Friday, December 27, 2013

What Does A Substance Abuse Counselor Do

By Harriett Crosby


Dealing with substance abuse is never easy. This feat requires steadfast determination, genuine desire and professional help. Counseling is an essential part to any program that helps individuals who have become dependent to controlled drugs, alcohol and the likes. A substance abuse counselor Pasadena is vital to the success of such programs. More than understanding the client's needs, there are several other considerations that the professional must take into account.

Depending on the substance and the individuals involved, the detoxification process may not be enough. Physical dependence is only one aspect to consider. Although detoxification removes the substances from a person's body, the patient may still have high risks of relapse. Emotional, psychological or social factors are too powerful stimuli that may cause the patients to regress. The patient may still need counseling.

The counselors serve as guide in this grueling process. They make sure that the client keeps on moving forward without looking back. To this end, the professional extends help beyond merely addressing the issue of substance abuse. They also provide counseling in other aspects, such as the family, profession or marriage. Each aspect of life is interconnected to the others, so it must be dealt with holistically.

The counselors also try to understand why a person resorted to substance abuse. Only by understanding the reason would they be able to formulate the most effective program that could persuade the patient never to go back. Sometimes, the counselor also helps in straightening out broken relationships, dealing with traumatic experiences in the past or fixing an old issue.

The sessions also provide ongoing support to the patient as he goes along this long journey. Other than the family members and friends, it is best to have a professional who completely understands everything the patient has to go through. Leaving the patient helpless may cause frustration and breakdown. Premature help may be interpreted as rude intrusion, too.

Ultimately, the professionals help the patient recover. Aside from developing a program to convince one to quit, the counselors also educate their clients. They help one understand why he should quite addiction and never go back. They introduce coping mechanisms, communication skills, relapse prevention, problem-solving skills and stress management.

They work with the family members, too. Keeping a healthy relationship among family members can reinforce the program's efficiency. The process gets much easier when the patient realizes that he is not alone. Unfortunately, some family members may be unwilling or merely unaware. The counselor can be a big help in this case.

The counselors also have valuable connection to other professionals whose expertise are indispensable. Having been working in this field, they are pretty much familiar with available community resources that are helpful to their clients. This includes medical and psychiatric care, financial assistance, housing assistance, child care and vocational training to name a few.

The role of substance abuse counselor Pasadena is undeniably vital for the success of the program. As such, the state understandably maintains high-standards in providing accreditation. This field is streamlined throughout the country. Stringent procedures are in place in assessing the aspirants. Only qualified individuals are given appropriate recognitions.




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