Substance Abuse Counseling Burnout?

Question

I've heard that the substance abuse counseling field has a very high burnout rate. I read in an article that 50% of these counselors burn out in two years and choose another field that is not so emotionally taxing.

To the SA counselors out there, can you give me examples of why this career has such a high burnout rate? Thanks very much.

Answer 1

It has such a high degree of burnout because the majority of substance abusers relapse and go back to either drugs or alcohol. Which makes the counsellors feel that they are not accomplishing anything.

Answer 2

Steve is absolutely right, I am a peer mentor at a treatment facility, and a recovering alcoholic. There's no grantee's in the substance abuse....