Counseling and Treatment Information Site

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.

 

A counselor is a worthy, powerful and needed companion which we need in the fight against common mental health issues such as grief, anxiety and depression. When you have someone you can talk with, it goes a long way in ensuring how well you’re a solution to your problem would be reached.

For some people, they feel at home when discussing with family and friends, however, for other people, they would prefer opening up to a professional who is well versed in the act of counseling. Besides, they would not want to open up to a close party, probably for reasons such as stigma and the likes.

Counselors are most likely the only set of people who would see things from your view. Hence, the best way to achieve this, is to let them in. It is advisable for you to open up, and totally express your thoughts and emotions, so that they would find it easy to relate with you. This would prevent you from excessive thinking and burden which comes with life issues.

Eventually, some people realize that the foundation for their anxiety and worry, is not something which should even be given a face in the first place. This is one of the gains of discussing with the counselors, they help you see various issues in their true light, and sequel to having this knowledge, it would leave you wondering if they were worth worrying about.

In addition, the availability of a Lawyer suggests that you are not alone in whatever problem you are encountering. When people face certain problems, they get quickly depressed, and this clouds their sense of judgement. However, with a counselor by your side, there is really no room for depression, as he or she is always there to remind you that, you are not alone.

The counseling platform helps to share the burdens which accompany your emotions. Having someone who listens to you, is a worthy asset which should not be toyed with. They help you shoulder your emotions by being effective in their listening and therapy process.

In addiction recovery, counsellors are an integral support system for people who are recovering from all forms of addiction, disorders and behavioural problems. Counsellors create a relationship with their patients, and this relationship is based on trust. Counsellors basically give the support and resources needed for the patient to get back on his feet.

With a form of guidance which is judgment free, patients would find it helpful on their road to recovery from addiction.

One of the quintessential role of a counsellor is, he creates a beneficial healing relationship with patients. On the side of a patient, the decision to opt for treatment is quite difficult, and it involves much trust between they and the counsellors. Bearing this knowledge in mind, counsellors invest a great deal of care in forming a strong bond with the individuals.

This form of healing relationship is basically the trust and dependence of addicted individuals on their counsellors. At this stage, they open up to the counsellor, and trust him with their feelings; strength and weakness. Such strong relationships help the patient to see their counsellors as trustworthy, and they are assured that they have their best interests at heart.

This kind of trust develops with time, and patients would then feel at ease to discuss openly when sessions are ongoing. They would also feel relieved after each appointment, and there would be a strong urge to return.

Counsellors makes sure that the patients are aware of the fact that, they have interest in their welfare. During sessions too, the counsellors ensure that they lend an effective listening ear during each session. This shows the individual that the counsellor is interested in his or her recovery.

Also, counsellors encourage patient recovery, as they have been trained to motivate the patient never to give up. Motivation gets easier when the counsellor has an effective idea of the entire addiction process of the individual.

Due to the chronic nature of addiction, once recovery is in sight, the counsellor is known to assist the patient in creating a relapse prevention plan, which would ensure that the patient does not go back on his addiction

The availability of a counsellor in the addiction process, can be regarded as one of the vital features which would be beneficial to the addict. In some addiction recovery homes, some health specialists tend to double as a counsellor. Sometimes, the outcome is usually positive, however, there would be times when they would have other engagements.

The term “counsellor” comes with a specific job role, it is usually advisable that, a counsellor does not have a second duty to perform. There is an essential need for the counsellor to focus on his primary assignment, so that progress can be achieved.

Below are five lessons which a counsellor would teach an addict while in recovery

1. You are a worthy recipient of recovery: This is the first lesson which every counsellor would teach an addict. It basically explains that, all addicts are worth the care and effort to help them get back on track.

 

2. You are not dysfunctional: For a good number of addicts who come into rehab, they often feel they have destroyed the normal functioning of their body. Hence, they have lost all hope. Now, a counsellor would be in place to encourage the addict, and explain that there is still hope for them to have their normal lives back.

3. You are not powerless: In the addiction process, most addicts are of the opinion that they have been overpowered, and there is little or nothing which can rescue them. The counsellor helps to correct that notion which the addict has about himself.

 

4. There are many ways to live a healthy life: Counsellors also teach addicts that, there are many ways which can help them come out clean. It does not have to be through dependence on alcohol and drugs, before they can have a healthy lifestyle.

 

5. You are better than your mistakes: A counsellor is often seen as someone who inspires someone to do better. People in recovery usually regret and blame themselves for getting addicted. However, a counsellor would point out reasons to you why you should instead focus on your winnings rather than mistakes.

 

 

When it comes to addiction treatment, it is a task which takes a long time to achieve. When it is achieved, no matter how clean you may become, the possibility of a relapse is very real. Hence, the role of counselling in addiction treatment is very quintessential.

Counselling is a necessary tool which aids you to remain clean, after the physical dependence phase has elapsed. There are a good number pf psychological and social factors, which are known to be major contributing factors to your fight against addiction.

First off, when you need motivation for recovery, having a counselling section might be all just what you need. For someone who is hooked on substance abuse, there might be a reluctance to stop even though you are aware that there are some inherent effects. However, with a counselling section, you will learn the extent of damage which addictive substances does to the body, you will also learn how to quit abusing, and take the necessary positive steps for a better life.

In addition to this, you will also learn the important skills which are needed to quit addiction, and prevent relapse. This comes in handy especially for people who feel that they do not know how to quit. You will understand why the cravings for addictive substances such as alcohol and drugs, are there, and you will learn how to cope with them. Also, you will learn how to cope with situations which can cause relapse.

One interesting aspect of addiction treatment is, people who are very close to you, can be involved in the treatment pattern and schedule. Family and friends who have a good idea on how addiction works, could have a profound effect on your recovery.

Counselling in addiction is really important, and it is a phase which should not be skipped. It helps addicts to build their self-esteem and believe that, they can lead better lives after their treatment has been completed.

They will also learn positive habits which will change their lives, and boost their confidence alongside with their self-image becoming positive.

 

Basically, alcohol counselling is an essential step in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Having a counselor will provide support and guidance all through the journey of an alcohol-free life. Hence, irrespective of the fact that you have struggled with alcohol addiction, or the quantity of drink you have taken, alcohol counselling offers the necessary support and guidance which you will need in order to live a life free from alcohol.

The experience with a counsellor in alcohol addiction treatment, is different for everybody due to the fact that the recovery process varies across each person. Conventionally, you will have a meeting with your counsellor on a regular basis, during the first months wherein you will be recovering.

The meetings might either continue at the same frequency, or reduce, depending on the progress made as an individual. Irrespective of this though, you can decide to arrange a schedule for yourself, with an addiction counsellor, having sessions, that is if you have a very tight personal schedule, which even makes it quite difficult to resist the urge to drink.

An alcohol addiction counsellor will aid you to give necessary information concerning alcoholism, and the necessary features which comes with the recovery process. When it comes to the recovery process, it cannot be done wholly by the individual, the counsellor has a vital role to play, and this is one of them.

In addition to this, the counsellor will provide a structured plan which will be tailored according to your needs and schedule. This implies that, even your personal life will be put into consideration based on the fact that, everything has to be balanced.

Furthermore, triggers which are known to cause you to drink more, will be discovered. Often times, addicts are usually blind to these triggers because of the pleasure which comes with drinking much alcohol. However, having a counsellor by your side, will help you to uncover any underlying problems and triggers which comes with drinking.

Before you opt for an alcohol addiction counsellor, you need to make sure that they have the proper licensing. Also, you need to be sure that they have ample years of experience when it comes to treating Alcohol use disorder.