All About Addiction Counseling

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All About Addiction Counseling

• Learn the facts you need to know!

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Synopsis

• How Does Addiction Counselling Help an Addict?
• The Role Of The Addiction Counsellor
• The Role of the Addiction Counsellor in Recovery
• Counseling Addiction Breaking the Unhealthy
  Behavior Pattern
• When is the Right Time to Seek Addiction
  Counseling?
• Why Wont People In Dire Need of Addiction
  Counselor Not Get It?
• 5 Different Types of Addiction Counseling
• 5 Truths About Addiction Counseling
• 5SecretsAddiction Counselors Want You to Know
• Smoking Addiction Counselling

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How Does Addiction Counselling Help an Addict?

• People (or the concerned people around them) who
  have realized that they are suffering from an
  addiction problem (should) go for counselling to
  overcome the issue.
• Going to the counselling sessions would give the
  sufferer a clearer perspective on not only the
  cause of the problem but on life and how to deal
  with the problems it brings. Group counselling
  helps the person realize that they arent the
  only ones suffering from the problem but there
  are others too. Also, the support from the peers
  can accelerate the progress of getting well.
• The counsellor will help the patient identify the
  root cause because of which the person resorted
  to drug abuse in the first place. This could be
  childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, the
  dissolving of a long-term relation, job
  termination, etc. They will then help the
  patient set long-term goals which will help them
  rebuild their lives.
• Using cognitive behavioural therapy,
  person-centered therapy, and/or group session
  therapy methods, counsellors are successful at
  getting to the root of the problem. Rehab and
  other inpatient treatments are also available for
  people who are experiencing higher levels of
  difficulty.

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The Role Of The Addiction Counsellor

• The addiction counsellor
• Several times you will see that the addiction
  counsellor is someone who used to be an addict
  themselves. The benefit of this is that the
  client is more successfully able to relate to the
  counsellor. The counsellor will share their
  experience with the client and can actually be a
  role model for them to look up to. The counsellor
  uses methods like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,
  Motivation Interviewing Therapy, Group therapy
  and various other methods to get the sufferer to
  understand the root cause of the issue and to
  also provide them support in their recovery. They
  also help with relapse prevention. The
  counsellors are aware that the patient is surely
  going to relapse during recovery, so in order to
  keep that from happening repeatedly, the
  counsellor will get the recovering addicts to
  realize the potential triggers and teach them how
  to react to them, should they arise.
• Does the counselling work?
• The success of the program depends on two
  factors. First factor is the sufferer themselves
  and their willpower. Even though this word has
  been thrown around so much that it has almost
  lost its genuine meaning, it holds a lot of
  significance. The person recovering from the
  addiction needs to practice extreme
  self-constraint in order to succeed. They will
  have to keep in perspective their entire life
  which is at stake because of their actions. The
  second factor is the program itself. The
  counselling program should be built on evidence
  and accumulated information, for a better chance
  of success.

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The Role of the Addiction Counsellor in Recovery

• Form an Alliance
• The bond between a patient and their counsellor
  is known as the therapeutic alliance. If the
  alliance is a strong one, the patient will be
  more likely to continue down the path to
  recovery. Alliances can be made stronger if the
  counsellor is able to show genuine interest in
  the patients well being. They will be
  strengthened when the patient sees how attentive
  the counsellor is towards them during sessions.
• Encourage the Patient
• Addiction counsellors understand how difficult
  recovering from addiction can be. They also
  realize that many patients might not be convinced
  that counselling could help them. The role they
  play also involved motivating a patient to
  continue treatment.
• Help the Patients Plan for Relapse
• An addiction counsellor will also have planned
  for such situations. They will work with the
  patient to ensure that relapses dont happen.
  Even if they cant prevent it, they will work
  towards bringing the patient back on track once
  it happens.
• Guide the Family Members
• Another important aspect of addiction counselling
  is guiding the friends and family of the patient.
  If they are to recover, the patients are going to
  need all the help they can get. It wont do, if
  the patient is inadvertently exposed to
  temptations through their daily interactions with
  their loved ones.

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Counseling Addiction Breaking the Unhealthy
Behavior Pattern

• Addiction is different from habit because an
  addict is not able to control his impulses due to
  unpleasant circumstances. A habit is the result
  of a persons choice he/she can start or stop
  whenever she wants to and can be successful if
  he/she has the willpower.
• Counseling could help the addict resist urges and
  learn to cope with life stressors without getting
  involved in anything destructive.
• Addiction could also be used synonymously with
  dependency. The addict develops tolerance towards
  the activity or substance and with more
  consumption would require more of the object of
  attachment. The treatment plan should include
  etiology and prognosis of the addiction, risk
  factors that could cause relapse and work on
  productive coping mechanisms. Counselors could
  help by empathizing with addicts, motivate them
  and provide them with the tools to improve their
  quality of life.

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When is the Right Time to Seek Addiction
Counseling?

• You are absent from work a lot
• You feel yourself pulling away from people who
  dont use
• You have noticed signs of increased hostility in
  your behavior
• Your negativity has increased and is becoming
  difficult to handle
• You see symptoms of depression
• Food doesnt interest you anymore
• When someone tries to help you, you take it badly
• You keep denying you have a problem when you
  definitely have one
• Your addiction has ended in your hurting someone
• When you stop using, you feel the withdrawal
  symptoms come on
• You have made bad choices under the influence
• You have harmed yourself while using
• You keep trying to quit but it isnt happening

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Why Wont People In Dire Need of Addiction
Counselor Not Get It?

• When a person with an addiction denies that they
  have a problem, they wont be likely to seek help
  for it. Their addiction might be so deeply rooted
  in them that they are willing to ignore the
  facts.
• It is also difficult for someone to accept they
  need help when there is a fear of losing control.
  Going to counseling might seem like handing the
  reins to someone else. They would much prefer to
  say they have things under control than seek
  help.
• It is a fact that recovery via detoxification
  isnt an easy route. This can make a person with
  an addiction afraid of what they might have to go
  through. Therefore, deterred by fear and
  perceived dangers to themselves, they will put
  off getting help. The withdrawal process can be
  difficult to get through. It is why this is one
  of the reasons that makes them apprehensive about
  getting help. Some will also be worried if they
  would be able to handle a step-by-step program.
• Lastly, the simplest reason is unfortunately also
  a common one. For some people with addiction,
  giving up the high sounds impossible. Since it
  makes them feel so good, they begin to wonder if
  theyd even be able to live without it. The
  addiction might be taking a toll on their
  physical and mental health yet they are unable to
  give it up. Seeking help would of course mean
  that they would have to stop using. Short-sighted
  vision is a certainty when it comes to addiction.

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5 Different Types of Addiction Counseling

• Individual
• This type of counseling will be solely for you.
  You will be the only person besides your
  counselor present there. How many sessions should
  be held in a week will be decided based on your
  needs. The counselor will develop your treatment
  plan during such a session. Your input will be
  valued in the conception of the plan.
• Family
• Whether they are your family members or your
  friends, they can participate in your recovery.
  Most of the times, people will bring their
  spouses, siblings, or parents. There is also an
  option about how the sessions will be conducted.
  If they cant be conducted in person, then they
  can be done online or on the phone.
• Group
• In a group session, a counselor will guide a
  therapeutic group of people with the same kind of
  addiction. At such gatherings, you can expect to
  explore your issues along with the others. The
  counselor will ensure that this happens in a safe
  atmosphere.
• Expressive
• This type of counseling isnt offered everywhere.
  Even though it is done in the form of groups, it
  is more about the people seeking counsel finding
  more about their individual selves. Through music
  and art, they will express themselves and them
  relate their creations to recovery.
• Psycho-educational
• This is another type of group counseling where
  the attendees are taught on different topics. The
  instruction is constructed to be interactive and
  learning progresses through group discussion.

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5 Truths About Addiction Counseling

• Your addiction is the result of an underlying
  issue
• A good addiction counselor understands that most
  of the time, addiction is a combination of
  biological and psychological components. However,
  much of the time, there are other underlying
  issues that lead to a person engaging in
  addiction. When you seek help, you should be
  working on those issues while also focusing on
  the addiction. For better healing that is also
  longer lasting, you need to unearth that
  underlying issue.
• Relapse is reality
• Relapsing into your old habits isnt anything to
  be ashamed of and neither should you be dreading
  it. Think of it as a crucial part of the healing
  process. If you are to recover, relapses yes
  multiple will happen. You wont be able to
  stave them off with say, will power. What you
  should do instead is stay committed.
• The logistics play an important part in your
  healing
• Once you have resolutely made up your mind to get
  help for your addiction, it is imperative that
  you let the people closest to you in on the
  secret. Your objective should be to let them know
  that you will need their help. Thats important
  because of the logistics. If you have kids, then
  who picks up the kids from school? If you are
  leaving your job, then who will take care of the
  finances? Your insurance company, the type of
  facility you go to etc. All of it needs to be
  settled for a smoother transition.

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5 Truths About Addiction Counseling

• It is easy to open the door to let in other
  addictions
• Be on the lookout that you dont exchange one
  addiction for another. It might seem like healthy
  behavior to you when you start working out
  excessively. Even so, it would be still be a bad
  exchange. One important reason why this might
  happen is that you havent yet arrived at the
  issues underlying the addiction. You remain
  obsessive you simply change the object of your
  obsession. Before letting another habit consume
  your time and energy, it is better that you
  discuss it with your addiction counselor.
• An addict isnt who you are
• For some people, the guilt associated with their
  addiction is all too real. Yet they look at habit
  as something that is a part of them. Dont let
  the addiction become your identity because you
  are so much more than it. It is a habit a bad
  one that might even prove fatal but that is all
  the addiction is. Treat it as you would treat any
  other problem and dont be ashamed of it. Once
  you realize this to be true, you would have taken
  the first step to getting your life under your
  control.

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5SecretsAddiction Counselors Want You to Know

• Stop lying to yourself
• It is likely that when people who wish you well
  ask you about your addiction, you lie to them.
  Even though that might affect your relationship
  with them negatively, that isnt even the half of
  it. When you are feeding an addiction, you will
  also be lying to yourself! If you want to start
  down the path to recovery, then the first thing
  you need is to be honest about with yourself.
  Once you have that part down, you will be able to
  share your reality with others as well. Dont
  waste your energy blocking the door to healing.
  Instead use that energy to throw it open and look
  what is inside.
• You will remain the same
• Often we are told that as soon as an individual
  kicks their habit, they transform into someone
  new. Dont waste your time believing that.
  Addiction counseling can help you get over your
  addiction but when recovery is successful, you
  wont be transformed into someone you arent.
  Instead, a healthier version of you will come
  out. But it will be the same person you used to
  be pre-addiction. However, you will be much
  happier than you have been in some time.

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5SecretsAddiction Counselors Want You to Know

• Building a therapeutic alliance takes time and
  work
• Do not share everything you have to say the
  moment you step into the addiction counselors
  office. Take your lead from them and slowly work
  on all the contributing issues one by one. Work
  with the counselor to build a strong and safe
  relationship. While that might take more time, it
  will get you better results.
• You can only get better for you
• If you want to get better, then you have to want
  it for yourself. Even though you might be doing
  to make life better for your family or friends,
  it is not going to work. When you choose that as
  a reason, you are actually looking for a quick
  fix. It wont last long and neither would the
  motivation for recovery.
• Abstinence isnt the only thing that matters
• If your eyes remain on abstinence, then you might
  be setting up yourself to fail! Dont think about
  major improvements but try to take things one day
  at a time. Your goal should be to focus on taking
  smaller steps. In this case, short-term thinking
  will help you not hamper you. It is better to
  work with the counselor to dig deeper and find
  the underlying cause for your addiction. When you
  discover that, progress will be certain. Dont
  look for quick fixes look for long lasting
  recovery.

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Smoking Addiction Counselling

• Smokers usually succumb to the addiction to gain
  approval, to escape, and feel normal. There are
  several factors that influence the success of
  giving up smoking. The counsellor should assist
  by developing a plan of action to quit smoking.
  This could include specifying a date to quit
  smoking and keeping track of it. Smoking could be
  replaced with a more productive and/or healthy
  habit, such as mindfulness practices or drinking
  fresh juice. The sweet content in juices can help
  ease the cravings. The person should be made to
  avoid environments that trigger smoking. They
  could make flash cards of environmental cues that
  induce them to smoke, refer to them and avoid
  going near them.
• The person should be motivated to stay busy with
  more productive habits and occupations for a
  better lifestyle and life satisfaction. They
  could draft all the consequences of smoking that
  have affected them and others. Family support
  plays a crucial role when the person is trying to
  quit. A person cannot quit on willpower alone.
  The person should not be demotivated either.
  Quitting smoking is hard and people who try to
  quit are usually unsuccessful because they get
  cravings or that cravings last for a lifetime and
  could make him miserable. Family members should
  be able to stop the smoker by perhaps cutting the
  pocket money that goes into cigarettes, removing
  ashtrays and not talking about smoking. The
  smoker should be reminded consistently about the
  health implications. They should be made to
  realize that a few days of abstinence and the
  resulting misery are worth more than a lifetime
  of sickness and complications.

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The End

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