Become an addictions counselor
With a degree from Jamestown Community College in Addictions Counseling and CASAC-TR credentialing, you can become an addictions counselor and work with individuals who suffer with drug addiction and substance abuse. While at JCC, you will learn about the nature and history of addiction and chemical dependency, and skills needed for intake assessment, treatment planning, case management, and counseling.
Your degree will prepare you for transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, human services, or addictions counseling. It also satisfies New York’s 350-hour educational requirement for the CASAC-TR status required through the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).
With your JCC degree and CASAC certification, you can work in a variety of treatment centers, agencies, clinics, and hospitals that provide addiction support. Depending on your specialization and additional education, you can make a difference in inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, mental health case management, harm reduction programs, drug maintenance programs, and others.
2020 median pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors: $47,660/year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where to study at JCC
Addictions counseling skills
After you complete the program, you will be able to:
- Learn about substance abuse, including the physical and pharmacological effects of substances, diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders, diverse intervention and treatment approaches, health, wellness and communicable diseases, and the use of toxicology testing and screening devices.
- Develop counseling skills pertaining to addictions, including individual, group and family approaches, while developing cultural competence and knowledge of special populations.
- Demonstrate understanding of theories of human development and their relationship to substance abuse, and the impact of substance use on families and community.
- Demonstrate skills in assessment, clinical evaluation, recordkeeping, treatment planning, case management, and patient, family, and community education.
- Develop competence in maintaining professional and ethical responsibilities, including counselor-client relationships, ethical decision making and conduct, confidentiality and legal issues, and counselor wellness.