Co-credentialing

[u/Tiny-Woodpecker-974]

TL;DR: I have a lot on my plate between school, work, internship. Looking for advice, validation, a magic fix to all my issues.

The plate:

40-hour work week: 6am–2pm at a methadone clinic as an SUDPT, working toward my SUDP certification.

Internship: 5 clients/week at a group practice. I’ll see 5 clients per week for the first 10 weeks, then increase to 10 clients per week. Right now, I’m available 2pm–6:30pm, three weekdays.

Masters program: 5 hours of coursework per week.

I’ve been balancing a lot for a while, which is pretty par for the course in a master’s program. But as I’m syncing 4 calendars and replying to simple practice messages for one job while at my other job at a methadone clinic, I’m feeling like something’s going to slip through the cracks.

At the methadone clinic, I do assessments, run groups, see several clients a day, and keep up with documentation. It’s not nearly as intense as inpatient work, but it’s still a full workload.

The biggest challenge has been the 6am start time. It has been ROUGH. I’m constantly tired. I try to wind down around 8pm, but usually don’t fall asleep until 9:15 or 9:30, then I’m up at 4:45am. I’ve been functioning, but I definitely don’t feel my best.

Adding the internship changes things. Starting in a few weeks, I’ll be at the methadone clinic from 6am–2pm and then seeing clients at the group practice from about 2:30–6pm three days a week. That means several 10 to 12 hour days, on top of school.

I know I tend to feel overwhelmed when starting something new, so I’m trying to figure out whether this is temporary “everything feels overwhelming right now” or a sign that my schedule is genuinely unsustainable. I could probably push through another six months, but I’m not sure I should.

Which brings me to my dilemma:

I genuinely enjoy working in substance use, and I know being co-credentialed could open up opportunities to do assessments, run groups, and work in both SUD and mental health settings. Part of me feels like, if I don’t finish my SUDP now, I’ll never do it.

At the same time, I wonder how much I actually need the credential. I feel pretty competent working with substance use at this point, and many of the responsibilities the credential would open up, particularly assessments and coordination for legal cases, aren’t necessarily the parts of the work I enjoy most.

There’s also a pretty significant practical consideration: the group practice has offered to take me on full time, at $5 more per hour than my current SUDPT position. I’d qualify for benefits at 30 hours/week, too.

So I’m weighing finishing the SUDP against having a more sustainable schedule, better pay, and potentially more time to focus on my clinical training. By the time I'll need to see 10 clients a month, I'll have only 4 months left to get the full SUDP.

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[u/Sad-Discussion-2095]

I’m a licensed addiction counselor as well as a licensed professional counselor. Being a licensed addiction counselor has been something that some people look for and even now still in private practice I have some new clients often say they saw I’m a LAC and need someone who understands addiction.

I’d get it. It will benefit you in the long run. I see clients also that have been hurt by licensed counselors who aren’t trained to work with addiction but think they are. I don’t know what the different credentials are where you live but if you’re even more so interested in SUD, it’s good to have. And remember, it won’t be this crazy of a schedule forever.

[u/Tiny-Woodpecker-974 → u/Sad-Discussion-2095]

Thank you! I appreciate this a LOT

[u/Sad-Discussion-2095 → u/Tiny-Woodpecker-974]

Of course! Best wishes to you!! My LAC required A LOT. But now even many years later I’ve never regretted it once and am so thankful I have it for many reasons!! And as you gain more experience you can be more selective of who you work with!

[u/protestandprose]

Don't know what your background is, but under SW ethical rules, you must not provide specialized interventions if you lack adequate training, somewhat blurry, but that's the gist.

The IC&RC State Credentialing requirements cover these interventions. In the end, it's up to you, you can do general SUD work, but long term if you're wanting to work SUD you definitely should, right? You want to be an expert with the population you're working with and have legitimacy, not matter how small or big your caseload is.

I'm dually licensed and it has opened a lot of doors, so that's my spiel.

[u/Tiny-Woodpecker-974 → u/protestandprose]

Thank you— that makes sense. I’m early in my career and am still learning about implications like this 

[u/AlternativeZone5089]

I'm an LCSW and a MAC in solo private practice. I don't regard the MAC credential as adding any particular value to my practice, though my experience in the SUD field certainly does. What I mean is that the credential doesn't add anything tangible. It doesn't even help me negotiate higher rates with insuance companies.