Counseling Is An Important Part of Drug Rehab

When a person first enters a drug rehab program it is often with a certain amount of fear and uncertainty. The same may be true for the loved one(s) who while anxious to see the person get free of their addiction, are not sure what it will take to get there and what role they may or may not play in the process.

Thankfully, most addiction recovery patients and their families will have a person in the drug/alcohol rehab program whose chief aim is to help them walk through the door into the unknown with greater confidence – that person is the drug rehab counselor.

Addiction counselors bring a wealth of knowledge and practical understanding to the rehab process. Though qualified counselors have plenty of highly specialized training, their greatest tool is their ability to connect with recovering addicts and their families. These counselors understand what brought a person into addiction and can relate to their feelings and experiences.

An understanding shoulder is not enough to guide one to recovery; for that someone is needed who knows how to get one beyond that understanding. This type of understanding leadership is what the drug/alcohol rehab counselor can provide.

The counselor realizes that many patients entering rehab may still feel somewhat ambivalent about even being there. Without judging or coming off as a parent, the counselor is able to help patients to recognize why seeking freedom from addiction is the right choice.

The counselor’s job is to speak frankly yet always in an encouraging and positive way so that hope of change is seen as an achievable possibility. Addiction counselors are able to teach specific skills for modifying behaviors and listen carefully for motivational keys which will help patients stay true to their recovery plan.

The role of the counselor also encompasses the family of the patient in recovery. Counselors can provide helpful information and a new level of understanding for the family when it comes to facts about addiction, ways to support recovery, and techniques for overcoming potential obstacles. The counselor plays an important role in drug rehab because recovery will take time and the counselor can be a steady relationship during a highly transitional period.

Recovery will likely involve many changes in lifestyle, in social environments and even in the interpersonal ways of relating within the family. A strong relationship with the drug counselor can offer needed stability.

Different facilities may use different counseling approaches or specialized therapies, but all have the same goal which is to help the person recover from dependency on drugs or alcohol and maintain abstinence in order to pursue a healthier, more positive and productive life.