Many people dealing with addiction are resistant to addiction counseling or other forms of treatment. People often feel like no one understands what they are going through or can empathize with their struggle. A 2015 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration revealed that nearly one in 10 Americans has dealt with substance abuse addiction of some kind. Addiction counselors are here to meet that growing need. If you are struggling with addiction, a counselor might be what you need for your road to recovery.
It might be surprising to learn that many addiction counselors have overcome addiction themselves. People often go into the profession due to a personal passion. They may be recovering addicts themselves or have had family members who have dealt with it. This type of background makes them particularly empathetic to their patient’s needs.
In addition to having the right mindset, counselors require a high degree of education, including a bachelor’s degree in a focused field such as psychology, counseling or substance abuse. An effective counselor couples this educational degree with a passion for helping others.
Counselors first develop a rapport with their patients. A level of rapport is essential for a successful partnership. To support patients, an addiction counselor does several important things:
Just as every person is different, the most effective approach to addiction counseling varies by patient. A good counselor develops the right plan to meet a patient’s needs.
While a good rapport is important, being unbiased is essential for counseling. Patients see biased reactions from friends, family and co-workers. Counselors need to ensure bias does not creep into their treatment.
One of the main purposes of counseling is one-on-one interaction. Counselors discuss the root cause of the addiction and help develop ways to deal with it.
There are many treatment and therapy options available to counselors today. One traditional approach is cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of treatment can show the link between thoughts, behaviors and choices and helps patients understand the triggers of their addiction.
Some therapies use a more holistic approach. They encourage patients to be introspective through activities like meditation, yoga and pet therapy.
A more technical approach is feedback therapy. This includes both neurofeedback and biofeedback. The counselor uses displays of a patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and brain activity to demonstrate how triggers impact them physiologically. They then help patients learn how to develop control over these physiological functions.
When you are ready to face an addiction problem, you want to find a treatment that fits you. Addiction counseling and therapy has been determined as one of the most essential treatments for a successful recovery. A good addiction counselor can make sure you are equipped to face your addiction head-on.
Are you considering addiction counseling in the New York area? Get more information at https://www.joelnathanmd.com.
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