I love my job as a radio advertising salesperson and copy-writer. It's fun. I'm making a positive contribution to the culture and economy of my little corner of the world...but sometimes I see my job in another light: I am instrumental in consumerism. I AM the effin' media, I just try to use my Powers for Good...not Evil.
So I'm in Intensive Out Patient right now. I want to be an addiction treatment counselor. I want to help people like Us. Is this common? Is this ego-driven? How much and what type of college do I need for this?
Hey Aquadude. One thing that I do know is putting yourself into a position to help sick people (mentally sick) most often makes the helper sick. These folks need the strongest program because this kind of activity goes way beyond "giving it away to keep it". This is why psychiatrists have the highest (or used to) suicide rate. Just saying
Aquaman, This is very common. The requirements differ from state to state. You can contact your Department of Health to find out the requirements for your state.
There is an extensive internship requirement for this type of work and most treatment facilities have a requirement on how long you have been clean and sober before volunteering for their organization. For example in my county both of our treatment centers require 24 months of sobriety.
I am in social services (a perfect job for a codie) and I have to make darn sure that my cup is always being refilled. You can give if your cup is empty.
Good luck to you on your journey.
Yours in recovery, Mandy
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"We are not punished for our unforgiveness, we are punished by it" Jim Stovall
You can't give away what you haven't got. And when you've got it (via steps 1-11) there's step 12.
Not to say becoming a professional counselor is a bad thing. My daughter did it, and she's good at it. She's stayed sober. I don't know when she made the decision, but it was after some years of sobriety and doing other jobs and pursuing other education, before she decided to get a degree in psychology.
But you don't have to be a professional counselor to pass along the gift. I hope I can pass on what little I know, to those who can relate at least - no degree, no strings attached. It keeps me sober.
Aquaman, I also wanted to do this in my early recovery. My sponsor stopped me. Today I have changed the corporate world, in which I work and earn my living, because I am different from the general crowd. Just go along and you will see how God will use you.
I too considered the idea of helping people on a more 'formal' basis but in the end made the decision that I would choose to give away what I had in a simple way free from targets and pressure (and paperwork?).
My 'helping others' would be done in my and God's time not according to some company or Health Authority's. I made the decision to keep it simple and maintain my freedom. An inner voice just told me that it "sounds like a good idea but that's all" For THIS alcoholic/acoa, it would NOT be a good idea.
I am in the process of determining what kind of employment to do after my degree. I will be listening for guidance from my HP! (and ruthlessly investigating any 'bright' ideas that pop up!!!!!)
AGO wrote: Yes it's common for people in early recovery to want to become an addiction counselor, kind of a stockholm syndrome for crazy people
LOL, that is true, AGO. But who else carries the eye opening message of Hope, Experience, and Strength like WE do? having the opportunity to say "this is what WORKS FOR ME or has worked for other substance abusers." We have a 'present tense living' to add to the book knowlege. Aquaman, check out your community college. Talk to a counselor there. it may only take one year if you have some college background already. It probably is a certificate program that you can go to night school to achieve. READY, SET, GO! love ya, dude. jj
So true, after I got off perscription pain killers I really wanted to be involved with the "junkies" still. Now, years later I am glad I didn't get into any career that would have me around them.
I think it's fantastic that you are stepping back and looking at your life this way aquaman. Maybe you could look up volunteer opportunities in some other capacity (other than addiction for now). Every city has tons of volunteer jobs. I think you'll get a deep satisfaction from it.
AGO wrote: "Yes it's common for people in early recovery to want to become an addiction counselor, kind of a stockholm syndrome for crazy people".
LOL Well, perhaps. (look at me....)
I am getting my degree in Psychology right now. I may or may not be a counselor. There are other jobs for psychologists, in research, writing, advertising, human resources. I already have another degree. But at 38, I am wanting to switch gears. I guess the important thing to consider is the motive behind a decision like that. I chose this path because I am fascinated with human needs, development, perception, genetics, social tendencies, etc. I am interested in the history of it, and the evolution of concepts over time. I am studying it, figuring that some day I might work on a clinical level with it, but knowing fully in my innermost self that I am not going to save the world. It is just a subject I am wholly interested in, and I have found through my schooling with it thusfar that I am an incredible student of psychology, and terrific at writing essays and studying concepts. I am excited about starting research within the next 6 months. I am doing it because I enjoy it and am good at it. I am not doing it for any "moral" reasons, nor am I doing it because it is going to turn me into a well-adjusted person. (I have my own counselor and psychiatrist for that plight.) I should note here that not all psychologists are counselors, and not all counselors have a degree in psychology. It is just a study within the same realm of "human behavior".
I guess what I am trying to say is knopw what you are getting into. Know what you want. Know why you want it. Find out if you might be any good at it. I know people with a ton of sobriety who don't have the disposition to do something like counseling others. Explore, and be open minded, and the right answer will come.
Happy exploring!
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~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
Shrug. The pay is crappy and you have to really watch out for knowitallism when you have the education. I can diagnose people in AA up, down, and sideways, but judging others messes up my program and stops me from just being part of. It is actually something I had to divorce myself from (and still have to) in order for the program to work. With that said, I wouldn't say don't do it, but sometimes I wish I had a job in which people's lives and well being were not so connected to me. It did make me sick as Dean said. It put me in a state of thinking I should only help others while I slowly lost all ability to care for myself....very messed up, but that is what happened. Now I detach a lot better and it is really tricky to differentiate my program and the way I interact with fellows from being a therapist.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Damn, that's where my big white horse went - yep, seems to be common among people in early sobriety for people in recovery to want to make this their life's work - all I know is so many of us have a go at it, aren't strong enough in their own recovery and end up on the sticky side.
look at it again maybe when you are in a position to be entirely comfortable with your own recovery and able to embrace all methods of treatment, not just the 12 step model. But for the time being, maybe, like me, stick with what you're good at.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
) and I have to make darn sure that my cup is always being refilled. You can give if your cup is empty. 
)