How to Become an Addiction Counselor
Addiction counselors help to improve the lives of people struggling with drug, alcohol, and other types of addiction. Addiction counseling will have you working with a variety of clients, or you may specialize in addiction issues that affect specific populations, such as teenagers or military veterans.
As an addiction counselor, you will listen to clients talk about their addiction problems and what causes them to engage in these destructive behaviors. You also will speak to clients about how to cope with addiction and to incorporate proven methods, such as 12-step programs, to help them to recovery.
Every patient is different and is struggling with different types and degrees of addiction, so you could be working with people who are in crisis, while others will meet with you regularly to help their recovery.
If you have patience and compassion and want to help people, a career as an addiction counselor could be a good choice. Please use the information on this page as a resource to learn about what addiction counselors do, where they work, and more.
What Is Addiction Counseling?
Addiction counseling provides patients with an essential support system to help them recover from drug and alcohol problems, gambling addictions, eating disorders, and other issues. By developing a relationship built on trust with the patient, an addiction counselor offers support, resources, and guidance without judgment that patients can use on their road to recovery.
Addiction counseling focuses both on crisis and long-term addiction management problems, which can range from emergency medical intervention to support them in the management of their addiction recovery. (WFU.edu).
In addiction counseling, you will learn how to create a therapeutic alliance with each patient. The decision to get treatment for addiction is a hard one, and it requires much trust between counselors and patients. Effective addiction counselors need to create a lasting bond with each patient, which is what a therapeutic alliance is.
The therapeutic alliance is the trust the patient feels with the counselor. It allows them to feel vulnerable as they sort out their addiction problem and work with the counselor effectively. A strong alliance ensures that the patient views the counselor as trustworthy and that the counselor has their best interests at heart.
Developing the therapeutic alliance takes time, but the patient should eventually feel comfortable with you to speak freely and to feel relief after the appointment. The patient also should want to return to continue their recovery.
In addiction counseling, a strong therapeutic alliance can be made by:
- Ensuring the patient understands you are interested in their recovery and well being
- Being attentive to the patient during sessions
- Tell the patient that you empathize with them
- Understanding and effectively communicating the major issues at play in addiction recovery
What Do Addiction Counselors Do?
Typical duties of addiction counselors include: (BLS.gov)
- Evaluate the client’s mental and physical health, addiction, and assess how ready they are for treatment.
- Develop, recommend and review addiction treatment goals and plans with the client and his family.
- Assess the client’s ability to develop the skills and behaviors needed to recover from their addiction.
- Work with the client to identify behaviors or situations that block their addiction recovery.
- Teach family members about addiction problems and help them to devise strategies to cope with these problems
- Refer addiction clients to other services and resources, such as support groups and job placement services.
- Perform outreach programs to help people to understand the signs of addiction and other damaging behavior.
Where Do Addiction Counselors Work?
There are 397,880 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors working throughout the nation. The largest employers of addiction counselors are:
- Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers: 21%
- Individual and family services: 17%
- Offices of other health practitioners: 16%
- Residential mental health and substance abuse centers: 11%
- Local government, excluding schools and hospitals: 6%
Addiction counselors work in many settings, such as prisons, mental health centers, halfway houses, prisons, parole and probation agencies, and juvenile detention centers.
They also work in employee assistance programs or EAPs, which are mental health programs offered by employers to help their workers manage personal problems.
What Is the Job Outlook for Addiction Counselors?
Employment for addiction counselors is forecast to grow by 18.8% between 2023 and 2033, which is much faster than average. Employment growth is expected to continue this upward trend as addiction issues become less stigmatized and people are more inclined to seek the help they need.
Demand for these professionals is also expected to rise as states more often lean into treatment for drug offenders instead of jail time. The criminal justice system is recognizing that providing treatment to people struggling with substance use disorders is a better solution to reducing crime over the long-term. As such, sentences for drug offenders often include requirements to attend counseling and treatment programs.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics labor market information for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2025.
How Can You Become an Addiction Counselor?
To become an addiction counselor, you usually need a degree in mental health or addiction counseling. Depending on the state and the employer, you may need to have an addiction counselor certification after high school in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
But some states and employers may require a bachelor’s and master’s degree in addiction counseling or a related field. Addiction counselors working in private practice must have a master’s degree. (BLS.gov).
What Do Exams and Licensing Involve?
An addiction counselor working in private practice must have a state license. Licensing requirements vary, but all states require those in private practice to have a master’s degree and at least 2,000 of supervised clinical work. Also, counselors are required to pass a state examination and complete continuing education requirements annually. (NBCC.org).
Becoming an addiction counselor is a rewarding career path that allows you to assist people to overcome their addiction problems. You also can reduce addiction and crime in American society, which helps everyone. Be sure to review this website’s online master’s programs in addiction and substance abuse counseling so you can take the next step in your new career.