The advent of alcoholism counseling as a new profession has led to increased enrollment in and upgrading of alcoholism counselor training. This article discusses the counselors' emotional and ideological problems and their relationship to training. Factors which predispose and precipitate stress are examined including: personal recovery from alcoholism, treatment ideology, professionalism, bureaucratic and social issues, personal and home life, the transition to being a counselor and problems with supervision. Some recommendations are presented which would reduce the occurrence of counselor stress and strengthen alcoholism counselor training.
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