Saturday, December 28, 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 will serve as a guide throughout this grueling journey. Starting a new life dissimilar to the ones you used to have never comes easy. The professional provides help beyond just putting an end to addiction. They see to it that the patients stop for good. At times, they may also need to attend to the patient's profession, marriage and family. After all, the aspects of life are interconnected, so an issue with one will eventually lead to another.

Moreover, the professional delves deeper into the issue. They try to understand what propelled the patient into addiction. This is vital in designing a program. Unless the counselor understands why the patient did it, he may not find out how to convince the latter otherwise. At times, this may take fixing old problems, ironing out a severed relationship or dealing with a past trauma.

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.

On a deeper sense, the professionals create programs that aid in the client's recovery process. The counselors help the patients understand why it is necessary not to go back to substance abuse. They educate the patients on stress management, coping mechanisms, relapse prevention, communication skills and problem-solving skills.

The counselor is also responsible in dealing with the family members. It is crucial to keep a healthy relationship with one's family in this difficult time. This can help in the recovery process. A person can recover much easily when he realizes he is not alone. The professional sees to it that the family members do their part.

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.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment

 
Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | Best Buy Coupons