Substance abuse is defined as the
categories classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM-V) as
Substance-Related Disorders and Substance-Induced Disorders. These disorders
include the active use and/or dependency on any mood-altering substance.
Substances include alcohol, sedatives, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine,
hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, caffeine, nicotine, and prescription drugs,
as well as legal drugs.
Substance Abuse
Counselling
The trained professional provides
psychological support to clients who abused the substances to the level where
they are labelled as drug addicts. Substance abuse counsellors are also known
as addiction counsellors. They are trained in human behaviour, chemical dependency
and therapeutic methods and play the role of a change agent. This class of
psychologists focus their attention on the psychological and emotional issues
that influence substance use disorder. Counsellors of clients with substance
abuse problems often find the counselling process difficult because of the
chronic nature of interrelated destructive attitudes and coexisting disorders
these clients often bring to counselling.
Definition
Substance abuse counselling is a
combination of treatment and support to help people break free from drug or
alcohol addiction. This specific type of therapy is often a key part of
rehabilitation programs so clients can overcome substance dependence mentally
and emotionally.
Counsellors are
expected to be aware of the following dimensions prior to engaging in substance
abuse counselling:
-
- The available referral options
- Withdrawal symptoms associated with a
specific type of substance
- Cultural settings
- Intensity and frequency of substance abuse
- Clients in treatment for substance abuse
may act rebelliously or violently and resort to physical assault on the
counsellor
Process Factors of
Substance Abuse Counselling
These factors
include:
Ø
the counsellor’s establishing an open, trusting, collaborative
relationship,
Ø
facilitating client cognitive learning through reframing,
Ø
feedback, insight, and
Ø
assisting the client in behaviour changes through behavioural
regulation, reality testing, and successful experiences.
What Counsellors
can do?
1. The counsellors are required to create
and maintain a safe environment in which clients can explore and address
issues.
2. Counsellors should communicate and
enforce ground rules about how clients can safely and appropriately deal with
anger and other feelings of discomfort. Ground rules are: -
ü
maintaining members' confidentiality and not sharing any information outside
the group,
ü
no threats or acts of violence,
ü
no verbal abuse,
ü
no interrupting other members, and
ü
no disruptive behaviour.
3. Counselors can help clients learn how
to express their feelings constructively by validating
their affect but not their expression.
4. The counsellor should ask clients to
explore rather than act out anger or disruptive behaviour.
5. The counsellor should categorically
inform the disruptive clients that their feelings are acceptable as long as
their behaviour remains appropriate.
6. Clients are allowed to have angry
feelings--and verbally express them-but they are not allowed to hit anyone,
throw things etc. In this way, clients can be helped to separate their feelings
from their actions
7. Counsellors should remember that
constant rage can be a symptom of manic depression or bipolar disorder.
8. The counsellor must take care to avoid
joining in the client's disruptive behaviour in any way.
9. The counsellor's role is to help
clients understand their vulnerability to re-victimization and to empower
clients.
10. If a counsellor cannot work with a
particular client, he should refer the client to a counsellor who is better
suited to that individual's needs.
Some Important
Therapeutic Strategies Used by Addiction Counsellors
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - A type of therapy used to treat a
wide range of mental health conditions and identify the specific behaviour and
mindsets that may contribute to addiction.
2. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) - this is a subset of CBT that aims
to help people evaluate their inner feelings and thoughts, accept and tolerate
change and practice mindfulness.
3. Interpersonal Therapy - commonly used to treat dysthymia
and depression, this therapy focuses on improving communication with others and
oneself.
4. Family Therapy - family can be a huge source of
support and care for someone struggling with substance use disorder. Family
therapy may be especially useful for those with co-occurring disorders, as it
balances therapeutic practices with familial care.
5. Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) - EMDR helps clients recover from traumatic experiences that result in
symptoms and distress. Utilizing “dual stimulation” exercises to discuss past
trauma while simultaneously engaging other parts of the brain through bilateral
eye movements, tones, or taps, EMDR helps heal the brain’s information
processing system and promotes emotional stability and symptom reduction.
6. Rational
Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) - REBT helps clients identify, challenge,
and replace their destructive thoughts and convictions with healthier, adaptive
thoughts.
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