Substance abuse disorder is an uncontrolled dependency on drugs or alcohol. Drug addiction affects the brain, body, and behaviors. Research shows that over 23 million U.S. adults have suffered problematic drug use at some point in life. With an increase in daily stressors, this number could rise further.
Since every individual is different, there are various drug addiction treatments available. These include, but are not limited to:
- Behavioral counseling
- Medication-assistance
- Follow-up treatment to prevent relapse
- Evaluation and treatment of co-occurring disorders
What is Substance Abuse Counseling?
Substance abuse counseling involves treatment and a support system to allow individuals to break the unhealthy cycle of addiction. Just like detoxification works on healing the body, this form of treatment works on the mind to allow it to adjust to the sudden chemical drop that comes from addiction withdrawal.
Whether you choose substance abuse counseling online or in-person, you should make sure you seek help from a licensed counselor specializing in the specific focus of abuse. When it comes to therapy, you must make sure you tread very carefully, or else it can prove counterproductive.
Here are some of the qualities that you should seek in your substance abuse counselor:
- Compassion
- Patience
- Listening skills
- Effective communication skills
What Does Substance Abuse Counseling Involve?
Substance abuse counseling is an integral part of addiction recovery. It is often relayed to addicts during and after recovery to ensure the mind adapts to withdrawal just as well as the body does. If the mind and body do not work in tandem, the recovery process may not be successful and incur the risk of a relapse.
Substance abuse counseling includes, but is not limited to:
- Diagnosis of the patient’s substance abuse problem
- Identify causes of addiction and make a plan tailored to the patient’s needs
- Establish healthy behaviors and coping mechanisms
- Help clients manage mental and emotional acute and protracted withdrawal symptoms
- Practice skills and activities conducive to the recovery process
- Create and recommend 12-step programs
- Decide aftercare plans
- Provide individual or group therapy
- Meet up with family members to provide substance abuse counseling for families
Substance Abuse Counseling Treatments
Substance abuse counseling centers on communication and a rapport between the patient and the counselor. You can work closely with the counselor to establish the goals you want to achieve over the course of counseling. The counselor will then decide on a realistic timeline to achieve these objectives.
Common psychotherapies in substance abuse counseling include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT establishes a correlation between the addict’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. It helps the patient adopt healthier views as these ultimately impact their actions.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT teaches the addict distress tolerance so that they can adopt better coping mechanisms, which are crucial to overcoming substance use addiction.
Family Therapy
Substance abuse counseling for families helps the addict’s loved ones understand what the patient is going through, enabling them to provide the familial support they need during this challenging time.
Get the Support You Need
The path to recovery isn’t easy; you shouldn’t have to go through it alone. You can opt for substance abuse counseling so you can work with your therapist to establish the goals you want to achieve. Together, you can train your mind to let go of unhealthy coping mechanisms and lead a more positive and drug-free life.
