- Neil Colvin
Can Mental Health Counselor's Help With Substance Misuse?
What is Substance Misuse?
Substance misuse is a term used to describe the harmful use of alcohol or drugs. It can also be referred to as substance abuse, which refers to any use that causes harm.
The term "substance" refers to any psychoactive substance that can affect the brain and body, including alcohol, prescription medications (such as opioids), illegal drugs (such as marijuana) and inhalants (such as paint thinner). People who misuse substances may not be addicted but still experience negative consequences from their use--for example, they may drink too much at parties or take pills without a prescription.
What Are the Risks of Substance Misuse?
Substance misuse can have a wide range of negative effects on your physical and mental health. It can also put you at risk of losing relationships, work opportunities, and money. In addition to these immediate risks, substance misuse may lead to legal consequences such as fines or even jail time.
How Can Counseling Help with Substance Misuse?
Counseling is a process of talking with a trained professional about your feelings and behaviors. The goal of counseling is to help you feel better by changing how you think about yourself, others, and life in general.
Counseling can help people who are struggling with substance misuse because it helps them learn new ways of coping with their problems that don't involve drugs or alcohol. It also teaches them how to identify triggers for substance use so they can avoid those situations in the future.
What Are Some Different Types of Counseling?
Individual Counseling: Individual counseling is a one-on-one relationship between you and your counselor. You may meet with them in person, over the phone or through video chat.
Group Counseling: Group counseling involves meeting with several people who are dealing with similar issues as you are. This type of counseling gives you the opportunity to share your experiences and learn from others who have gone through similar situations. Family Therapy: Family therapy can be helpful when there are problems within your family that affect everyone in it negatively. It's important to note that family members must agree before they can participate in this type of treatment program; however, if they do not agree then individual sessions may still be beneficial instead of group sessions because they allow each member their own time with the therapist without having any interruptions from other members who might not want them there at all times during their discussion time together."
What Should I Look for in a Counselor?
What are the qualifications and experience of the counselor?
How does he or she approach counseling?
What type of counseling is offered (individual, group, couples)?
How much does it cost to see this counselor for an initial session or for follow-up visits? Is there a sliding scale fee based on income? If so, how do I apply for one of these reduced rates if I am not currently receiving any government assistance such as Medicaid or Medicare insurance coverage but have financial difficulties paying my bills each month due to my substance use disorder diagnosis.
What Happens During Counseling?
The counseling process is designed to help you set goals for your recovery, develop a treatment plan and learn new skills. The counselor will ask you questions about your substance use, including how much time you spend using substances and where. They may also ask about other factors that affect your ability to stop using drugs or alcohol, such as stressors in life, relationships with friends/family members and work responsibilities.
The counselor will then work with you on developing a personalized treatment plan that includes strategies for coping with urges to use drugs or alcohol. This could include relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises; self-talk statements such as "I am strong enough not to give into this temptation"; making positive affirmations such as "I can do anything I put my mind too"; journaling about what triggers temptations; keeping track of days without using substances; setting small achievable goals (such as going one day without drinking); attending support group meetings etc...
How Can I Prepare for Counseling?
The first step in preparing for counseling is gathering information. You can do this by reading through our website, or by asking questions of your counselor.
It's important that you set realistic expectations for yourself and your treatment process. It may feel like a daunting task at first, but it will get easier with time!
Make sure that you understand what it means to be in counseling before you start working with a therapist or psychiatrist: how long they expect their patients' sessions to last (for example), what kind of payment methods they accept--and so forth. This way there won't be any surprises later on down the line when something comes up unexpectedly during one of your sessions together!
What Are the Benefits of Counseling?
Counseling is a process that helps you address your substance use and the problems it causes. It can also help with other issues, such as depression or anxiety. Counseling can be done individually or in groups, depending on what's best for you.
Counseling has many benefits:
Reduced substance misuse
Improved mental and physical health
Improved relationships (family, friends)
Improved work performance
What Are the Challenges of Counseling?
Time and cost. Counseling can be expensive, especially if you're paying out-of-pocket. Some therapists will charge up to 3x the local rate so check around. If you have health insurance, most or all of the cost will likely be covered by your plan--but even then, some plans may require that you pay a certain amount out of pocket before they'll cover any additional expenses.
Finding the right counselor for you. There are many different types of counselors: psychologists, social workers (BSW's, MSW's, LSWs, LISW's, LISW-S'), marriage and family therapists (MFTs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), etc.. Each type has its own training requirements and specialty areas; it's important to find someone who is right for your needs as well as being able to meet them effectively enough so that they'll stick with their treatment plan long enough to see results! Of course Thera-fi has a bias towards social workers since they can counsel but also navigate complex structures like child protective services, adoption, court systems, and more. Any of which can be stressful, traumatic, or anxiety inducing in themselves alone.
Overcoming stigma around seeking help. Many people feel ashamed or embarrassed about having problems at all--much less admitting them publicly through therapy sessions or group meetings where other people might hear about what's going on in your life! But remember: Your counselor isn't judging anyone based on their past experiences; they're here simply because they want everyone else involved in this process too.
Conclusion
To sum up, counseling for substance misuse can be an effective way to address your addiction and cope with its consequences. If you're ready to get help, we recommend finding a counselor who is experienced in treating addiction and has good reviews from other clients.
If you have any questions about this article or would like more information on counseling services near you, please feel free to contact us at:
Phone: 833-226-7676
Or schedule an initial consult here.