Counseling helps people in recovery develop healthy coping mechanisms. It can also teach behavior strategies that help avoid former routines and people who pose a threat to sobriety. Using motivational enhancement therapy (MET), counselors elicit a patient’s motivation and support their willingness to change. Then, they set short- and long-term goals with them.
Screening
Screening is the first step in the treatment process. Counselors evaluate patients’ drug use, alcohol use, and mental health status to determine their addiction risk. This includes assessing the individual’s level of motivation to change, their ability to participate in treatment, and other factors. Effective counselors know that creating a therapeutic relationship takes time and builds trust between them and their patients. This bond is known as a therapeutic alliance. This allows clients to openly discuss their issues and feel comfortable and safe with the counselor. Therapists in addiction treatment Yorktown Heights NY can also conduct a functional analysis of the client’s situation and behavior, identifying what triggers their substance use. This allows the therapist to help them better navigate the challenges of recovery.
Admission
Addiction treatment programs vary but typically include individual or group therapy sessions. These help you look at the underlying causes of your substance abuse. Counseling also helps you learn new coping strategies that reduce your dependence on drugs and alcohol. Some counselors also provide services that assist with re-establishing relationships and other aspects of your life damaged by your addiction. This might involve family counseling sessions, psychotherapy, or behavioral interventions.
Assessment
Assessing is more in-depth than screening, where counselors verify if the person has a substance abuse disorder. In this phase, counselors ask specific questions about a client’s drug use history, mental health needs, family support, financial or legal issues, and relapse risk factors. Counselors also review a patient’s motivation to change and use motivational interviewing to help clients overcome resistance. This is especially helpful for patients with co-occurring disorders like depression and addiction.
Counselors work with clients to develop a comprehensive relapse prevention plan as the assessment progresses. This includes teaching patients to recognize relapse cues and avoid substances when they trigger them. Additionally, they help families understand the disease of addiction and how to support a recovering addict.
Treatment Plan
Individual counseling (individual and group) is a crucial component of effective treatment for chemical dependency. During these sessions, patients work with counselors to understand the issues contributing to their compulsive use of alcohol and drugs, learn new ways to replace those activities with healthy alternatives and resolve problems in relationships and employment.
In addition, therapists often utilize behavioral therapy techniques useful for treating co-occurring disorders such as PTSD and depression. These therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR.
Many quality chemical dependency programs also provide screening and referrals for public health concerns like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. These services help people change behaviors that put them at risk for infection and support recovery from these illnesses. The process is similar to how care is delivered for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention is a critical element of addiction treatment. It’s important to know that relapse is a process that occurs in three stages: mental, emotional, and physical. You might start thinking about drinking or using drugs again during the mental relapse. During the emotional relapse, you might start feeling sad or angry. Finally, during the physical relapse, you might start using alcohol or drugs again.
Learning coping skills that can help you manage your urges is essential for relapse prevention. You may also want to list safe people you can call when you feel the urge. This can decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness, common relapse triggers.
