Texas

What does an Addiction Counselor in Texas do? What is Their Job Role?


Substance abuse is a national epidemic. Even before news of the opioid problem hit the headlines, drugs such as alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzodiazepines were wreaking havoc in all corners of American society. Now, nearly 20% of all youth deaths are due to opioids alone.


The bigger picture isn't rosy, either. The CDC reports that overall drug overdose rates rose by 21.5 percent, according to 2015-2016 data. The same reporting period saw a 10.6 percent increase in prescription opioid overdose, a 19.5 percent increase in heroin overdose, and 52.4 percent increase in cocaine-related deaths.


This all means that the problem of drug abuse is creating more victims every single day. However, there are also a lot of people who are motivated to help those victims find solutions. They may be working in rehabilitation centers, private counseling practices, or doing volunteer work through 12-step organizations. You can become a part of the growing legions that are working to provide solutions for the families, addicts, and everyone else impacted by this metastasizing scourge. If you are interested in becoming a substance abuse counselor, your skills and talents will be welcome to so many.


If you are considering becoming a substance abuse counselor in Texas, keep reading to learn more about the career, as well as your state's licensure requirements.


Overview


A career in counseling is one that is richly rewarding and vitally important to the lives of so many. It's been said that nearly every single person is somehow impacted by drug abuse. Whether their family members, friends, or coworkers are caught in the spiral of abuse, the disease of addiction touches everyone. Thus, if you choose to pursue a career as a substance abuse counselor, your efforts will positively impact hundreds, if not thousands, of people you will never even meet.


Work Environment


Substance abuse counselors work in a variety of workplaces. You might find yourself working in a hospital-like setting with spartan facilities. Other rehabilitation centers are housed in office parks and the patients all live standard, private apartments. There are even a resort-like campus that features a wide range of therapies, including yoga, equine therapy, and nutrition classes. Rehabs are also found on sailboats, in wilderness areas that invite patients to confront themselves on long endurance hikes, and any other environment you can imagine.


However, you might choose to not work in a rehabilitation center, at least not full-time. You could open a private practice for addicts and their families. Part of your practice could involve interventions where distraught families confront the addict in their lives. Alternatively, your practice could focus on aftercare, helping addicts integrate into their lives after rehab.


Duties


In a rehabilitation setting, counselors might spend their days in one-on-one sessions with addicts, or facilitating group therapy sessions. You might also be called to teach classes that detail the impact of drugs on the body, or courses that detail the causes and conditions for relapse. Still other counselors might spend time managing patients in their halfway house settings.


Counselors in private practice often supplement their duties by working with attorneys to ensure that addicts stay on track with their pre-trial duties. That is, you might do phone sessions with addicts who need to focus on completing community service, drug/alcohol courses, or other tasks that will help them when they appear in court.


Sometimes drug counselors conduct courses in the community for those facing criminal charges. DUI school, for instance, is in high demand. In that function, your intervention in the addictive cycle will not be as dramatic, but it can be just as important. When you help addicts assess their use and abuse, you are helping them face and admit their problem so that they can solve it.


Are You a Good Fit?


Substance abuse counselors have diverse personalities, backgrounds, and motivations for joining the profession. However, they are all interested in helping addicts recover from their problem. Thus, they all have an open mind with regards to the addict's plight. Rather than a punitive approach, substance abuse counselors see substance abuse as a mental health issue rather than one of bad behavior. They tend to be compassionate and seek to understand the plight of their clients.


While you will need an understanding attitude you will also need to learn how to have strong boundaries. As part of your training, you will learn how to be kind and compassionate, but also objective and discerning. Addicts are known to be manipulative, and to have histories of deep trauma. Your task will be to find compassion for their pain, but also to maintain a healthy distance. This distance will help you provide the best care and to be a guide for someone in recovery.


Texas Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


In Texas, there are many different sorts of credentials you can hold as a substance abuse counselor. You could be a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in addictions, a clinical psychologist, or a certified addiction registered nurse, among other credentials. Most of these require extensive academic training, on top of a rigorous internship. There is an alternative in Texas, if you would rather focus on your passion.


Texas offers a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) credential that does not require you to hold a master's degree. In some cases, those with an associate's degree may be LCDCs. Just like other Texas mental health professionals, your credentials will come from the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program, which is run under the Health and Human Services Commission. In order to attain the credential, you will need to have met specific requirements. Chief among those are your education and background, including an extensive internship period.


Education Requirements


To become an LCDC in Texas, you must first satisfy the state's academic requirements. Texas asks that you complete 270 clock-hours of classroom time that focus on your career. They have a specific breakdown for your coursework.


Texas asks that 135 hours of your schooling focus specifically on the study of addictions and addiction treatment. The remaining 135 hours should be related to counseling, but not specific to addictions or substance abuse disorders. These related courses might include:


  • Psychology

  • Sociology

  • Clinical psychology

  • Ethics

  • Behavioral science

  • Psychological research

  • Psychiatric nursing

  • Family counseling


Texas will accept coursework from either an accredited educational institution or from a career school. If you choose to attend a career school, make sure that the curriculum follows the Transdisciplinary Foundations, and includes the following courses/topics that satisfy the state's standards for professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs):


  • Understanding addiction

  • Treatment knowledge

  • Application to practice

  • Professional readiness


CACREP Accredited Online Certification


Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.


Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited bythe CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.


CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:


  • the program meets or exceeds national standards

  • the program will focus on professional counseling rather than psychology or education

  • the program has an excellent reputation

  • CACREP graduates statistically receive higher scores on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

  • the requirements for licensure will be met.


State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors


The Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors is a focused branch of the Texas Department of State Health Services. The Board implements and enforces the Code of Ethics implemented by the state on the practice of mental health counseling. They oversee mental health professional licensure, renewals, and continuing education requirements. It is also the responsibility of the Board to investigate complaints against professionals. The focus of the Board includes improving mental health outcomes through specific strategies including prevention and intervention.


Address

P.O. Box 149347, Mail Code 1982

Austin, Texas 78714-9347


Phone

(512) 834-6658


Website Address

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/counselor/


Licensure:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (LPC-I)


In Texas there are two degrees of protected titles for those exercising as Chemical abuse Therapists. The preliminary level is the teaching fellowship degree which allows you to get the experience you need ahead to be completely certified in addition to being called the Counselor Trainee (CI). When you have actually the needed experience you can make use of ahead to be an Accredited Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC). Are you interested to learn concerning Dependence as well as additionally Substance Treatment education as well as learning? See colleges both community as well as online that inform a lot more to be a therapist or various other types of expert in connected career fields.


Texas reliance counselors are licensed by the Licensed Chemical Dependency Specialist Program, a part of the Licensing and also Certification Gadget of the Division of State Health And Wellness And also Wellness along with Human Being Providers. An expert can make the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) credential by ending up relevant education, satisfying a monitored experience demand, as well as additionally doing completely on a licensing assessment.


Capella University gives an internet MS in Dependency Research Study Research as well as a PhD in Reliance Psychology. Capella University additionally uses 3 internet CACREP-accredited programs: MS in Professional Mental Health And Wellness As Well As Wellness Therapy, MS in College Counseling, as well as PhD in Counselor Education As Well As Knowing and Advice, along with a COAMFTE-accredited program, MS in Marriage as well as likewise Household Treatment.


A CSS may be a chemical dependency counselor or a Certified Credentialed Counselor (QCC) that holds licensing in a correct health discipline. Texas accepts therapists for CSS standing based on conversation of qualifications from the International Accreditation & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). The intern will certainly not start developing experience up until alert of effective registration is obtained.


Drug abuse therapists in Texas earned an annual mean wage of $49,330 in 2019, comparable to the nationwide mean salary of $49,950 in that exact same month. If you wish to discover a lot more about becoming a chemical abuse counselor in Texas, you can situate a lot of info at the Texas Department of State Wellness And also Health Services website.


Interested in looking for an education and also learning generally misuse counseling? See the adhering to web pages to find therapy academic programs by degree: Trainees require to finish chemical abuse programs at authorized schools. Take programs in each of the adhering to self-disciplines: identifying addiction, treatment experience, application to exercise, and also expert readiness.


Eventually, leads authorize setups to comply with the state's honest criteria. Potential customers who pass these actions gain their CI licenses, which last 5 years. In some circumstances, the Board offers CIs an included 3 years if they finish special expansion applications. They need to obtain 4,000 hours of monitored experience in managing people with drug abuse disorders.


Experts and additionally pupils access contemporary technology training, resources for applying these tools in technique, as well as industry-related details. The NAATP is an expert company for drug abuse counselors throughout the nation. Members reach the management conference, public law campaigning for, industry newsletters, along with an unique work board. LCDC candidates have to pass the TCBAP exam to gain their licenses.


The main purpose of the drug and alcohol counselor in Texas is to help people overcome their addictions to drugs or alcohol. The individual is a professional trained to deal with the individual's needs so that he or she can avoid relapses and go on with life as normal. They are also trained to provide the proper support for recovering addicts so that they can lead a normal life.


The role of the counselor in Texas is to offer a wide range of services to help individuals recover from their addictions and improve their mental and physical health. This will help them to be able to maintain good relationships in their lives, to live productive lives, and to cope with the stressors in life.


Alcoholism and drug abuse is one of the leading causes of death and crime in the United States. It is estimated that there are around 25 million people who are in need of drug and alcohol counseling in the state of Texas alone. Many other states have programs to provide help for these individuals, but it is still important for those who are in need of drug and alcohol counseling to get help at the first available opportunity.


There are many different types of programs that are provided in Texas to help people recover from their addiction to drugs and alcohol. A few of the programs in Texas will provide treatment for those who are in recovery and those who need to be treated for their addictions. A number of programs offer both outpatient and inpatient treatment for those who are in need of long term help. The most popular programs in Texas are the ones that are offered in the state of Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Grand Prairie, Kaufman County and Houston County.


Most of these programs help to offer individual attention for each person who is in need. This means that every addict will receive personalized care and will receive individual therapy sessions to address their unique needs and wants.


Other programs in Texas help to provide short term and long term counseling for individuals in need. These programs help individuals gain an understanding of their addiction and learn the causes of their addiction, as well as the consequences of their addiction. The programs also provide the support needed by recovering addicts so that they can overcome their addictions.


These programs are also designed to help provide individuals with the support and motivation to complete the program successfully. They teach individuals to make successful choices in their lives and help them to overcome their addictions by providing educational resources that will assist in their recovery.


The counselors in the programs also work with their clients to complete the detoxification process. This process is an important process that will help the individual to deal with the withdrawal symptoms associated with the addict's dependence and to prevent relapses. The counselors work with their clients to complete the detoxification process by helping them manage their addictions by providing therapy and support that are specific to their needs. The counselors also offer assistance in helping to build a plan to overcome any underlying conditions that may be causing their addiction.


If you are seeking treatment at an alcohol and drug counselor in Texas, it is important that you meet with several counselors in order to get an idea of what kind of treatment you are looking for. Make sure to ask a lot of questions in order to find the counselor that will best help you. Once you have decided on the counselor that is right for you, it is important that you meet with the counselor regularly and talk about your particular situation and goals.


Discuss the plans that the counselor has and work together as a team to reach your goals. The counselor may also be able to give you a referral to another program in your area if you need to further your treatment in the Houston, Dallas or Austin area.


You can look into the most popular programs in Texas and begin to seek out the treatment that is best for your specific needs. You should find a drug and alcohol counselor in Texas to help you through your recovery.


Professional Examination for Texas


The Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals (TCBAP) administers an examination that you must pass prior to receiving your LCDC licensure. If you have completed your education, you should first register as an LCDC-I with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, then you can visit the TCBAP website to download an application. The TCBAP website is a great resource that includes pages where you can register to take the exam, purchase study materials, and complete a testing demonstration.


If you don't pass the test on the first attempt, don't worry. Texas allows you to re-test, but you must first wait 90 days from your examination date to re-register. You can use this time to review your weak spots and either take a preparation course or study with your peers.


Clinical Supervision Explained


“As part of the graduate program, a supervised practicum experience that is primarily counseling in nature. The practicum should be at least 300 clock-hours with at least 100 clock-hours of direct client contact. Academic credit for the practicum must appear on the applicant's transcript.


After completion of the graduate degree and before application, an applicant must take and pass the National Counselor Exam and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam. After receiving a temporary LPC license from the board, the applicant may begin the supervised post-graduate counseling experience (internship). 3000 clock-hours with at least 1,500 being direct client contact or internship under the supervision of a board-approved supervisor is required. The 3000 clock-hours may not be completed in a time period of less than 18 months.” Originally seen published on https://www.dshs.texas.gov.


Keep in mind that you need to stay with the same school for the entire 300 hours. When you are ready to submit your hours to the board, it must be accompanied by your transcripts and a letter from your educational coordinator that verifies that your work was in the field of substance abuse.


Your experience must also meet certain criteria. You must be exposed to treatment services and activities that conform to the KSA dimensions instituted by the state. You should also observe how treatment is delivered and then have supervised time delivering treatment yourself. Note that for the state to validate your experience, you must be supervised by a qualified and credentialed counselor.


Renewal and Continuing Education


Once you are established as a LCDC, you will need to continue your education. To keep your credentials current and valid, you must complete up to 40 hours of continuing education credits for every biennial licensure period. The 40-hour requirement is for LCDCs who do not hold a master's degree. For those with a master's, the requirement drops to 24 hours for every 2-year period.

The basic criteria for your continuing education units (CEUs) are that they must be provided by a recognized body such as:


  • Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners

  • Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists

  • Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors

  • National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

  • Texas Certification Board for Addiction Professionals


Your courses should address the KSA dimensions and be specific to the subject of substance abuse disorders, treatment, or be closely related to addictions counseling. You can take courses that cover the following topics:


  • Psychology

  • Sociology

  • Counseling

  • Mental health

  • Behavioral science

  • Psychiatric nursing

  • Ethics

  • Rehabilitation counseling

Potential Counselor Career Path Options

  • Addiction Counselor

  • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor

  • Behavioral Health Specialist

  • Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor

  • Chemical Dependency Counselor

  • Mental Health Counselor

  • School Counselor

  • Substance Abuse Counselor


Associations & Organizations


To broaden your personal and professional horizons, consider joining a professional association. The Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP) will put you in contact with other professionals all across Texas. They offer CEU hours conducted both in person and via the internet, hold informative meetings and conferences, and even offer leadership opportunities if you so desire.


The TAAP is part of a national association, the NAADAC, and thus will connect you with professionals nationwide. Through the national association, you can offer referrals when clients move out of state and participate in national conferences. They have a national job posting board and can help you attain a national certification.


As you pursue your career in addictions counseling, you will find that there is no shortage of support. Just as you encourage your clients to establish a support network, there is a national network ready to support you and your career. Your journey to a rewarding career starts today.