Sunday, 5 January 2014

What Does A Substance Abuse Counselor Do

By Harriett Crosby


It is never easy turning away from addictive substances. This requires genuine desire and steadfast determination. More importantly, this calls for professional help. Substance-dependent individuals need counseling to successfully eradicate drugs and alcohol from their system. An effective program always includes a substance abuse counselor Pasadena. The professionals do not only understand the client's needs. They also look into the other aspects throughout their recovery.

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.

Furthermore, the professional creates a program for his client. This is aimed to help the patient recover quickly and easily. They make the patients realize the ill-effects of substance abuse. They are made to understand why they needed to stop. They are also taught problem-solving skills, communication skills, relapse prevention, stress management and coping mechanisms.

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 connections to other professionals who can help the patient. Besides counseling, the patient may also require psychiatric care, medical care, housing and financial assistance, child care or vocational training. As someone who knows the ins and outs of this field, a counselor knows where to seek professional help from.

Given the profound responsibilities of a substance abuse counselor Pasadena, it only makes sense that its practice is streamlined by the state. Each region has its own rules for qualifying an individual aspiring to become a counselor. Stringent rules and procedures are in place before official recognition is given to anyone interested. This is the only way to upkeep quality service and maintain high standards.




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