Addiction Counselor

Addiction Counselor

A drug & alcohol counselor, or addiction counselor, is a specialized professional who works with those addicted to drug or alcohol to help them comprehend and overcome their dependence on substances. Substance abuse is an illness that effects countless of people and their families. After sufficient consequences, some seek out professional help.

The job of an addiction counselor is to provide assistance for those looking to overcome their destructive behaviors. Counselors offer rehabilitation, guidance, and support. By implementing various technique, the addiction counselor guides the addict to a breakthrough, where he or she gains clarity into their compulsions and take a step further into recovery.

Addiction counselors usually have strict program structure that is outlined by their employer and is established by facility managers and chiefs of staff. Take JC’s Recovery Center for example, we use a 12-step program of recovery in addition to strong encouragement toward spirituality and a relationship with God. It has proven to be incredibly effective in treating drug and alcohol addiction.

Addiction counselors treat alcoholics and addicts in individualized therapy or group sessions. They teach and cultivate specialized tactics for recovery to help addicts cope with life and their addictive personalities. This includes but is not limited to:

• medication management if client is dual diagnosed
• attending outside AA or NA meetings
• encouraging them to build a support network
• breathing and meditation exercises that help cope with stress
• encouragement to seek a higher power and attend religious services

Addiction counselors help addicts find what triggers them in order to lessen or completely eradicate those triggers form their lives. To truly understand each client’s unique situation, they ask appropriate questions, take meticulous notes and offer advice on the best approach to solving their problems. Attitudinal barriers are counterproductive to the addict’s recovery. Therefore, identifying and effectively removing these barriers is essential to successfully overcoming addiction. An assessment is generally conducted to evaluate their progress into recovery and address any outstanding issues.

Educating and implementing a relapse prevention program is critical. An addiction counselor will do this by creating strategies to help the addict manage their problems. Helping them identify the signs and symptoms of a relapse can help the addict take proper action before it’s too late. Relapses happen in stages. First is the emotional relapse: the addict falls prey to anxiety, depression and does not ask for help. Then the mental relapse occurs where the addict begins to think about relapsing; glamorizing their past and thinking of the people places and things they used to use with. If proper action is not taken the physical relapse occurs where they are on their way to their drug dealer or liquor store. By this time, it is probably too late.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction please not hesitate to call JC’s Recovery Center for help. Our addiction counselors are highly specialized in treating addiction. Our addiction treatment is the most effective in South Florida.