Rehabilitation counseling
A rehabilitation counselor helps individuals to deal with personal and social problems. They also deal with profession effects of disability. According to Kenneth, (2004) the disabilities may result from birth, illness, accidents or stress. Rehabilitation counseling helps to evaluate limitation that helps in dealing with consequences of drug abuse. The rehabilitation counselor deals with many problems that an individual may have. Drugs and alcohol been one of this problem cannot be left behind. Studies have shown that, drugs and alcohol can be a problem in an individual that happened in the past and this problem does not stop immediately (Marlette, 1985). The individuals may want to discuss their behavior of using drugs or related problems associated with drugs. For this reason, rehabilitation counseling in drugs and alcohol is significant. This paper aims in looking at the issues and techniques that pertain this counseling.
According to the Journal rehabilitation of Research and development, Alston, (1990) suggested that, the rate pertaining drug abuse and alcohol among rehabilitation clients may be high as 40%. Other evidences suggested that a person that has social problem and stress is more likely to abuse these substances (News in Mental Nursing, 93). In response to this report, several authors have emphasized the importance of developing services that treat the person that have disabilities as a result of abusing these drugs ( Frieden, 1990; Perez & Pilsecker, 1989). Based on their argument, they argued that, it is important in rehabilitation counseling to understand the psychological and sociological aspects that makes an individual to abuse drugs and alcohol (p.62). In counseling, it is vital to consider the social conditions of an individual that lead to drug abuse. These factors include poverty, stress, and idleness among others. According to Addictive behavior journal article Peter, (1974) focused on the importance of understanding the social factor and environmental factors that may make an individual abuse alcohol and drugs. In his research, Peter argued that when a counselor knows the root of the problem that makes an individual abuse drugs and alcohol it will be easier to offer preventions interventions to an individual.
There are number of issues pertaining rehabilitation to counseling in drugs and alcohol. A major part is in which a counselor help those affected in drugs see the consequences along with effects the drug has on their life and society. In discussing these, the counselor topics should include long-term and medical effects that result from drug use and abuse. For instance, liver damage, mental health disorders, cancers, stroke and heart attacks. There are however a number of techniques used in drug and alcohol rehabilitation counseling.
Training in Issues and techniques pertaining drug addiction is one of the techniques used. This approach focuses on psychotherapeutic that enhance and maintain patient motivation for change. This technique emphasizes on developing a good working environment with the client. In this approach patient participation in self-help is normally encouraged but not mandated. The main objective of this technique is to train the client on how to break addiction cycle and establish total abstinence from drugs and alcohol. The method is useful in rehabilitation in that, it teaches an individual addicted to cope with problems that may occur in the body. These include liver problem, mental health disorders among others. Solutions are also offered to maintain abstinences over a long period of time. This approach has been known to promote development of strong positive therapeutically bonding between counselor and client. As a result, it ensures accountability where by the client receives therapy from the counselor (Mark, 2006).
Treatment therapy is the second technique used. This involves treatment that is a combination of group therapy that occurs regularly in a week. This may include a testing of urine along with breathalyzer at least twice in a week. Many clients agree to do the testing when there is a positive relationship between an individual and counselor. This technique aims in improving the success of supporting the abuser through friendship to take control of addiction. Patients dealing with hard drugs that include heroin and morphine are given medical detoxification. Later this technique concentrates on dealing with emotional as well as mental thoughts that may lead to addiction in addition to offering treatment. In a survey treatment carried in separation institutions shows that, treatment provide responses to treating patients that have abused drugs in the past. In 1981, 41% of patients were found to respond to treatment therapy (National Association and drug abuse counseling, 1970)
Thirdly, Counseling Technique. This approach guide and educate the client on all phases of drugs addiction. Aspect of motivation is used. The counselor emphasizes on the client strength rather than dealing with the weaknesses. In this approach, a counselor is advised to avoid aggressive confrontation to the client struggles but instead emphasizes on personal responsibility for change. The client is usually given time to change instead of being controlled. The foremost goal of this technique is to be friendly to enhance positive interaction. This helps the client to examine and willingly change to his or her drug usage behavior. Recommendation supervision is important in sharpening clinical skills. Born in mind that counselor’s job is demanding, studies have shown that all counselors receive one hour of group supervision and one hour of individual supervision in a week. In addition to this, there is a daily case conference and seminars been attended by all counselors to help in discussing special problem that occur in the field for instance, lack of attention to client.
Therapeutic Alliance is one of the most techniques used in clients that actively use alcohol and other drugs. The approach treats all types of chemical addiction. Research has shown that this technique is used in both adults and adolescent (Marlette, 1985) However, the groups are treated separately according to the age. According to article on Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors, Marlette, (1985) argues that, in building a relationship under this approach require a great deal on clinically aspect on the part on the rehabilitation counselor who should compliment the client for showing up at the session in facing reality of situation. In doing this it will build high self esteem and a chance to change.
Assessment technique is also one of the approaches used in counseling. This approach usually begins by asking the client to fill an extensive self assessment questionnaire. The questionnaire assessment motivates the client to engage in therapeutically interactions. It involves identifying with clients internal as well as external factors to this behavior. These factors include family history, Vocational history along with treatment history that an individual may have undergone. This technique helps the client to identify his or her need for change.
Support group technique is one of the rehabilitation program used to attempt in teaching the patient through people who have undergone the same problem and have overcome. In particularly, patients get encouraged more and a desire to change is more(Alan,2006).
Conclusion
In conclusion, drug rehabilitation counseling enables the patient to stop abusing the drug. The consequences of drug abuse may be psychological; legal that may end the patient in jail, financial problem due to money spent on drugs, social problems and physical consequences that maybe a result of extreme abuse. As discussed in this paper there are a number of issues and techniques pertaining to Rehabilitation Counseling in drugs and alcohol. These include Training in Issues and techniques pertaining drug addiction, treatment therapy, counseling technique, therapeutic Alliance, assessment technique and support group technique. Drugs and alcohol been a major problem in the society, cannot be ignored due to the consequences effects it has. The effects include liver damage, mental disorder, social problem and physical problems. To avoid the continuity of the problem these technique are important in tackling the problem in rehabilitation counseling.
References
Alan M, (2006) Drugs and alcohol abuse. A clinical guide to diagnosis and treatment. New York. Birkhaeser publishers.
Alston, M. (1990). National Association and drug abuse counseling journal article, vol55, pp893 896.
Alan M, (2006) Drugs and alcohol abuse. A clinical guide to diagnosis and treatment. New York. Birkhaeser publishers.
Frieden, (1990); Perez & Pilsecker, (1989). News in Mental nursing article, vol9, pp62-63.
Kenneth R (2004) Counseling theories and techniques for rehabilitation health professionals. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Marlette,L (1985 Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors article,234-254
Peter, (1974) Addictive behavior journal. Netherlands: New York publishers.
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