[acb-hsp] Additional training and opportunities post grad school.

[John Kolwick]

      Hi, ok I will attempt to address a few of your questions.  First in 
regard to the addictions area check www.naadac.org this body is one of the 
professional organizations for addictions professionals.  Each state will 
set criteria for certification or licensure but generally you must meet 
educational requirements, have so much experience in the field, pass a 
written exam and possibly also pass an oral exam.  Some states also have 
different levels of practice based on your level of education and 
experience.
     I would recommend licensure in the social work field because of 
requirements now days especially in the mental health field.  I cannot 
comment on the liability area I am not in private practice and work for a 
state agency.  Again each state will have differening laws.
   I have both a social work and addictions license.  good luck, write if 
you have additional questions.  I should mention I am not really practicing 
in the addictions field so not as current as I should be.


-----Original Message----- 
From: Laura Glowacki
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 2:26 PM
To: Discussion list for ACB human service professionals
Subject: [acb-hsp] Additional training and opportunities post grad school.

Hello list,

I apologize in advance for the myriad of thoughts and questions.  Any
feedback on anything related is much appreciated, either on or offlist.

I'm a recent graduate of Jane Addams with my MSW with a mental health
concentration.  I currently work as a supervisor of volunteers on an
online suicide hotline.  Incidentally, if anyone is interested in
persuing a volunteer opportunity, you can contact me offlist for more
information at IMAlivesupervisor2 at gmail.com or see the faq section on
imalive.org.  The training course is accredited by the board of Licensed
Professional Counselors (my apologies for getting the name wrong if I
have) for CEU's.  It is rather time demanding though, just a warning.  :)

Anyways, this position is, for the time-being, part-time.  Do to recent
events in my own life, seeking additional employment isn't in my best
interest.  I am receiving supervision towards LCSW hours.  I haven't
gotten my LSW yet, but am strongly considering doing that soon.  In
Illinois, it's not required in order to acrue LCSW hours luckily.

However, I'd like to persue additional training or some kind of
internship.  I've been discouraged from the internship idea mostly
because of liability issues, etc.  Anyone have any additional thoughts
on that?

Additionally, I realize that most training for entry-level clinicians
comes from supervision and experience.  I know that there are ways to
get training in specific therapeutic modalities.  Would you recommend
persuing such opportunities?  Why or why not?  What are those
opportunities and how might I go about finding them?  I'm curious as to
whether such training would be useful or advantageous without more
experience?

I'm interested in seeking additional training in substance abuse or
dual-diagnosis; do most people do that through additional schooling?  I
don't know much about the requirements for substance abuse counseling
etc and also realize that this should be part of my own research.

As I hope to be seeking additional employment sometime in the near
future, do any of you have suggestions on finding part-time clinical
work?  I love my job with IMAlive and have been with the project
basically since the beginning.  I know it's not ideal to use two
different part-time jobs for clinical hours, especially since getting
clinical supervision at a part-time job is unusual.

I am frustrated that many of the entry-level positions I come across
require a driver's license and traveling.  This is obviously a
challenge.  I also wouldn't be comfortable making home visits by myself
for safety reasons, even if I was allowed to via public transit.  Being
in Chicago, I have access to a lot more opportunities than I would
otherwise have in that realm, at least.

While I'd prefer to work in mental health, there are medical social work
positions open for which I could apply.  Does anyone who's worked in
such an environment have any tips on dealing with paperwork?  There are
still many things that are not electronic at many places such as
applications for services, and that is one of my main concerns about
applying for such a job.  However, I have only what I saw the other
interns at my MSW placement cope with to go off of.  It was at Cook
County Hospital.  I loved the environment and would take a job there
gladly, but they've only recently switched over to electronic filing
using citrix etc.  Also, my current clinical supervisor for IMAlive
works there but has been providing supervision for free (bless her
amazing heart) and so could be a conflict of itnerest etc.  Anyways,
sorry for the digression.

Finally, I just want to thank those of you who post articles of interest
and questions to the list.  Though I reply rarely, I feel like I learn
from these exchanges.

Sincerely,
Laura Glowacki


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