Someone advice please?

[Anonymous]

So I moved after I graduated to come be an addictions counselor. I have to work with groups. Problem is I have never done this before. I came straight out of college no internship no nothing. I’m fresh. I’m scared they’re gonna give up on me. I know I can do it but I have to do it in a fashionable time. I’m scared they don’t believe in me. I think I can do it if I try but I m awkward and socially anxious. I’ve improved a lot. And I can talk to people I just feel in this form of my job I need to feel like no doubt go do it. That’s stupid I know but I don’t wanna give up. How was it for everyone else after grad,

[RoseySarah]

My tossed into the fire was so bad!

Yours is okay cause it is just talking they expected me to know everything after they used a completely different charting system

Nurses eat our own young sometimes!

I was charge nurse out in charge of a hospital floor! A group therapy is easy course your worried!

But also with addictions... yes they pretty much will all relapse a few times nothing you can do it is an addition!

You can only care for them and let them rant about their story.

Nothing you do or say will make them stop when their addiction grabs them by the neck and pulls them back in!

We get a lot of addicts! With your job it feels like failing when they go back but just know all you can do is try...

Their addiction is all up to them!

[Asker]

Thank you it’s scary to be working on a career. I always wonder if I may have chosen the wrong path or something it’s so much. I really appreciated your words it’s very encouraging

[RoseySarah]

Your welcome and please follow me so I can see how this goes for you! Your going to be amazing!
They are so lucky to get you!

Just don't let them burn you out! Take health breaks and vacations!

[Asker]

Of course! I’m hoping to obtain my doctorate one day and become a criminal psychology but I’m still working on ground level stuff so we’ll see how it goes

[RoseySarah]

After a first few it will go so well for you!

[caring__1]

I've never heard of a legitimate graduate program that didn't require some sort of internship. Not only that, most locations require a counselor to be licensed, and the license requires an internship and the passing of tests (to show you understand the basics along with law and ethics). Let your employer know your educational background and training. If you need more training, let your employer know you want to get more training and ask how they can help you with this. Never lie to them. Don't claim you're qualified in anything you aren't qualified to do. Stay within your scope of practice, or you're increasing your chances of being held legally liable for any negative results.

I'm not saying you won't acquire more knowledge through your employment experiences than you learned in college, but it's important to at least start out with a basic foundation.

[Asker]

I didn’t have to lie. That was my undergrad degree haven’t done graduate yet. And I’m not officially a counselor yet I’m an adc in process so I still have to take the test after three years under a clinical supervisor. I get to lead group sessions and everything like a sort of residency. All my supervisors are licensed

[caring__1]

They don't expect you to be qualified to do anything on your own, so feel free to ask them any questions you might have. Your bachelor's degree merely qualifies you to enter a grad program. I'm surprised they are letting you lead a group rather than just observe a group. You generally need to be in a grad program before doing an internship, and none of your hours acquired before entering grad school will count toward your license.

Regulations are different in different areas, but here are our regulations:
Trainees can only begin counting hours of experience if the student has completed a minimum of 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in a qualifying graduate degree program, and is enrolled in a practicum course. A Trainee is permitted to earn a maximum of 1,300 hours of experience overall prior to the degree being awarded.