Becoming an Alcohol Therapist

Alcohol Therapists are dedicated to help the people to recover from alcohol addiction and related problems in health, behavior and relationship. They provide treatment and support to the patients in order to set them on the path of achieving a healthy life. Their responsibilities include collecting patients’ views, assessing patients’ thoughts and behavior, discussing the effects of alcoholism, planning a treatment strategies, conducting individual or group therapy sessions, monitoring patients’ recovery, motivating them to lead a positive lifestyle so on and so forth.

Alcohol Therapists use variety of methods to treat the people suffering from alcohol addiction, such as twelve-step programs, group therapy, talk sessions, cognitive therapy etc.

Alcohol Therapist can find employment either in government and private settings or non-government organizations. They can be employed in hospitals, outpatient, inpatient and/or group treatment settings, rehabilitation centers, educational institutes etc. They can also set their own private practices as well.

Education Requirements:

To qualify for the position of Alcohol Therapist, the students need to complete at least a 2-year associate’s or a 4-year bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience in a field such as substance abuse counseling, social/behavioral science etc. The aspiring Alcohol Counselors, however, need to hold a master’s degree to obtain professional licensure.

While the coursework in a relevant master’s degree program includes individual and group therapy techniques, psychological development, group processes, dynamics and a relevant internship, the common syllabus during associate’s or a bachelor’s degree course are theories and principles of substance abuse and basics of mental health counseling.

Licensure:

Since many states of USA require Alcohol Therapists to be licensed, the aspiring candidates should obtain a License after completing required academic courses.

Skill Set:

The practice of Alcohol Therapist requires a wide range of knowledge and skills such as ability to deal with aggressive and/or intoxicated clients, act with compassion, understand and manage the crisis situation, effective communications and interpersonal skills, motivating and convincing power, basic computer knowledge etc.

Job Outlook and Salary:

The job outlook for an Alcohol Therapist remains outstanding across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 27 per cent during 2010-2020. The average annual salary of an Alcohol Therapist was $ $40,920 in 2012.