Substance Abuse Counselling

Substance Abuse Counseling.

Counseling is an extremely important part of substance abuse treatment. The various areas of approach for therapy can help individuals recovering from abuse to stay sober. Along treating substance counseling can also help treat with other mental health conditions that often contribute to substance abuse.

Substance abuse is characterized by harmful use of psychoactive substances which would include alcohol and illicit drugs. These substances could lead to dependence affecting an individual’s behaviour, cognitions, and physiological phenomena. The individual with this condition develop strong desire to take the drug, issues with controlling its use, persisting using despite harmful consequences, prioritizing substance use over any other activity and obligations.

Importance of counseling in treating substance abuse:

Counseling addresses the symptoms of substance abuse  as well as other areas of functioning that is impaired.

• Goals of counseling.

The goal of substance abuse counseling is to help the individual to achieve and maintain abstinence from the harmful substance and behaviours. Secondary counseling helps the individual recover and undo the damage in the individual’s life.

• Mechanism of counseling.

Substance abuse counseling works first aiding the individual recognize the problem and the irrational thinking associated with it. Subsequently, encouragement is provided to the individual to maintain and achieve abstinence. They are also taught to develop the essential psychosocial skills and motivation to continuing recovery lifelong.

• Necessary change.

Substance abuse counseling helps and encourages the individual to take responsibility for helping themselves recover. Support from counselors as well as peers and family members will help the individual recover from substance abuse.

Counseling methods used in treatment of substance abuse

• Cognitive Behaviour therapy
  This therapy helps individual with substance recognize, avoid, as well as cope in situations they are most likely to abuse substance. This therapy also helps dealing with specific behavioural difficulties associated with substance abuse like anger, sleeplessness, wandering, agitation and anxiety stemming from withdrawal.
• Neurofeedback
  A recent study showed how neurofeedback has a positive effect on the cognitive performance of an substance abuse patient. Neurofeedback isn’t a cure rather it helps train the brain in areas such as memory and attention. One of withdrawal symptoms of substance abuse disorder involves inattention and sleeplessness. By engaging in neurofeedback there could be positive effects on one’s cognition.
• Family therapy.
  Usually in substance abuse cases there is a known maladaptive functioning witnessed amongst the family members of the individual. Individuals suffering from substance abuse as well as their family members undergo immense stress; from making choices about treatment and managing finances as well as caring for the individual can be overwhelming and exhausting. Family therapy can help with resolving these issues plus other underlying relationship difficulties.

• Occupational therapy

The primary objective of occupational therapy is to help individuals gain a sense of control over their lives. This aids them to be functional adults and gain independence in their work life.  This therapy aims at instilling work skills in the individual.

Counseling helps engage individuals in substance abuse treatment, provide them motivations to abstain them from using drugs, change their attitudes and behaviours related to substance abuse, and teach them life and coping skills to handle stressful situations and environmental cues associated with substance use. For substance abuse counseling call now on +919611194949.

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