by nogger

Question by Andy: What Kind Of Salary Can an LCSW in Texas Expect?
I’m currently a 23 year old male graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. I’m doing the Masters of Social Work program in order to allow me to earn an LCSW after I graduate. My ultimate career goal is to have a private practice, working primarily with people with mood disorders, drug issues, and perhaps couples therapy.

What kind of salary can I expect out of the gate? Ten years from now? Anyone have any general advice they’d like to share? It’s all appreciated, thank you!

Best answer:

Answer by DS
http://www1.salary.com/TX/Licensed-Clinical-Social-Worker-salary.html
http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-Master-Social-Worker-Lmsw-Lcsw-l-Texas.html
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Licensed_Clinical_Social_Worker_(LCSW)/Salary

Private practice is risky. You’re obviously not going to open out up right off the bat so find a good job at a hospital and put in your time. Look in to specializing in PTSD since thats going to be a big thing going forward with all the vets coming back from over a decade of continuous war. There is also a lot of government funding going to PTSD research (which is more on the psychologist side of things) but some of that will trickle down to therapy and insurance reimbursments.

Answer by monique
If you have a private practice, don’t think “salary”, because you will be paying yourself (so to speak). If your goal is to have a private practice, you will definitely want at minimum another therapist working for you or a partner who buys into the practice. Your stress will be high if you are a one man show, and then you will be the one needing therapy! Self care is so important, because you are taking on the problems of individuals 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. So if you decided to set up a private practice with a partner you would of course need your business plan. How much money you would need upfront. You would need money upfront for signing a lease for your practice site. As you probably know insurance does not pay you the next day after the session, which is why you definitely need to have money in the bank to pay the lease, utilities and any staff you may have…ie. receptionist.

In looking at income, private practice income is across the board. Your income will depend on several factors….who is your bulk of clients? Those with insurance, private pay, Medicaid? If your clients have good health insurance you will be reimbursed at higher rates, than lets say Medicaid. Some therapists have an income of six figures, some have an income of $ 50,000…..it all boils down to “reimbursement”.

I would say that typically while some therapists are “generalists” in that they see all populations (children, adolescents, young adults, etc) for various types of needs (mood disorders, anxiety, etc), drug and alcohol abuse is usually a unique field. And dual diagnosis requires specialization……those diagnosed with mentall illness and diagnosed with alcohol/drug abuse. That is why you notice drug/alcohol abuse centers that only specialize in that area. Even with standards of practice, if I were a therapist and a client came and told me they were addicted to drugs, since you can’t do therapy on someone who is actively using or addicted, the standard of practice is to refer them to a trained alcohol/drug abuse counselor/therapist. That is not something a generalist therapist can handle.

So if your main interest is drug/alcohol abuse and perhaps dual diagnosis that would be an area you would need to focus strictly on. Many states require additional certifications as well for drug/alcohol abuse therapists/counseling because it is very different than doing therapy with someone who has depression. You have the substance on top of the problems.

Examples of job searches for drug/alcohol abuse counselors/therapists

“Chemical Dependency Counselor
Travis County – Austin, TX
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC); OR, Qualified Credentialed Counselor (QCC) must be obtained within six (6) months of date of hire. Valid Texas Driver’s License.” http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=drug+abuse+counselor&l=tx#jk=7ca0b3f65e9dba4f

Another example:
“Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor
Department Of Veterans Affairs – El Paso County, TX
Education: Hold a master’s degree in mental health counseling, or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to, Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling; and Marriage and Family Therapy. A doctoral degree in mental health counseling may not be substituted for the master’s degree in mental health counseling,”

Another job search example:
“Substance Abuse Counselor-San Antonio
Qualified candidates will have an LCDCI or LCDC certification in the state of Texas”
http://cmglp.catsone.com/careers/index.php?m=portal&a=details&jobOrderID=562573&ref=indeed

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors are licensed by the state of Texas Department of State Services:
“A licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) is licensed to provide chemical dependency counseling services involving the application of the principles, methods, and procedures of the chemical dependency profession as defined by the profession’s ethical standards and the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) as defined by rule in 25 TAC ch. 441 (relating to General Provisions).”
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lcdc/lcdc_counselor.shtm

So if you want to focus on alcohol/drug counseling and want to work in a good drug/alcohol abuse treatment counseling center, you would definitely want to pursue additiona licensure like above that is offered in the state of Texas.

For more information on Dual Diagnosis:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?objectid=c7df9405-1372-4d20-c89d7bd2cd1ca1b9

Best wishes in your career endeavors!

by USAG-Humphreys

Question by Liz: I want to be a substance a buse director is the university of phoenix recognized? i just started?
I just started UOP for my Bachelors in Human Services Addiction. I am reading alot of bad reviews yet I am aware every place will have it’s bad reviews it’s up to the student but will my degree be recognized in the substance abuse treatment field? I do plan to volunteer and start now so I can work my way up and have experience once I graduate. I plan on getting my Masters as well I just need some feed back.

Best answer:

Answer by Judy
UOP overall is not highly regarded. You might be better off getting your degree from a different school.

Answer by jannsody
Unfortunately, U of P is one of those private For-profit schools. Their course credits usually do NOT transfer to other schools, even though the school is regionally accredited as opposed to only nationally accredited.

This site has a lot of negative posts by former students of those for-profit schools, and please heed the students’ warnings: http://www.complaintsboard.com and can search.

Please instead consider the more affordable (and usually more reputable) community college and/or the state-public university as long as the program is accredited within the industry. Just an fyi that “American public university” is a for-profit school.

For U.S. colleges: http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

Most jobs as a an addiction counselor require a master’s degree and preferably with the CAC (certified addiction counselor) credentials.

General career info: http://www.bls.gov/ooh and can search “substance abuse counselors” or such.

This site has more info re: certification in addiction counseling: http://www.naadac.org/certification

Drug counseling
My admiration and respect and condolences go out to families of those who have died from drug abuse and addiction, as those covered in The Frederick News-Post's “Project lifts those torn by addiction” article on Dec. 11. It's hard for me and everyone …
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Ed4Online Approved to Offer Continuing Education Credits to Addiction …
Education company provides continuing education to substance abuse and addiction counselors. ONLINE (PRWEB) December 05, 2013. Ed4Online is pleased to announce that the Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) has recently named the …
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Fighting drug abuse through education
AVERILL PARK – Drug counselors in Averill Park are hoping the remedy for heroin addiction is a mixture of awareness and communication, hence their effort to stem a drug epidemic through education. The challenge, according to drug counselors, is greater …
Read more on WNYT

Question by Popcorn: How to work with drug addicts?
I thought of working with drug addicts today, like how would I get to that position? What sort of jobs are available in rehab centers and drug treatment centers? What type of degrees would I need to get?

Best answer:

Answer by ThirtyEightSnub
Education Requirements for a job as a substance abuse counselor depend on the hiring agency. Some counselors have a high school diploma and
certification while others have a bachelor’s degree or
master’s degree. Since some of the best substance
abuse counselors are those who have overcome addiction themselves, this is one of the few jobs
where a degree from the school of hard knocks can
outweigh university schooling. Counselors with more
education will be trusted with less immediate
supervision and licensed counselors can provide
one-on-one counseling.

Answer by Mike
Yes i also agree that most of the counselers are people who overcame their addiction. Who better to give you the experience,the procedure, the decision making consultation etc…. i knw someone here “getcleantoday program” they have a consultation line if you want to for another option maybe call tge hotline 1-888-453-2862 and get some professional answers to evaluate things further. Hope that tip helps a little.

Crouse Hospital expanding its methadone program as painkiller, heroin …
The hospital got permission from the state Office Of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to expand the program. The program serves patients from 17 counties. Outside of Syracuse, the nearest methadone programs are in Binghamton, Amsterdam and …
Read more on Syracuse.com

Drug addicts 'can quit smoking' with additional therapy
"Substance abuse treatment programs have historically been hesitant to incorporate concurrent smoking cessation therapies with standard drug addiction treatment because of the concern that patients would drop out of treatment entirely. However …
Read more on Medical News Today

Question by Dan W: Can i become a councilor with a GED?
Well i am wondering if you can become a councilor for drug abuse if you only have a GED, because i was addicted to methamphetamine, marijuana, inhalants, and alcohol for about five years of my life and luckily i got myself help and have been clean for about 2 years now and i would really like to help people overcome the demons i also faced trying to become clean, any help would be wonderful. Thanks for any feed back.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
Congratulations on having almost two years of sobriety! With regard to becoming a substance abuse counselor, I believe that most with a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) have a master’s degree which takes about six years of college, if attending on a full-time basis. There are different levels of training for addictions counseling, but most jobs prefer those with a master’s degree.

Please also be aware that in order to get one’s certification as a CAC (or similar credentials), the person needs A LOT of clinical experience which includes having an actual patient caseload of those with addiction.

With regard to schooling, please AVOID those private overly priced For-profit schools such as kaplan, ashworth, capella, university of phoenix, devry, ITT tech, strayer, everest, brown mackie, american public university, keiser, argosy, penn foster, ashford, grand canyon, westwood, stratford career, pima medical institute, colorado tech and others as they are merely out to “make a profit” (** and their course credits usually do NOT transfer to other schools).

These consumer sites have a lot of negative posts by former students about those for-profit schools, and please heed the students’ warnings:

– http://www.ripoffreport.com

– http://www.pissedconsumer.com

– http://www.complaintsboard.com and can search.

Please instead consider the more affordable community college and/or public/state university as long as the program is accredited within the industry.

For U.S. colleges: http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

This site is supposed to have more info re: (regarding) getting certified in addictions counseling: http://www.naadac.org/certification and can scroll down a bit.

General career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search “counselors”, “social workers” or such.

Regarding inhalants or “huffing” (fumes or chemical vapors), my friend actually has a Brain Injury from inhalant use at the age of 12, now in her 30s.

Other risks of huffing include sight loss/blindness, heart/liver/kidney damage, seizures, limb spasms, hearing loss and even death, all of which can happen after the very FIRST time of use.

For anyone, this site has more info about the dangers of huffing – National Inhalant Prevention Coalition: http://www.inhalants.org

Wishing you continued recovery and wellness and that you continue making good, HEALTHY choices in life 🙂

Dr. Carolyn Ross in Denver, CO, Now Offers Suboxone Treatment to Help …
… Ross, MD MPH | Addiction Therapist | Denver CO. Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross, MD MPH, is an Integrative Medicine physician with an office in Denver, CO, who treats drug, alcohol, and food addictions. … It's important to work with an addiction therapist …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

The Meadows Alumni Association to Host Alumni Workshop in Scottsdale on …
The Meadows world-class team of Senior Fellows, Psychiatrists, Therapists and Counselors treat the symptoms of addiction and the underlying issues that cause lifelong patterns of self-destructive behavior. The Meadows, with 24 hour nursing and on-site …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

We're all playing by 'Henry's Rule'
They paid by keeping their child's problem behavior from their spouse, or by letting their child terrorize the family, by paying to get their child out of trouble, and worst of all, giving them money knowing it would be spent on alcohol or drugs. They …
Read more on Standard Speaker

Fear of stigma stops problem gamblers seeking help
"Many of those people had received help for their drug or alcohol problems but they hadn't told their counsellors about their gambling because they felt so ashamed about it," she said. "Some of them felt playing poker machines was stupid so having a …
Read more on ABC Online

Breakthrough Virtual Training Helps Doctors Save Lives During the Holidays by …
This year, a powerful virtual training simulation by SIMmersion, developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), will help doctors reach out to patients …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Alcoholic, former addict, arsonist: Never too late to ask for help
Jim Mason, a substance abuse counselor in Hamilton, set her on the road to referrals that led her first to MCDC in Butte, then to the Carole Graham Home, a Missoula residential program for chemically dependent women and their children. “Going to the …
Read more on The Missoulian

Question by Olivia: How many years of school do you need to become a substance abuse and behavioral counselor?
Also, not a school counselor. I want to work with adults and teenagers but I didn’t know I would have to go to school for almost eight years? Is this true? Did my school counselor have to go to school for that long too?

Best answer:

Answer by StellaStarfire
“While on-the-job training is often provided, some employers prefer candidates that have a bachelor’s degree or higher in psychology, sociology or a related subject along with two years of counseling in a related field or equivalent life experience such as being a former drug addict or performing volunteer work. Some substance abuse counselors have a master’s degree in mental health counseling. Numerous colleges provide associate degree programs for counselors which usually take two years to complete. The programs include training in drugs and alcohol. Some of the programs offer training in crisis intervention.

The criteria for licensure varies by state. In some cases, the candidates are only required to have a high school diploma and certification. The National Board for Certified Counselors offers a general practice credential of National Certified Counselor. The national certification is distinct from state licensing. The board also provides a speciality certification in addiction counseling.”

From:

http://www.citytowninfo.com/employment/substance-abuse-counselors

Father turns corner after breaking bad
“And then she suggested drug court.” The rigorous 18-month, five-stage program is an alternative to incarceration that combines treatment and counseling, frequent and random drug testing and close monitoring by a judge. Similar drug courts are in …
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Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom Therapy? Drug Problem, Separation Part Of …
The reality star and her NBA champion husband, who has reportedly been struggling with a severe drug problem, are reportedly beginning counseling with a marriage therapist and working on the issues plaguing their relationship. In addition to Odom's …
Read more on Hollywood Take

District court news
… for one day, $ 1,000 fines and costs, one year probation, attend substance abuse program and Impact Weekend, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (C).
Read more on Midland Daily News