Content
Lyle started his journey working in treatment by entering a program for his own addiction in the 90s. His first experience in treatment was as a cash-pay client in a high-end residential facility that “graduated” him as soon as his money ran out. About 3 months after being sent to a ¾-way home that was overrun with drugs, he relapsed and felt hopeless. Fortunately, a family friend found him a bed at a center for homeless men with addictions.
- Additionally, you can receive extra education and job training by enrolling in a local job training program.
- After getting sober or completing treatment, one of the first things many look for is employment.
- If you’ve noticed a connection between your stressful former career and your substance abuse, that’s a good sign it’s past time to change career paths.
- By approaching your job search with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and a willingness to be honest about your recovery, you can find a fulfilling job that helps you maintain your recovery.
- View the most relevant schools for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to finding your college home.
This often comes down to identifying patterns in people’s lives and establishing specific treatment plans, which may include medication and regular consultation with a psychologist. The information provided by AddictionHelp.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice. View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion. Our free email newsletter offers guidance from top addiction specialists, inspiring sobriety stories, and practical recovery tips to help you or a loved one keep coming back and staying sober. Building a network of supportive people can help you stay motivated and focused on your recovery. It can also provide valuable guidance and encouragement as you navigate work challenges.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in addiction psychology? Was it something you were always interested in?
Of course, you shouldn’t return to your previous career if it involved being around alcohol, substances, or negative influences, or if it in any way contributed to your addiction. Another important trait that an addiction counselor needs is the ability to plan and execute self-care and vacation time. This field has a high burnout rate because a lot of people never say no and they find themselves working 40-, 50-, or 60-hour workweeks and helping friends and family with their personal issues on their downtime. Psychology is the understanding of human behavior and why people do the things they do, which can even be applied while walking through Walmart. If you want to become successful in any career, you really need to know how to talk to people and what their patterns of behavior and thought processes look like.
- Both are effective tools for building and maintaining a strong and effective, recovery-ready workplace.
- Many people discover a passion for helping others while in recovery and find themselves working as professional addiction counselors.
- It means they cannot discriminate against you and should treat all applicants equally when hiring.
- The Federal Bonding Program – The U.S. Department of Labor established The Federal Bonding Program in 1966 to provide Fidelity Bonds for “at-risk,” hard-to-place job seekers.
- It is also a challenge to rejoin mainstream society and find gainful employment after a chaotic battle with dope or booze.
The following list details the core skills gained while completing an addiction and recovery degree program. Temp agencies and job placement services can be helpful resources for finding employment during recovery. These companies work with various employers https://stylevanity.com/2023/07/top-5-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-sober-house.html to fill temporary or permanent job openings, and they can often match you with positions that fit your skillset and work experience. Enrolling in job training or education programs can be a helpful way to build new skills and increase your employability.
Resources for Addiction and Recovery Majors
The goal should be to become financially independent, responsible and to get re-acclimated to a normal daily routine. As clients begin the process of recovery, sooner or later their attention will shift to the necessities of daily life. Although learning how to embrace a sober lifestyle and building a new and healthy life that revolves around recovery becomes an addict’s number one goal, establishing one’s independence is critical to long term success.
This guide offers information and insights on the benefits of addiction and recovery careers, job outlook data, potential career paths, and methods for career advancement. You will also find resources for expanding your knowledge and gaining skills that can help you serve your community. If you experience difficulties in finding work in recovery, there are national organizations that help find employment for recovering addicts. For example, The U.S. Department of Labor offers a One Stop Career Center where those who are in recovery can contact them for available career centers in their area.
Staying Employed After Getting Hired
They saw a post or a TV show interview or something I did that made them change their thought process, get sober, and have a better life. One of the most rewarding aspects of this career is when I see a client one year, two years, or even five years later and they are successful and thriving. Five years ago, she would never have done that because she was drinking too heavily. So it was very awesome to see that, and it was rewarding to see I was able to impact someone’s life in that way.
