Therapeutic Approaches of Addictions Counseling
Introduction
Addiction is a state that occurs after a person has ingested a substance such as nicotine, alcohol, cocaine or engagement of an activity lie sex, shopping gambling that may seem to be pleasurable but a continued usage or act will make it compulsive and creates an interference to the ordinary life duties and responsibilities.
Client Change & Resistance
The addicts are not in denial of change but in failure to believe that change is possible. In some cases, the client might have undergone some treatment of the same that did not bear fruits. What is needed is to convince the addicts that change is possible (Jill). A client might be in denial of the existence of the problem. To get the client in the mood of treatment requires a set plan that is person-centered. A person-centered approach will be more effective because it will base on facts rather than judgments (Geraldine A). When dealing with facts of a person’s life, it is easier than when dealing with a problem from a wide and general perspective.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing (MI) is an intervention type used by counselors in creating change from the client by way of helping them in identifying the problem (addiction), make the client analyze the condition, and finally, be in a position to resolve ambivalence about the addiction. An advantage of motivational interviewing is that there is a direct contact between the client and the psychologist. The contact helps the psychologist to get first hand response from the addicted person (client).
A disadvantage of motivational interviewing is meant to seek a client’s motivation to do an action. A piece of advice from a psychologist can make an addicted person to undergo medication, but the outside forces may be stronger and make the client stop medication. Another disadvantage of motivation interviewing is that it does not address the urgency of change. The addicted people may choose to live with the conditions opting to change later (Miller, Peter, Strang, and Miller).
Counselor’s Values & Beliefs
Counselors are taught not to be judgmental, unlike the society that sees addiction as a moral issue or a sin. Making judgments create a recipe for disaster. As a way to make counselors aware of their values, a set of reflective questions has been drafted that can help one to understand some of the beliefs (Jill). In our case let us choose alcohol. What is our understanding of alcohol what is the relationship between a person and alcohol, what feeling does one get when he/she is drunk, and how does the society consider an alcoholic person? When the client well answers the questions, a psychologist can integrate the story and use it to make the client get in touch with their values and beliefs. Listening to the affected people in what they understand according to their knowledge can help give an idea of where and how to drive the advice into the client’s mind.
Solution Focused and Harm Reduction Approaches
Solution-focused and …
