According to the BLS, community and substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned a median annual wage of $53,710 in May 2023. Touro University Worldwide’s Master of Arts in Counseling degree with Addiction Counseling specialization explores the assessment and treatment of substance abuse. This online program prepares graduates to meet the licensure requirements to become substance abuse counselors in California and other states. As you pursue our graduate program in substance abuse counseling, you will have access to knowledgeable professors who have years of experience in the areas of substance abuse and addiction counseling. You can have a mastery of knowledge of critical concepts in the substance abuse and addiction counseling fields, including counseling techniques, treatment, and the recovery process.
Is a Master’s in Addiction Counseling Degree Worth It?
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings. We use trusted sources like Peterson’s Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. Sponsored results from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such. Enrollees study different models of sobriety maintenance and relapse prevention in this course. Professors often cover sociocultural triggers, behavior modification techniques, public health, and risk-informed decision-making.
Introduction to Mental Health Counseling Careers
You can also access other community and social service management positions, including social work and school counseling. If you’re looking to continue your education and training even further, several doctoral degree paths are available, including family, mental health, and behavioral disorder counseling degrees. When it comes to pay for substance misuse and mental health counselors specifically, your employer and the industry you work in can greatly impact your earnings. In 2023, the highest-paying industry (that employed at least 10,000 of these professionals) was the local government.
What Can you Do with a Master’s in Addiction Counseling?
While different master’s in mental health counseling jobs require different strengths, there are some skills and competencies that are required across the spectrum of opportunities. The course provides an overview of standardized test development and procedures, applications and limitations of standardized tests, techniques of administering individual/group tests in relation to counseling. Moreover, students learn about interpreting substance abuse counseling assessment instruments and profiles along with communication strategies with clients, parents, school personnel, and other relevant professionals. Students will develop cultural self-awareness along with advocating for social justice via the reduction or elimination of intentional (or unintentional) biases and prejudices. An accredited master’s degree is enough qualification for most substance use counseling jobs.
- Addiction counselors may treat a broader range of psychological addictions in addition to substances, such as sex addiction or gambling addiction.
- A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy is necessary to become a licensed marriage and family therapist who can perform this kind of counseling.
- Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years.
- The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS.
- Since its founding in 1971, Liberty University has graduated more than 285,000 students.
A CMHC is trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders, which includes developing treatment plans and providing psychotherapy. In the state of New York, CMHCs are subject to licensure by the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. The course is useful for counselors in training on the concepts and skills necessary to understand and lead counseling groups in various settings. The students will explore different theoretical approaches to counseling groups which include basic principles of group dynamics such as leadership tasks, group developmental stages, member roles, and therapeutic factors of group work. Throughout this degree, you can gain knowledge in assessment techniques and details about the addiction and substance abuse recovery process. You will also study some of the causes of addiction and how to help people resolve their unsolved issues that may have led to addiction.
What can I do with an online master’s degree in addiction studies?
- Common topics include privacy, duty of care, involuntary commitment, and concerns about online counseling.
- It is one of the largest universities in the state with more than 7,500 students.
- For example, a substance use counselor may earn a certificate in crisis counseling or lifespan mental development to fill out their clinical toolkit.
- The class covers various screening options, limitations, legal implications, and the utilization of pharmacotherapy as part of substance addiction treatment.
- The rate of substance abuse and alcohol addiction, depression, and other mental health conditions has climbed in record numbers in recent years.
- The one exception to this would be if you want to work as an addiction counselor in a private practice, where you can provide one-on-one counseling.
Aspiring substance abuse counselors should check with their state’s licensing board for more information. Substance abuse counseling students may need to pay for extra software to practice entering client data. Degree-seekers should also budget for fees for background checks and certification exams. As with any career, salary expectations and job growth potential depend on a wide range of factors, including specializations, advanced degrees, certifications, and geographical location. Rehabilitation counselors work with clients adjusting to life-changing illnesses or injuries. They need a master’s degree to practice, along with a license in some states.
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Master’s in Addiction Counseling Degree FAQs
