Author: Contributor

Many people struggle with mental health problems which they are not aware of. These mental health problems affects different aspects of their lives and it gets worse especially when they don’t seek help.

The aspect of mental health treatment where the patient gets to discuss with the health professional is called psychotherapy. And often, the counselor is usually the one who oversees such discussions where the client relays their condition and problems, and the former provides a solution.

Below are some of the benefits that come with counseling in mental health treatment.

Support and validation

One of the primary roles of a counselor is to provide their client with support by being caring, non-judgmental and professional when discussing their matters.

Therefore, when you are discussing with a counselor about your mental health problems, you don’t have to bother about being ridiculed because all they want to do is support you.

Help in defeating some problematic habits

It might be that one of the reasons why some mental health problems persists is because you engage in some habits that still keeps them in place. With counseling, you can learn how to stop these problematic habits and take control of your life.

Improves self-esteem and confidence level

If you are struggling with a low self-esteem and confidence level because of your mental health problems, the counselor can help you get over them. After going through various counseling sessions, you will learn how to accept your imperfections and weaknesses.

Helps you find purpose

One of the questions that people ask themselves is “how can I find purpose?” The counselor will help you understand that the answer to this question is peculiar as it depends on each individual.

As you explore beliefs, values, and interests, counseling will help you find purpose and meaning as you navigate life.

Better management and expression of emotions

Sometimes, it might be hard for some people to express and manage their emotions. With counseling, you will learn how to understand your trigger and know how to react when faced with different situations.

When drug addicts recover and leave rehab, the sobriety journey doesn’t end there. They still need to undergo some treatment and therapy sessions to ensure that they don’t relapse.

The counselor who played an active role during the drug addiction treatment will still be present to ensure that the recovering individual does not relapse.

Here are some of the responsibilities of the counselor during aftercare treatment

Identify and cope with triggers

Not everyone who has recovered from drug addiction knows how to recognize and manage triggers. This is why when they are exposed to some factors, it triggers them to relapse.

The counselor is well aware of this possibility and this is why they help recovering individuals to learn how to identify triggers.

For instance, spotting these triggers could involve not being around people who take drugs. It might also involve avoiding stressful situations that would not trigger your addiction.

 

Continued motivation

The counselor also helps people who have recovered from drug addiction to keep applying measures that will sustain their sobriety.

Some people are likely to give up at some point especially when they begin to miss their old way of life. With the help of the counselor, they will be able to forge through life as a sober person.

Diagnosing other disorders

Some people who recover from addiction might be dealing with other disorders that they are not aware of. For instance, the individual might have recovered fully from drug addiction but they may still be experiencing mental health problems like anxiety or depression.

These mental health problems might also trigger a relapse if left unchecked. The counselor helps to recognize these problems, so that a solution can be provided.

Involve your family and friends

The counselor also helps to get your family and friends involved in your journey to sobriety. They ensure that your loved ones participate in some of your counseling sessions because it comes with a profound effect on your recovery.

The effect of drug addiction is beyond physical; there is a high chance of a psychological and emotional effect. It is why drug rehab therapy goes beyond detoxification; counselors are also involved in the process.

During the recovery process, the counselor has the responsibility of providing psychological help to the patient. In this article, we will talk about some of the roles of a counselor in drug rehab therapy.

• Listening: Recovering addicts are people going through a lot. They are under pressure to not relapse while feeling the need to use. Counselors need to serve as great listeners to recovering addicts.

The patients have a flurry of emotion during treatment; they need to express how they feel to someone. The role of listening is a critical responsibility of the counselor during drug therapy.

• Encouragement: It is the responsibility of the counselor to encourage the recovering addict to aid complete recovery. Patients may not have the mental stamina to carry through with the recovery process. An effective counselor should serve as a cheerleader for their patients to help them cross the finish line.

• Crafting a Recovery Plan: The counselor should try to craft out a workable plan for the patient to recover fully. For a successful recovery phase, there needs to be a comprehensive plan that dictates every line of action.
• Linking Patients with Support Groups: The business a counselor has with their patient will not last forever; it will always end. However, the counselor has the responsibility of helping the patient by linking them up with support groups. These groups will provide support to ensure total recovery during drug rehab.

Some other roles the counselor plays during drug rehab include;

• Guiding the friends and family of the patients on how to help them navigate the recovery phase.
• Developing a rapport with their patients.
• Gaining the trust of their patients.

 

I have heard people say that aftercare treatment is not necessary. You can just go straight from rehab to the real world and start fresh. However, what about all of those feelings and memories?

There are so many things that you need help with after addiction, but a lot of them do not come up right away. That is why it is important to get counseling for yourself and your family as soon as possible in the recovery process!

Counseling is a vital part of ongoing recovery. Most alcohol and drug abuse counseling bodies will recommend that all addicts should attend counseling as part of their aftercare treatment program. It can be for groups or one-on-one sessions with a counselor to help you learn how to deal with triggers and other aspects of addiction.

The purpose of aftercare treatment is to provide the addict with a continued follow-up program to maintain sobriety and avoid relapse. Aftercare typically begins as soon as the initial treatment period has ended. There are many ways that addicts can find help during this time, including 12 step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

The most important thing for an addict who wants to stay sober is for them not to be alone. They need people around them who will support their recovery efforts and keep them on track when things get tough. Counselors serve as companions for addicts after and gift partners for people recovering from their addiction.

Most aftercare treatments include counseling sessions with therapists and doctors from addiction medicine specialists, family therapy sessions where addicts learn how to deal with problems that come up in everyday life without resorting to relapse.

The highlight of why counseling is essential for aftercare

• Companionship
• To avoid addiction relapse
• Learning positive habits
• Build self-esteem
• Gain freedom from negative thoughts
• Identify mental issues and illnesses
• Learn how to deal with peer pressure
• Learn important life skills and social interaction
• Imbibe confidence and positive self-image
• Understand causes and root of addiction

 

In the process of treating drug addiction, therapists apply various methods. They include detoxification, use of medication, rehabilitation programs, and counseling therapy. While detoxification can help flush out the toxic substances out of the body system, it does not deal with the foundation of the problem.

Medications can help the individual avoid a relapse. However, it may only be a replacement for the abused substances if the individual is overly dependent on them.

Counseling is probably the most effective tool in handling drug addiction. Addiction is a behavioral problem; it stems from the habitual use of a substance. Whether individual or group counseling, there are benefits of counseling

In this article, we will discuss some of the benefits of counseling in drug rehab. They include;

1. Provision of Support and Motivation

One of the challenges addicts face in their journey to recovery is the lack of motivation. Some addicts deny the reality of their situation hence cannot receive the drive to heal from the addiction. Counseling provides a platform where you can receive motivation and support to recover fast.

Whether in individual or group counseling sessions, there are people around you who relate to your situation.

2. Teaches you How to Cope

There are trigger factors for people who suffer from drug addiction. During counseling, individuals learn how to cope with these factors. These trigger factors differ from person to person. However, during counseling, the therapist can proffer a coping strategy to each person.

3. Building Stronger Relationships

When people suffer drug addiction, it causes them to have marred relationships. Counseling helps people build lost relationships back. The therapist offers counsel on how to build new relationships and fix broken ones. It is because relationships are essential to recovery.

4. Preventing Relapse

Using medication to prevent recurrence into abusing drugs is a short-term solution. Prolonged reliance on the drug may lead to a new wave of drug addiction. The better alternative is to check up with your counselor when you feel the urge to use again.

 

There are different treatment methods for drug addiction. These include individual therapy, group counseling, family therapy, and medications. The most common form of treatment is individual therapy.

The focus of this article is group counseling. Group counseling is a form of therapy in which the group members do not have a pre-existing relationship outside the counseling sessions. Some of the features of group counseling include;

– There will be a trained group leader.

– Members may range from two to ten.

– Members cut across all age grades.

Levels of Group Counseling

Group counseling occurs in three levels, they are:

1. Outpatient Treatment Programs: The outpatient treatment centers don’t offer intensive addiction treatment. They offer assistance to working-class individuals who need therapy for drug addiction. One of the methods they adopt is group counseling.
2. Residential Treatment Centres: These centers are given a residential and a non-hospital setting to help the addict acclimatize faster. One of the methods of treatment in the residential treatment center is group counseling.

III. Hospital-Based Inpatient Program: At the core of most rehab-based treatments is behavioral therapy. Individual and group counseling sessions are utilized in treatments.

 

Advantages of Group Counseling in Drug Rehab

1. Members receive support and motivation from each other to recover.
2. Members are taught how to cope with stress without relapsing into drug abuse.
3. People build relationships that are beyond the scope of therapy.
4. One therapist can treat many individuals simultaneously.
5. Group members can give feedback to and assist themselves get better.

Disadvantages of Group Counseling in Drug Rehab

1. People sometimes have peculiar needs that are not met in group therapy sessions.
2. The recovery rate of people differ. Some individuals may become discouraged if they don’t recover at the same pace as other individuals.
3. Some individuals are shy. They may lack the confidence to open up during sessions.
4. Certain individuals lack the quality of discreteness. They may lack the ability to keep the information confidential.
5. Some people are antisocial and can develop anxiety around new people.

 

Drug rehab centers report high rates of success through individualized counseling services for addiction treatment. This is because trained counselors take time to meet with the individual to ensure that their specific needs are being addressed. The following 6 steps show how the process works:

Step 1: Collecting Information

This happens during the first appointment. A professional counselor meets with the patient and gathers details about their individual situation and behavior based on which treatment recommendation will be generated. Examples of details that will be discussed at this stage could include:

• Patient’s history with the problem
• Length or duration of the substance abuse problem
• How they tried to cope with the issue
• Their motivation for seeking help, their expectations and goals

Step 2: Assessment

During the stage of assessment, the counselor seeks information related to:

1. The nature symptoms and their severity
2. The possible root cause of the symptoms
3. The patient’s readiness for individual counseling
4. The compatibility of the counselor and the participant for productive therapeutic counseling.

Step 3: Feedback

During this step, the patient will receive information from the counselor to help decide together how the individual’s goals can be targeted efficiently.

 

This helps the counselor to identify specific strengths and motivations that will help resolve issues and weaknesses

At this stage, the therapists involved in the treatment will be available to answer any questions creating an open dialogue. They will also make recommendations for any additional treatments. These could be family counseling, anger management, or life skills coaching

 

Step 4: Counselling Agreement

The formal agreement between the counselor and the participant will include:

• Practical issues such as length of sessions, number of sessions, and what will be addressed in sessions
• What the counselor and individual expectations of one another during the counseling process
• Therapy goals that allow for a concrete process rather than a vague idea of “the helping process
• The breaking down of large problems and possible solutions into small pieces so that the client can meet them one step at a time

Step 5: Changing Behaviour

This is the main part of the counseling where the patient and the counselor will work together to address issues and meet the goals agreed in the previous steps. The counselor will continually evaluate the effectiveness of the sessions and make adjustments as needed.

Step 6: Termination or conclusion

Termination is a phase where the counselor prepares the patient towards a discharge and aftercare plan. This is to ensure that even after the intense phase of treatment and individual counseling sessions come to an end, the recovering addict will be able to stay sober and keep working toward their goals on their own.

 

This is also a stage where the entire clinical team will take stock of the progress achieved and the next steps to ensure all the resources are available to the patient even after they are discharged.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely used and recommended as part of addiction treatment. Essentially, CBT helps people recovering from alcohol or drug addiction and mental illness to identify the link between their feelings, thoughts, and actions. This understanding and awareness will pave the way for their recovery.

 

The CBT treatment method builds on the fact that when an individual going through different stages of addicted treatment, they feel and act in a particular way. Once they are able to interpret how those feelings and actions lead to substance use or make them crave the substance they want to get away from — they are better equipped to deal with their addiction and eventually overcome.

 

 

How Does CBT Work?

Trained cognitive-behavioral therapists support the recovering addict to spot their negative thoughts that keep recurring automatically. Essentially, an automatic thought is based on internalized feelings of self-doubt and fear and builds on impulses that often come from misconceptions. Addictions could have roots in these recurring negative thoughts because very often people try to suppress these painful feelings and thoughts by drinking or abusing drugs.

 

When a recovering addict is guided to revisit these painful memories frequently, interestingly the pain caused by them is reduced. They will then learn to substitute them with more positive and uplifting thought patterns rather than resorting to drugs or alcohol.

Studies also show that automatic or recurring negative thoughts also often lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders. In fact, these often co-occur with addiction. In other words, automatic thoughts, if allowed to continue unchecked, can make someone more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol as well.

 

How Does Cognitive Behavior Therapy help patients deal with drug addiction and alcoholism?

The CBT mainly helps patients by:

 

• Providing tools and strategies to improve their moods
• Helping them to eliminate false beliefs and insecurities that might have caused the substance abuse
• Through teaching effective communication skills and positive expressions

What are triggers and how to manage them?

Addiction triggers can lead to relapse. Understanding the common external and emotional substance abuse triggers and how to recognize them is part of CBT.

Triggers are situations that re-ignite the cravings for the drug or alcohol they are trying to avoid. This makes it harder for many addicted people from getting sober. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps them address the triggers.

 

Managing Triggers

There are three ways that recovering addicts learn to control when they encounter the triggers. These are:

Recognize: The first step is to recognize the circumstances that made them resort to excessive drinking or abusing drugs.

Avoid: The next step is to remove themselves from the situation that acts as triggers to the extent possible.

Cope: The final step is the use of cognitive therapy techniques to control the thoughts and emotions that pull them towards substance abuse.

For everyone who is struggling with alcohol addiction, the place of a counselor comes in handy all through the recovery process. Irrespective of how severe your addiction is, having a licensed alcohol counselor comes in handy in aiding your journey to sobriety, and can assist in solving any challenge which you would face all through the process.

Counselors in alcohol addiction recovery comes with support, strategy and solutions which are applicable in reality, and when they are needed the most. However, not all forms of counseling are structured equal. Hence, this is why you need to opt for a professional who is well skilled in mental health, and whose skills is based on your goals and needs.

An alcohol addiction counselor is a healthcare expert who is trained to provide addicts with help to achieve and maintain sobriety. Hence, with regular meetings in place, guidance and advice is offered to clients who are struggling with alcohol addiction.

The appointments which a counselor gives to a client are dependent on the recovery plan of the client which is unique to just the client.

Having a counselor in alcohol addiction recovery ensures that you are accountable. Being accountable is a powerful motivator, and this keeps you in check when in pursuit of your sobriety goals. Seeing a counselor on a regular basis, helps you to control yourself when the cravings become too much.

Being accountable is one of the best ways to remain honest with yourself when the cravings to take alcohol stares you in the face. When you keep in touch with reality on a regular basis, it assists you to take control of your life.

In addition, having an addiction counselor helps you to imbibe coping skills. Your counselor will assist you to employ various tricks which will help you spot the times to pull out when the cravings are in play, and there is a likely time that you would relapse.

If you happen to relapse eventually, you have a counselor who would help you get back on your feet. Relapsing in addiction recovery is not a crime.

As a matter of fact, a good number of people who achieved sobriety have relapsed at some point in their recovery process. What matters is having the right person who will be there for you, and this is what a counselor provides.

Drug addiction is basically a condition whereby an individual has an obsessive and compulsive desire to take drugs, in order to derive pleasure. When an individual is addicted to drugs, it is usually difficult for him or her to break free and hence, there is a need for the person to seek help promptly before the addiction problem gets worse.

Drug addiction counselors are specialists in the treatment and recovery of individuals who are suffering from drug abuse and addiction. You can find drug addiction counselors in places like the Hospital, Educational centers, Mental health facilities, Detox centers, Drug rehabilitation centers, Detention centers and Private practice clinics.

A counselor in drug addiction recovery works closely with the addict in a therapeutic atmosphere. He has one purpose, and it is to aid the patient have a good knowledge of their addiction, and assist them in modifying their beliefs and thoughts so that they can achieve sobriety.

Drug addiction counselors will screen the patient and make a thorough assessment of their condition. From their evaluation and assessment, they will create a personalized treatment plan which will suit only the patient. In addition, they may also make group and family counseling available.

A drug addiction counselor works hard to ensure that the addicted individual recovers and remains sober. This can be achieved when the addiction counselor is patient, compassionate, understanding and sensitive.

Counselors in drug addiction recovery usually invest much time, energy and hope, believing that the patients would recover soon. When they do, it is the joy of the counselor to take credit for a job well done, as drug addiction is a tough battle.

When you are done with the addiction problem, the job of the counselor is not over yet. They also help in putting profound mental health treatment structures in place. They meet up with psychologists and psychiatrists if they feel there is a mental health condition.

Counselors are well-trained professionals who think outside the counseling box, and all decisions they make, are usually in the best interest of the patient.