A Phenomenological Study of Stress and Burnout Experienced by Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors

As a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC), I have a growing concern about stress in the field of addiction counseling. Stress not only affects clients, as my personal experience suggests, but also organizations. This qualitative study examined the causes and coping strategies associated with personal and occupational stress experienced by fifteen LADCs in a Midwestern State. The study specifically addresses the factors creating stress, beyond the generalized concept of “stress management,”…