Answer — You Can Because Your Story Matters and Has Value!
Yes, you can absolutely become a substance use counselor if you are in recovery yourself. Many treatment providers in California, including Tarzana Treatment Centers College (TTCC), recognize the unique value of lived experience in the healing process.
Your past does not disqualify you—it empowers you. In fact, it may be your greatest strength. TTCC embraces a peer-driven model that turns your recovery journey into a professional path to help others.
Why Lived Experience Is a Strength, Not a Setback
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Peers provide non-clinical, strength-based support based on shared experience.”
When you share your recovery story with patients, you offer more than support—you offer hope. You prove that change is possible. Peer-driven counseling builds trust that cannot be taught in textbooks.
How to Become a Certified SUD Counselor in California
To become a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselor in California, you must meet specific requirements. Here are the steps:
- Register as a counselor-in-training with a state-recognized certifying body.
- Complete a certified educational program, such as the one offered by TTCC.
- Complete practicum hours under the supervision of a licensed or certified counselor.
- Pass the California certification exam after completing all coursework and requirements.
TTCC offers a California-approved CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) curriculum designed for individuals in recovery who are ready to lead. Moreover, our hybrid program is tailored to your needs.
Thus, you can complete the work on a timeline that makes sense for you and your family. To get started, apply now at TTCC. Please take the next step.
Why People in Recovery Make Exceptional Counselors
When patients see someone who has faced addiction—and overcome it—they feel seen. They open up. They trust. You become living proof that recovery is possible.
Benefits of Counselors in Recovery:
- Build rapid client rapport
- Offer relatable advice grounded in real life
- Promote authenticity and understanding
- Strengthen peer-based recovery outcomes
Many organizations, including Tarzana Treatment Centers, actively seek to hire professionals in recovery. Your journey is not a red flag—it is a beacon of healing.
Action Steps to Begin Your Healthcare Career
If you are ready to make your recovery part of your purpose, start here:
- First, most programs recommend at least one to two years of sobriety.
- Second, contact TTCC. Our admissions team will guide you step-by-step.
- Third, enroll in the CADC program. Gain the education and clinical skills needed.
- Fourth, register with a certifying body. You will become a counselor-in-training.
- Fifth, complete your practicum. Work under experienced supervision.
Representing Recovery in the Healthcare Workforce
Representation matters. When patients meet someone who has walked a similar path, healing begins faster. You reflect their potential.
TTC College is proud to train students who have turned their recovery into a mission. Our graduates are living proof that the past does not define the future. Instead, it informs it.
Your Past Can Light the Way for Others and Save Lives.
You have survived something powerful. Now, you can use that strength to lead others toward hope. Becoming a counselor in recovery is not only possible—it is needed.
Let your journey inspire others. Let TTCC help you get there.
Author’s Note: This article was reviewed by Certified Addiction Counselors and TTCC faculty to ensure clinical and educational accuracy.