Substance Abuse Therapist to Help the Addicted

A substance abuse therapist applies empathy, education, and supervised training in order to offer high quality care to each patient. This area of human and social services acknowledges all aspects, objects and resulting behaviors of addiction. Therefore, the professional counselors work with one-on-one, group, family, out-patient and in patient treatment associated with facilities and hospitals. These options are made available so that every patient feels supported through their application of more productive and drug-free living. The type and degree of treatment is dependent upon a variety of factors for the individual's readiness and level of mental and physical health. This is why it is important for each patient to participate in the preliminary interview stage.

During the initial interview to begin treatment a patient will sit with a substance abuse therapist to answer questions and have a thorough conversation about their history with dependency on drugs, the one's they use, the amount, and to what extent - that they are aware of - the drugs impacted their health and relationships with themselves, family members, friends, co-workers, and status of employment. It is also an opportunity for it to be made known whether the patient possesses a will to care for themselves and improve the quality of their life. The substance abuse therapist is trained to understand that this is a difficult process to watch and help with, but it is needed.

It is the job of a substance abuse therapist to work with each client to affect the best health treatment plan. The interview is only the first step in the help that a substance abuse therapist can provide to the spectrum of struggling to succeeding patients throughout their lives. Therefore, men and women who have either overcome addictive drug consumption or have been the victim, enabler, or connected to someone who was addicted, apply their experience and awareness of the uphill climb and necessity of support throughout the process. It is important for the process to offer education and access in order to improve and preserve the lives of each patient.

There are several different areas of specialty available for those who see the immense need in this area of human welfare. It is an opportunity to work closely with all professionals in psychology, social work, and psychiatry to help each patient seek improved health. This area of training and experience can also help you realize to extend your ability to expand your counseling outreach as a family counselor, career counselor, welfare agent or even a lawyer because you realize that treatment should trump jail time with non-violent drug related misdemeanors.