. S. Sheperis and C. J. Sheperis (eds.). Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Fundamentals of Applied Practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Barbara LoFrisco. (2014). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.mastersincounseling.org/
National Association of Forensic Counselors. (2009). Ncca accredited certifications. Retrieved from http://www.nationalafc.com/?NCCA_Accredited_Certifications

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