Is anyone a Drug and Alcohol Counselor? or in school to become one??

I am struggling with whether or not I am ready to work with other addicts/alcoholics. At times I feel like I have waited too long and I need to be out in the field working one on one with people. Making a difference one person at a time.

Then there are days when I think about the actual work involved and the potential to cause serious harm to another person.

I have 5 years sober, and I have been going to school trying to gain the knowledge and technical skills to work in a counseling setting and hope that in this process my confidence will grow as well, I am just not feeling consistent in my confidence yet.

I fear that I will miss something vital when working with a client, like they will come in intoxicated or overdosing and I will have no idea.

Has anyone else experienced this? Are there any tips or suggestions you have for me??

To add a side note, I have had a couple counselors who did or said things that were totally off. Like not unethical or anything. But one counselor focused on one thing that I said, even though I didn't feel it was something I needed to focus on and in the end I just left the session all upset cause she was giving me advice and not listening to me or what I wanted to talk about.


Can anyone share with me what are some of the things you liked that a counselor said or did in a session with you, as well as things you did not like? This will help me out tons, as I am only going off my own personal experience right now and I know there is a lot of valuable perceptions out there.

I'd say make sure to have your own issues on the table (e.g. recognized) and somewhat dealt with (e.g. know if you are prone to 'over identification', projections, prejudices) before working in the mental health or addictions field.

Self-knowledge is tantamount to keeping good boundaries and not being affected by others suffering.

For example, I'm not going to work with certain populations -- SAY, "non-sober male alcoholics", anytime soon. (Being around drunk men reminds me too much of my fmr stepfather's blackout rages & several garden-variety halfway date rapists.)

Why are you choosing this field? Do you know?

Thank you for the great advice. Being aware of counter transference will be a big part in my ability to counsel others.

I got into drugs when I was in high school and still being somewhat young myself, I feel thats where I can make the biggest difference. My ultimate goal is to work in a high school. (funny because I never really went to my own)

I have worked with friends and other people at the rehab facility I went to, basically I feel most alive... most passionate when my life is not about me. When I am working with another person to find a new way to live life. To see patterns of behavior that no longer serve them. I love seeing the joy in a persons face as they realize their life really is their choice.

Zoie, I am not a counselor, but I see one once a week. I truely consider her an Angel. I have seen her for over three years. I could not even begin to tell you how much she has helped me with dealing with my life and making me a better person. She counsels using yhe Gestault method which seems to work really well for me. We can and do talk about anything and everything. I really look forward to seeing her every week. She is very compassionate, intelligent and caring. I can honestly say she has saved my life before. I have dealt with depression since I was around twenty. I just found out about this ADD a week and a half ago. It sure does make a lot of sense. I kind of thought I had it before but I never really had any doctor diagnose it. I just started with Adderral XL a little over a week ago. It is the difference between night and day. It is wonderful! I just need to get my dosage titrated up a little bit. You sound like you have the heart to be a good counselor to me. I also think you have plenty of sobriety under your belt to help others. Good luck!

#4

Countertransference can be v. informative of the person's problems, too. (e.g. how they must make others feel).

I just finished reading a book by this guy named Lawrence Hedges called "Interpreting the Countertransference". ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Interpreting-Countertransference-Lawrence-E-Hedges/dp/0876685327/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211091335&sr=1-8

Thanks QueenUgirl, for the name of that book. Right now I have shot my budget for this month on a Sony HD TV and ADD books. I am reading PLEASE UNDERSTAND ME CHARACTER & TEMPERAMENT TYPES by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates. It is very good. I am going to look into this countertransference too.