Addiction Therapists

People enter the field after earning a college degree and completing supervised clinical work. Some therapists have overcome addiction problems of their own.

The most-effective therapists are compassionate, empathetic, and caring people who are excellent communicators (including possessing top-notch listening skills). They also need strong interpersonal skills and a non-judgmental nature because they treat people from a wide range of socioeconomic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. A calm and patient personality comes in handy because clients are sometimes angry or severely depressed. Addiction therapists should have good analytical and decision-making skills in order to understand the patient’s situation and recommend the best treatment for them. In a way, they are also teachers because they need to educate patient about coping strategies and behaviors that address their addiction or other mental health challenges. Addiction therapists who are in private practice must understand how to operate a business, which includes managing staff, keeping track of billing and payments received, preparing and managing budgets, and requesting reimbursement from insurance companies.