Counselling - Drug Addiction

This form of treatment is based upon an exploration of a person’s life, focussing upon certain issues or events which may have led to their addiction. This is an emotionally based session in which the counsellor encourages the addict to talk about their experiences with the aim of helping them to find a solution.

It involves looking back over a person’s life: focussing upon various events and stages which have led the person to behave in the way that they do. Things which happen in their childhood and beyond will have formed the way that person thinks and behaves -  known as ‘learned behaviours’. It is important for that person to see how these are linked to their addiction and what changes they need to make in order to prevent a relapse.

The aim is that the addict will gain a greater understanding as to why their addiction has developed, what can trigger it and what changes they need to make in order to move on from this.

The addicts must be open to the idea of discussing their life experiences which can be painful at times. They have to be prepared to be honest and frank about what has happened and open-minded to any suggestions put forward by the counsellor.

Considering counselling?

If you are considering this then you will find that there is likely to be something that happened early on in your life (or later) which triggered a series of actions leading to your addiction. It may be that you had a difficult childhood or underwent a traumatic event and these shaped your personality in a particular way.  This could have resulted in self-destructive or escapist behaviour which led to an addiction.

A counselling session is usually a one-to-one situation which is based upon the ability to listen, encourage, prompt, suggest and empathise. The counsellor is not there to sit in judgement upon your lifestyle but is there to explore the reasons behind your addiction.

The counsellor is professionally trained and will use standard models of behaviour when discussing your case. He/she will use a different approach with every addict and confidentiality will be maintained.

This is carried out either at a rehab clinic, counsellor’s office or in unit arranged by social services. Your GP may be able to recommend a counsellor as might your support group or Citizens Advice Bureau.

A session will take place in a relaxed, informal setting and usually lasts for an hour although they can last for up to a couple of hours. You may be fortunate enough to be referred for counselling on the NHS which means you don’t have to pay. In all other cases you will have to pay for private counselling.