LongIslandYid

I’m an aspirational kind of guy. From touring metal vocalist to aspiring clinical psychologist, I’ve always set the bar kind of high (relative to where I was in life at the time, of course). I saw a PhD in clinical psychology as the pinnacle of success. Though this is still a path I may pursue in the future, I wanted to go for something that would get me in the field doing what I wanted to do sooner. So, I looked into becoming a clinical mental health counselor, and then my recent and longest-standing vision was to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I figured that the universality of the LCSW would allow me to specialize in areas like trauma therapy and marriage counseling, areas that I am particularly interested in. However, in the midst of deep meditation and contemplation, I had a realization: it’s not about the title. What a relief. That is why I am proud to announce that I am going to pursue a career in addiction counseling instead of social work, with a vision to write, speak, and possibly launch a program that teaches people—especially those in recovery—the manual labor trades as a means of redirecting their focus from destructive tendencies to life-changing skills. This is my story, and I hope it inspires you to embrace your own evolving path.

For at least a year now, the LCSW route was my clear path toward helping people, with a doctorate as the long-term goal. My vision was to get a day job working as a school social worker and then build a private practice on the side. While addiction counseling may not be applicable in an academic setting, and a private practice doesn’t necessarily specialize in marriage counseling or trauma therapy, there is much overlap in all of these areas. In addition, it’s a quicker path to licensure (allowing me to open a private practice sooner), and the industry is growing exponentially. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 19% job growth for substance abuse counselors from 2023 to 2033, compared to 4% for jobs overall, approximately 77,500 new jobs annually through 2033 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). This doesn’t come without a cost, of course: one can only surmise that this job growth is fueled by the ever-present drug epidemic taking place in the United States, sad to say. This career path might not have been what I had in mind exactly; however, it’s a consistent, meaningful career that I believe will allow me to help people navigate the treacherous waters of life, adding new meaning to their existence, while simultaneously pursuing my longer-term goals of writing and public speaking.

Suffice it to say, the subject of addiction is certainly a heavy one. I have witnessed firsthand the destructive powers of addiction to substances like heroin and opiates. While working at a restaurant, I became friendly with a few people that, in common language, can only be described as “junkies.” I didn’t see them as just junkies. I saw them as friends that I would go out on a limb for. As we all moved on, I remember periodically checking in and seeing how one guy that I was particularly friendly with was doing. I remember hearing that he was doing really well in a facility in North Carolina. I wouldn’t hear about him again until a few months later, when somebody who worked with us at the restaurant informed me of his passing. It was a predictable outcome. “The best predictor of future behavior is relevant past behavior,” claims Dr. Phil McGraw in his book We’ve Got Issues (McGraw, 2024). My mother’s ex-husband was heavily addicted to opiates, and later heroin, or anything to kill the pain. This cut a hole in our family almost to the point of irreparable damage. These losses drive my mission to help people overcome not just addiction, but the psychological toll it brings to recovering addicts and their loved ones as well.

Viktor Frankl of blessed memory wrote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves” (Frankl, 2014/1946). Though I am still only in my bachelor’s program, I believe that my interest in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and logotherapy will greatly complement the knowledge and skills I will pick up about addiction counseling during the graduate program. For example, CBT can be used to help shift negative thought patterns and behaviors (Haidt & Lukianoff, 2018). Logotherapy can help clients draw meaning and inspiration to make whatever adjustments are needed to overcome their struggles (Frankl, 2014/1946). Helping couples who have been damaged by substance abuse or helping people who might have gotten in with the wrong crowd after a traumatic experience—this career path overlaps with all of my areas of interest.

I opened this piece by writing that I’m an aspirational guy. While being an addiction counselor is something that I very much intend to do for the long haul, I have more plans for both the short term and the long term. For the shorter term, I imagine organizing a community space, open to anyone struggling—not restricted to addicts. No judgment, just people seeking purpose. We’d host weekly or monthly workshops where trade professionals—HVAC techs, electricians, carpenters, stonemasons—share their craft in 20- to 60-minute presentations, going over key information about their trade. Then, participants get hands-on, working at tables on woodworking, metalwork, or any other projects brought in by mentors. I have been inspired by Mike Rowe, a public figure I’m a huge fan of, from his show People You Should Know on YouTube. One episode in particular featured a beautiful organization known as Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT), which does exactly what the title infers, and more (Rowe, 2025). Upon having this shift in career trajectory, I wondered how I could use my resources to benefit the blue-collar fields, and what better way to get people’s minds off their addictions than to create new, healthy, therapeutic outlets like manipulating metal and fixing hot rods?

Choosing addiction counseling and dreaming up this program feels like I have found a missing part of my identity. It’s not the path I planned, fixated on marriage or trauma counseling, but it’s the one that fits. The booming job market is a bonus, offering stability as I grow my practice and vision. Maybe I’ll chase that PhD one day, when the time feels right, to deepen my impact. For now, I’m building a foundation—through credentials, skills, and passion—that lasts. My vision for trades in recovery adds hope, connecting people to skills that build futures.

Our goals evolve, and that’s okay as long as they are going in the right direction.

Frankl, V. E. (2014). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

Lukianoff, G., & Haidt, J. (2018). The coddling of the American mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting up a generation for failure. Penguin.

McGraw, P. C. (2024). We’ve got issues: How you can stand strong for America’s soul and sanity. Simon & Schuster.

Rowe, M. [mikerowe]. (2025, May 16). Teaching The Autism Community Trades: Danny Combs / Episode 2 / People You Should Know [Video]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccRG6Mzjowk