MEET OUR FACULTY
Bryan Flowers, an adjunct professor in social sciences, is licensed in New York state as a Mental Health Counselor and as a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor.
Professor prepares students for real-world experience
Helping someone recover from addiction requires more than just book learning.
As an adjunct psychology instructor, Bryan Flowers works with students in SUNY Adirondack’s Substance Abuse Services program to think beyond the textbook.
“It helps for people to practice the skills they are learning. They need to learn how to build rapport. My job is to help people turn the information they learn into practice so when someone is sitting in front of them, they will know what to say to open up a conversation,” said Flowers.
Flowers is licensed in New York state as a Mental Health Counselor and as a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor. He also holds certification nationally as a Certified Counselor and as a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor.
“The college’s program is intensive. There’s quite a bit of information that they have to learn,” Flowers said.
Flowers encourages his students to think beyond the addiction.
“Substance abuse isn’t necessarily the core issue. It’s one of the symptoms. We need to become aware of trauma and provide support. People are often self medicating,” he said.
The program prepares students to qualify as a CASAC-T (certified alcohol substance abuse counselor-trainee) and to sit for the CASAC examination offered by the state’s Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Service.
“Students are getting jobs right out of a two-year degree. It’s a good time for the program. There are a lot of opportunities in the area. Graduates will be able to get hired,” Flowers said. “One of the best things about the curriculum is that it sets students up for a nice competitive edge.”
DID YOU KNOW?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for substance abuse counselors is expected to grow 23 percent through the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.
MEET OUR STUDENTS
Lyn Stadler is pursuing a second career through SUNY Adirondack’s Criminal Justice: Substance Abuse Services program.
Student prepares for career helping others
Lyn Stadler wants to provide hope for people suffering with addictions.
“I almost died from my addiction and would not be alive today were it not for the professionals in the field of addiction and recovery,” said Stadler, who lives in Argyle. “The people I encountered during my recovery and completion of an intensive outpatient program were not only educated and professional, many of them were also recovering addicts who had survived their own addictions.”
She already has a bachelor’s degree in recombinant gene technology, but Stadler enrolled in SUNY Adirondack’s Criminal Justice: Substance Abuse Services degree program because she wanted to change careers so she could support others who are struggling to overcome addiction. Her career goal is to work full time as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).
“My experiences at SUNY Adirondack have been incredible. I am amazed on a daily basis by how all-encompassing the program and the services on campus are. The classes are providing knowledge, of course, but the real-life experiences the instructors bring to the classroom are more valuable than any textbook. Knowledge is power, but experience, especially in human services, is far more helpful in terms of being ready to perform in the field,” she said.
Edward Ryan is a Criminal Justice: Substance Abuse major at SUNY Adirondack.
