Different Titles and What They Mean
If most addiction professionals offer patients the same kind of services, why are there so many titles? While all who possess and maintain their credentials can usually conduct patient assessments, diagnosis, evaluations, and treatments, as well as provide individual and group counseling sessions, certification type matters. A professional’s title helps distinguish the kind of care he or she offers.
Common terms you should be familiar with include:
Counselor
Counselor is often used as an umbrella term for substance abuse and addiction professionals. Those with this designation are not always required to possess advanced degrees and can work in a variety of settings. They may be social workers, medical professionals, or religious leaders with some knowledge of substance abuse and an understanding of how to provide support to patients struggling with addiction. Treatment plans often focus on attaining and maintaining sobriety, as well as identifying and avoiding potential relapse triggers. Common working environments include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and support groups.
Therapist
While sometimes interchangeable with counselor, therapist is a more frequently regulated and protected term. Those with this designation are often required to have a master’s degree or PhD in psychology, psychiatry, or a related field. They usually have specific training in techniques intended to address not only substance abuse and addiction, but the overall mental and emotional health of their patients. Treatment plans frequently focus on the root of a person’s addiction and/or co-occurring issues, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Common working environments include private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and mental health charities.
Other common terms seen in the field include specialist and master. These often denote specialized addiction treatment skills gained through more targeted education and work experience.
It’s important to realize that the meanings of these terms may differ slightly from state to state or even be used interchangeably within the profession. Some professionals with the designation of counselor do, in fact, have a master’s or doctoral degree and have completed training that qualifies them to perform more in-depth patient treatment and clinical research. Likewise, some states do not regulate the designation of therapist. In these cases, the term may be used to refer to individuals who lack higher-level certification and/or have little formal education in the field. You will need to research these terms in relation to your specific state to gain a better understanding of the credentialing opportunities available to you.
Professional titles that require special credentialing are, however, legally regulated by each state’s practice laws. Individuals who practice without official certification or provide substance abuse and addiction treatment services under a false title without board approval will be held responsible in the court of law.
The Movement Toward Inclusivity
While titles still maintain significance, the substance abuse and addiction field as a whole has made moves toward inclusivity over the years. NAADAC, for example, was originally founded as the National Association of Alcoholism Counselors and Trainers (NAACT) in 1972. The organization changed its name in 1982 to the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) to unite professionals working to assist addiction patients. The name changed even more in 2001, when the NAADAC became the Association for Addiction Professionals. These alterations were made specifically to reflect the increasingly varied titles and positions held by substance abuse service professionals, including counselors, administrators, social workers, specialists, masters, and therapists.