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What is a Drug & Alcohol Counsellor?

A Drug & Alcohol counsellor is a trained professional who works with individuals to help them better understand and overcome their addictions. Addictions are an epidemic all over the world and many people face daily struggles with these issues. These individuals may eventually seek out help from the drug and alcohol counsellor.

It is the counsellor’s job to provide the assistance these people need to overcome their destructive behaviour. Counsellors help by offering support, rehabilitation and guidance. Using various techniques, drug & alcohol counsellors seek to help an addict find the root cause of their problem. This often helps the addict to have a breakthrough, which can be a positive step on their road to recovery.

What does a Drug & Alcohol Counsellor do?

Drug & alcohol counsellors treat individuals either one on one, or in-group settings. They educate and develop treatment plans for people to help them better cope with their addictive personalities. Periodically, counsellors will do an assessment to determine how much progress has been made towards recovery.

Counsellors’ work within a set of guidelines that help people to determine what triggers a person’s behaviour in order to help them eliminate such triggers from their life. They take detailed notes which helps to form a better understanding of each person’s unique situation. They ask appropriate questions and offer advice as to which approach is best for treating a particular problem. A drug & alcohol counsellor is trained to recognize attitudinal barriers, which may inhibit a person’s ability to successfully overcome their addiction. They then work to help individuals remove those barriers.

Counsellors also teach the addict how to best prevent a relapse. They do this by developing a strategy to help the person manage their problems in the best way possible. Helping them to understand the signs and symptoms of their addictive behaviour can often prevent an addict from experiencing a total relapse. Ultimately, the goal is to find a course of treatment, which will enable a person to finally break free from a destructive pattern and get on with their life.

Counsellors also work to increase awareness of addiction problems. This often involves writing articles for local newspapers, magazines or blogs, as well as speaking to community groups. Conducting educational workshops and community outreach programs help to provide information to those who may be reluctant about seeking treatment for themselves or for those who are looking for help with a family member having possible addiction issues.