| rch and clinical practice has demonstrated that | | | | offer certification as an addictions professional. The |
| co-occurring disorders (addictions and mental health | | | | down side to state certifications is that they do not |
| issues occurring together) are the rule, not the | | | | transfer if you move out of state. |
| exception. This leaves many people who were trained | | | | But I am doing addictions counseling now and am not |
| as psychologists, mental health counselors and | | | | certified. Why should I jump through all of those |
| marriage and family therapists at a great | | | | hoops? Well, there are several reasons: Ethics, |
| disadvantage, both clinically and professionally. They | | | | effectiveness, earning potential. All professional codes |
| are at a clinical disadvantage, because addictions | | | | of ethics state that you must be appropriately trained |
| counseling requires a very different counseling | | | | to provide services to your target population. |
| approach than most counselors use. Professionally | | | | Therefore, if you are licensed or certified in mental |
| they are at a disadvantage because many insurance | | | | health or psychology, you are expected to gain the |
| companies, agencies and Medicaid are starting to | | | | extra education necessary to effectively serve your |
| require certification in addictions counseling to work | | | | population. As I stated earlier, addictions counseling is |
| with clients who have addictions. | | | | far different than traditional Rogerian “talk |
| So, what are the options? Most of us do not want to | | | | therapy.” To be effective as an addictions |
| go back to school to get yet another degree. The | | | | counselor, you must understand the addiction, how it |
| good news is that getting your precertification training | | | | has become the person’s best fiend, why they |
| for addictions counseling is easy. You can take online | | | | do not want to give it up and cognitive-behavioral and |
| courses such as those offered at or go to | | | | solution-focused strategies to help them make the |
| conferences or take college courses. In most states, | | | | change. Finally, earning potential. Addictions |
| any addictions certification is sufficient. The National | | | | certifications open up a whole new set of employment |
| Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors | | | | opportunities. Additionally, many agencies will pay more |
| (NAADAC) and the National Board for Certified | | | | for someone with an addictions certification, versus |
| Counselors (NBCC) both offer national addictions | | | | someone with only a mental health counseling license |
| certifications. Your other option is to get certified in | | | | or no license at all. |
| your home state. Many states now have boards that | | | | |