Career Summary

Addiction rehabilitation counselors help people who have problems with an addiction such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, and eating disorders. Their responsibilities vary greatly depending on their employer, client and their specialty. Counseling can be done on an individual basis, but is frequently done in a group setting. They counsel their clients by helping them to identify behaviors and problems related to their addiction.

Addiction rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of their addiction. They evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling as well as help them recover from addiction. Sometimes they arrange for medical care, vocational training, and even job placement once their client is ready to return to a part time or full time employment.

Counselors will often meet with both the individuals and their families who are affected by the addictions. The involvement of family and loved ones is utilized as a way to help their client bring positive change into their life. Addiction rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client’s capacity to live independently. Counselors also conduct programs aimed at preventing addictions which includes is crisis intervention.