In rehab, individual drug counseling seeks to address the symptoms of drug abuse or addiction and the areas of life that this behavior has affected. In doing so, it assists people in progressing in an ongoing recovery program.
Drug counseling is the core of an effective addiction treatment program. A counselor is a guide in the recovery process, helping the person to reveal the sources of addiction and identify healthier, more constructive ways to manage the pressures of daily life.
From the time a person enters a rehab program until long after completion, drug counselors can provide support, encouragement, and motivation throughout the recovery process.
Drug counseling can be provided in several different forms, including the following:
- Individual, one-on-one sessions with a counselor
- Family counseling sessions with spouses, partners, or children
- Group counseling sessions with peers who are also struggling with addiction
- Crisis intervention counseling to persuade a person to seek treatment
Drug Counseling in Integrated Treatment
Merely treating physical symptoms of addiction is usually not effective on its own. Individual counseling is a vital feature of any comprehensive drug and alcohol rehab program because it also addresses the mental and emotional aspects of addiction. In addition, discussion between a patient and a counselor encourages the uncovering of deeply buried issues, experiences, or feelings that influence addiction.
As a result, patients gain an improved sense of self-awareness that they can learn to use as a mechanism to prevent relapse. Through individual drug counseling, patients are working to achieve short-term life and behavioral goals directly related to an addiction, and are learning how to restructure their lives in a healthier way that does not involve reliance on drugs or alcohol.
Building a Foundation for a Sobriety
Individual drug counseling sessions serve as a cornerstone for recovery and provide many benefits that will help patients restructure their lives, relationships, and attitudes. During individual counseling, patients learn how to achieve the following:
Accept that one has a disease – A critical component of substance abuse treatment is accepting the fact that there is a problem. Acceptance isn’t always easy, but it is an unavoidable step to recovery.
Address the root causes of addiction – Substance abuse is often a form of self-medication or a way to cope with difficult situations or traumatic events one has experienced. By addressing these issues individually, a counselor can help a patient learn to identify ongoing life situations in which drug or alcohol use has been a failed means of dealing with problems.
Practice more effective life skills – Individual counseling offers patients the opportunity to learn and practice healthier decision-making and problem-solving strategies to abstain from drugs and alcohol and avoid relapse.
Heal damaged or strained relationships – Substance abuse tends to contribute to a number of damaged relationships in a person’s life. Making amends with loved ones is a critical component of recovery. A counselor encourages and helps patients navigate this sensitive process.
Learn how to establish healthy relationships – Individual drug counseling also renders useful tools for building new, healthy relationships that will help a person in their ongoing recovery, rather than hinder it.
Maintain abstinence – The self-awareness and confidence gained from individual counseling sessions work together with the tools and techniques learned in group counseling to help those in recovery live a fulfilling and sober life.
What to Expect at Drug Counseling
Throughout the duration of a drug and alcohol rehab program, patients meet with a recovery specialist and clinical counselor regularly. Recovery specialists may also contact family or friends to provide an update on the client’s progress throughout the recovery program.
One-on-one sessions with a specialist will focus on recovery tools, behavior modification, and strategies that allow patients to put their past lives and addictive behaviors behind them. Because of this, the client can focus on achieving and living a new, sober, and enjoyable lifestyle.
During individual counseling sessions, a therapist or counselor will facilitate fruitful discussion that focuses on the underlying experiences or trauma that have led to addiction. The therapist will guide patients through an honest investigation of their addictive thoughts and behaviors.
Individual drug counseling is a collaborative process between the patient and a counselor, so it always requires honesty and a willingness to engage actively in one’s recovery. Patients should feel comfortable sharing thoughts in a private, judgment-free environment.
Qualifications of Our Counselors
At Recovery in Tune, we employ fully licensed and experienced therapists and drug addiction counselors. They strive to uphold the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of counseling and treatment and deliver these services to clients with care and expertise.
We are staffed compassionate experts in the field of addiction recovery to provide clients with the skills and support they so direly need to achieve abstinence and maintain long-term wellness and sobriety indefinitely.
You can recover from drug or alcohol addiction and experience the fulfilling life you deserve! Call us as soon as possible to learn how we can help you on your journey to recovery!
Related: What Are Opiates and Why Are They So Addictive?