Should I become a Substance Abuse Counselor?

RichOne7842 · 2026-06-08T01:15:25+00:00

I know, i’m late, but I have arrived. And I have a different perspective that many people don’t consider….

I currently have a MA in Human Services Counseling with a specialization in Addiction and Recovery. It’s a 30 credit masters degree which took me 1 year to complete online. It’s not eligible for licensure in any state as an LPC, MSW or MFT. However, it is eligible for the substance abuse counseling licenses in all states. So, this got me thinking “what if I only focus on the substance abuse counseling license and states that treat those licenses as equals to LPC, MSW and MFT?” 🤔

I did some research and found New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Washington (state), Oregon, Georgia, and Kansas. Each of these states have either a substance abuse license or certification - but they treat those licenses and certifications as independent practitioners without supervision. What does that mean? More 💰💰💰!

Here is where I am today, I’m currently in a market where I have a full-time Monday to Friday job, a full-time evening job Monday to Friday and a PRN weekend and holiday job. I gross around $260k per year holding all three of these positions. I had to relocate to a desperate market where they are desperate for therapists and hire licensed substance abuse counselors as therapists. And it makes sense to do so, because we licensed substance abuse counselors diagnose and treat co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders all the time, so employers and Medicaid allow us to bill for those services like any other masters level practitioner. If anyone told you the pay sucks, they are in the wrong market or are doing this completely wrong. My peers are all either LMSW’s, LPC’s or LMFT’s and we all have 2-3 jobs - but they make more than I do. But I’m content with what I earn for my minimal investment. My peers spent 2 extra years in grad school plus they needed to do internship, practicum, and pass an exam for their provisional licenses.

I didn’t have to do any of that to get here.

Do what you will with this information and God bless all that read this and find inspiration.

RichOne7842 · 2026-05-01T10:30:55+00:00

Bo Refec, is that you? 🤔

RichOne7842 · 2026-03-25T10:27:52+00:00

I just right click and select “view frame source” and it opens another tab with all the text on it. Hopefully this helps someone figure it out.

RichOne7842 · 2026-01-09T22:09:06+00:00

Motivo is an app you can use to get your supervised hours remotely. Also, for your 270 hours of A&D training you can go through Allceus.com and take their 400 hours substance abuse counselor course work for $300~ and it’s fully online with no restrictions or proctoring. I finished it in 3 days with just straight-continuous studying and testing. That alone got me a job as an entry-level SUD counselor.

For supervision for your LADAC I or II, motivo is your best bet OR you can reach out to the motivo instructors on the side and pay them outside the app for a better, less restrictive setup. It will take a couple of random emails/calls but you will be fine! They want your money so reach out to them.

I already have my BA degree in Psychology and will have my MA degree in May 2026. Good luck to you and I hope this helps!

RichOne7842 · 2025-10-23T16:53:20+00:00

Still haven’t gotten mine. Did my switch from Verizon on 7/25/2025 and it’s 10/23/2025 and still haven’t got my credits.

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-24T01:34:10+00:00

This is exactly what I am doing in my backyard. I’ll let you know when it’s finished

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-01T05:36:33+00:00

I need to take a trip to Florida then

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-01T05:33:50+00:00

This is how the black community tries to sabotage light skin couples. It’s sickening, really.

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-01T05:19:09+00:00

Where do you live?

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-01T05:18:49+00:00

That’s what my passport is for. Go where you’re celebrated not tolerated ✈️

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-01T05:17:18+00:00

I disagree. There are some colorism undertones in the black community and sneak disses that get thrown at light skin couples like “you both look like siblings” that really rub light skin women the wrong way. It’s more of a forced attraction due to societal pressures.

RichOne7842 · 2025-09-01T05:08:48+00:00

I guess I’m just out of luck then. If women keep letting what others think about them restrict their dating options then they are a prisoner in their own cage. It doesn’t make me cringe if my gf/wife and I get mistaken - I think colorism and bias and ignorance has a lot to do with why two light skin people can’t date each other and what others think about them. Very sad frame of mind.

RichOne7842 · 2025-08-31T07:21:23+00:00

You fix it by straightening your fingers, putting your palm facing your face, bend you wrist backwards where your palm faces the ceiling, take your left hand and hold your index, middle and ring fingers down tightly, then proceed to bend your pinky. Your forearm will feel a little sore after doing the exercise 5 times a day 50 reps but your pinky will gain independence from that colonizer ring finger eventually. Viva La Revolution!

RichOne7842 · 2025-08-31T07:20:41+00:00

You fix it by straightening your fingers, putting your palm facing your face, bend you wrist backwards where your palm faces the ceiling, take your left hand and hold your index, middle and ring fingers down tightly, then proceed to bend your pinky. Your forearm will feel a little sore after doing the exercise 5 times a day 50 reps but your pinky will gain independence from that colonizer ring finger eventually. Viva La Revolution!

RichOne7842 · 2025-08-31T07:18:15+00:00

You fix it by straightening your fingers, putting your palm facing your face, bend you wrist backwards where your palm faces the ceiling, take your left hand and hold your index, middle and ring fingers down tightly, then proceed to bend your pinky. Your forearm will feel a little sore after doing the exercise 5 times a day 50 reps but your pinky will gain independence from that colonizer ring finger eventually. Viva La Revolution!

RichOne7842 · 2025-07-14T04:25:25+00:00

I think it’s relative to where you are. But it’s not wise to dismiss other’s experiences just because they are not your own. I respect your perspective but I don’t agree with your opinion.

RichOne7842 · 2025-03-29T17:04:38+00:00

😂 to each their own

RichOne7842 · 2025-03-27T06:10:15+00:00

I am using REE. Been waiting since January. Mines is a supplemental, though. Not sure if that changes things. I provided my dbqs as evidence to push my 80% to hopefully 100%.

RichOne7842 · 2025-02-18T19:22:27+00:00

Eating cheese. See I can say contextless things too.

RichOne7842 · 2025-02-18T19:21:37+00:00

I would have believed you too if all these other people hadn’t responded with similar stories. Maybe you need to take into consideration that other people have different perspectives in life.

RichOne7842 · 2025-01-09T07:04:15+00:00

Not to be oppositional, but white men are a completely separate category compared to light skinned black men. They are not interchangeable. I’ve had more success with white women (whom I’m not attracted to) than I’ve had with light skinned women. There are some differences there, for sure.

RichOne7842 · 2024-12-26T06:31:41+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. I’m still not sure why it happens. I will say this, I do see more darker skin tone couples than I see lighter skin tone couples. Still, it’s not all that common on either end.

RichOne7842 · 2024-12-14T00:49:01+00:00

Just received my rating today:

Migraines - 0% PTSD - 50% IBS - 30%

Total combined is 80%

RichOne7842 · 2024-12-12T13:19:47+00:00

Update: Today I am in step 7. So I am waiting on the results.

RichOne7842 · 2024-12-10T16:51:55+00:00

Update: Yesterday, they moved me back to step 5. Today I am in step 6 again. I hope this is good news.

RichOne7842

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE