If you are considering working in a rehab center, you could be making the best and most challenging career decision of your life so far. The addiction treatment industry is a sprawling $35 billion a year behemoth, employing tens of thousands of people and cutting across virtually every industry.
Working at a rehab center offers a huge range of opportunities for growth, as well as a level of variety and excitement that is present in few other career paths. However, working in rehab is certainly a unique occupation that comes with its own unique obstacles and challenges. If you want to know how to work at a drug rehab center and what to expect from it, read this essential guide to find out.
-
A Wide Range of Career Paths
If you are wondering what working at a drug and alcohol rehab center is like, there is no one straight answer. A rehab center can consist of hundreds of staff members, all with different levels of qualifications and professional backgrounds. A rehab center will have qualified medical specialists, psychologists, fitness instructors, dieticians, nurses, care assistants, kitchen staff, cleans, security teams, and so much more.
The rehab sector is a growing industry in the US, meaning that the range of career paths offered by rehab centers is only expected to grow further in the years ahead. If any of these common rehab career paths appeal to you, then it is time to begin your job hunt.
-
Many Qualification Pathways
As you might expect from a workplace that consists of so many different types of employees, there is a large number of ways to become qualified for a career in rehabilitation. Of course, the qualifications you need to succeed will depend entirely on the career path you wish to go down. If you want to know how to work at a rehab center, here is a list of some of the most commonly-accepted qualifications for rehab center staff:
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in behavioral psychology
- An accredited nursing degree
- Social worker certifications and degrees
- A certification or degree in human nutrition
- An accredited qualification in addiction treatment
- Previous experience in caregiving, for example in elder care
- A marketing degree and experience
This is just a snapshot of the qualification pathways that could unlock a rewarding career in rehabilitation.
-
A Rehab Center Can Be a Beautiful Place to Work
One of the major advantages of working in a rehab center is that it can be a more beautiful, serene, secure, and enjoyable place to work than many other medical facilities. Rehab centers are designed to be enjoyable, relaxing places where patients feel that they can focus on their recovery.
This is why many rehab facilities tend to resemble five-star resorts or influencer-friendly wellness retreats. To cite just one example, the well-known California Rehab Campus, situated on a gorgeous stretch of the Los Angeles coastline, is a stunning and serene place to both work and receive treatment. If you value a work environment that conducive to wellness, then consider a career in rehab.
-
All Rehab Centers Offer Different Experiences
That being said, it is important to note that your experience working in rehab will differ vastly depending on where you work and what your specialization is. For example, working in a teen rehab center requires working with vulnerable young people and can be incredibly challenging and emotionally taxing.
Working in a public rehab facility aimed at assisting low-income people in their recovery will be a world away from working in a luxury rehab facility that treats the rich and famous. A facility that specializes in treating heroin addicts will be a very different place to work than one that specializes in treating people who are addicted to alcohol, or sex, or prescription drugs.
Addiction takes many forms, which is why treatment must also take many forms. Consider this carefully before choosing where to work.
-
Treating Addiction is Incredibly Rewarding
Working at a rehab center will always be challenging, but it is also one of the most rewarding career paths you can embark upon. Put simply, to successfully treat a person’s addiction is to save their life. You will be able to see in real-time how a person’s recovery transforms them from an addict into a happy and functional member of society.
You will assist people who might seem to at rock-bottom at first, but will eventually become themselves again as they emerge from the grip of addiction. Rehab treatment is a life-saving treatment that likely saves tens of thousands of lives every year. There is nothing more rewarding than that.
-
Treating Patients is Also Immensely Challenging
Of course, it is crucial not to gloss over the immense challenges of working in a rehab facility. You are dealing with vulnerable people who may well be at the lowest mental, emotional, and physical point in their life. In addition, addicts are not themselves. They are prone to behaviors and activities that can place a huge amount of stress and strain on rehab workers. Let’s break down some of the key challenges of rehab work that you should always be aware of before you start your career journey.
Vicarious Trauma
As a rehab worker, you will be working with people who have been through traumatic experiences. They will likely share those experiences with you and it may be a lot for you to process. Vicarious trauma among rehab center staff is a common experience, which is why the staff is also entitled to support and counseling on-site in most facilities.
Hostile Relationships
As mentioned, people suffering from addiction are not quite themselves. Addicts naturally are prone to problematic behavior that staff are exposed to. This could involve manipulation, theft, or gaslighting from patients. This can naturally be very taxing to deal with.
Attachment
As well as hostility, there may be issues with attachment. It is natural to empathize and care for patients, but the relationship is always a strictly professional one. Recovery can be an intense bonding experience, in which inappropriate attachments might form. This must be avoided if you want a successful career in rehab.
Safety
Although it is rare, working in rehab does present several personal safety risks. Addicts can be violent, especially when they are in the early stages of recovery. This is why most rehab centers have robust security systems in place.
Find Your Perfect Career in 2021
Despite the challenges of working in a rehab center, it is an immensely rewarding career for countless people. If you want more insider advice on finding your perfect career in 2021, make sure to consult our expertly-curated Education & Career guides today.
