With the rising number of people abusing illicit substances, it has become important to find effective treatment, which includes not only physical treatment but also mental health services.  It has become imperative to provide counseling to the addicts. In our experience at Lighthouse, even after the physical dependence has been resolved with treatment, they are always at risk for relapse. Even though medication and other treatments help people get rid of their addiction, it is the counseling that offers strength to the addict to be able to make the changes in their lives. Since the level of abuse and addiction vary from person to person and affects different facets of a person’s life, counselors will evaluate and prepare an effective customized plan of care.

 Close-up of psychiatrist hands holding those of her patient

Here are some of the potential benefits of addiction counseling to addicts
  1. Counseling helps them view their addiction from others perspective, and this perspective motivates them to recover from it.
  2. It educates them about ways to cope up with triggers and craving to avoid relapse.
  3. Planning and implementing ways to make lifestyle changes and avoid triggers as much as possible
  4. Addicts can talk to a person about their problems without the fear of being judged.
  5. Through counseling, people can learn about any psychological disorders that might have caused their addiction, and they were totally oblivion of it.
  6. Counseling can help addicts heal their strained relationships with their family and friends.
  7. It allows people to set short term and long term goals in life.
  8. Counseling methods and approaches can be altered to match the needs of the individual.
  9. Once the foundation for recovery is laid, counseling encourages people to stay from their addiction.
  10. It does not allow the person to suffer in isolation with their addiction and allow them to talk to other with similar problems in group therapies.
  11. Therapy forms a proving ground for the people with addiction to interact with others openly through their treatment.
  12. Therapy sessions make people accountable throughout their treatment as they have to talk to the counselor about their experience and how successful they are in quitting their addiction.

Addiction counseling can be done anywhere and anytime, whether they are living in a rehab or receiving treatment at an outpatient clinic. Even those who have completed their initial addiction treatment and are working with their recovery for many years can benefit from continued counseling. It allows people to keep them strong and to keep reminding them of their commitment to stay clean. Addiction counseling can be attended every day, once a week or even once a month as necessary depending on the needs of the addict.

There are some addiction counselors with experience in different addictions. Addiction counselors do not judge people for their addiction and offer moral support throughout the addiction treatment. They help develop positive behaviors that will last all your life rather than just for a short time. The behaviors that one learns with their counseling can become lifelong skills and can be used in many different situations.