Hope is sometimes obscured by our immediate problems. The feeling of self-doubt and the uncertainty of what the future holds can often lead us to succumb to the negative emotions
that we have gotten used to. And this is true for people who have gotten used to the feeling of being temporarily high by using.
People sometimes get a glimpse that there is hope outside of their alcohol and substance dependence, but get entangled in the psychological battle regardless. This is one element of counseling we stress – to give patients hope that there is life free from their addiction.
What is counseling?
Counseling is one of the most effective ways of correcting one’s behavior and it facilitates a good rehabilitation for addiction. Often called as “talk therapy” or psychotherapy, it is one of the most important elements in the treatment for substance dependence and a myriad of other psychological disorders. It does more than just provide addicts with strategies on how they can effectively combat their addiction but gives them hope of what life has to offer after their recovery.
Despair is a commonly used word for people with serious substance abuse problems. A good drug and alcohol counselor can help and support you in confronting the complex feelings and symptoms, along with transforming your behavior pattern that may add to your illness.
Counseling is not just talking about your problems but is geared more on looking for solutions to the issues you are facing and other problems that may arise in the future. This helps provide adequate and effective strategies that can help you in times you encounter relapses. It also encourages you to learn new ways of looking at certain situations and learning new skills on how to behave with people and events.
A drug and alcohol counselor can also help you overcome fears and insecurities that may have been contributing to your low self-image and thus, lead you to addiction. Counseling can also help an addict cope with the regular stresses of his life which can often be the cause of his addiction. He is able to make sense of traumatic experiences that often contributes to the problem and may identify triggers that may aggravate the symptoms.
Ultimately counseling helps an alcohol or drug dependent person develop plans that can be used for coping with crises. It also facilitates rehabilitation by ending destructive habits like using drugs, drinking, unhealthy sexual sprees or overspending.
Who facilitates a counseling session?
More commonly, people with psychiatric or psychological background are the ones who provide counseling. But they can also be provided by people with a drug and alcohol counselor certificate such as a social worker, a psychiatric nurse, or a certified counselor.
One important aspect of the counseling session is being able to willingly and honestly talk with the therapist. A good and effective counseling session will be able to set a clear objective and make solid improvements in the addict’s behavior and psychological outlook. Also, the relationship between the counselor and a patient should have a clear sense of cooperation, one being open and honest about his feelings and concerns, and one who willingly listens and gives feedbacks that can be used to shift behavioral patterns.
