The Important Role Played By A Substance Abuse Counselor Pasadena

By Harriett Crosby


Many people suffering from substance abuse issues in Pasadena can use the services of a drug abuse counselor. Counseling is effective in remedying mental health problems and the erratic behaviors associated with drug addiction, alcoholism and addition to pain relievers among others. The negative repercussions on the legal and personal side are a great hindrance to any addict. By consulting with a substance abuse counselor Pasadena residents can receive treatment that can help them meet their recovery goals.

After you visit the practice of a counselor, he or she will evaluate your mental and physical health as well as your openness towards getting treated. This professional will then help you identify any behaviors that can interfere with your recovery process after he or she develops a treatment plan. A counselor can also recommend various treatment options to your relatives and help them strategize on how your addiction problem can be solved.

Substance abuse counseling combines pharmacological and behavioral treatment. Counselors may offer their services in hospitals, research facilities, private practice clinics, education centers, detention centers, drug rehab centers and detoxification centers. They seek to find the root cause of addiction and help patients recover gradually.

Counselors develop an individual plan for their patients depending on the underlying cause of addiction. Treatment for drug addiction can include a combination of contingency management, motivational interviewing, family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Counseling gently helps patients acknowledge the reality of how abusing substances affects their lives and those of people around them.

Counselors also help patients also realize that their cases are not unique. Counseling provides strong support and opens up opportunities for patients to confront their situations instead of denying the problem or blaming others as they try to rationalize their behavior. It helps them identify their addiction related behavioral patterns and confront emotional and behavioral issues that they be hindering their progress. Some sessions are easier than others but progress comes with each counseling session.

A counselor also works jointly with family members of a patient who is undergoing treatment. The family gets regular updates about the treatment options, drugs used and the rate of recovery of their family member. Research on substance addiction treatment shows that family bonding plays a key role in the rehabilitation of an addict. This happens because the family members also receive simultaneous education on preventing any relapse and promoting a great home environment.

Substance abuse counselors also help families arrange for additional healthcare or mental health treatment that a recovering addict may need. They can consult with psychologists or psychiatrists if they suspect that a patient has an underlying mental health condition and refer them to these professionals for care if needed. They may recommend that patients undergo inpatient care at a drug addiction residential center if they believe that this will work for a patient.

Counselors always seek to make treatment decisions that will help a patient recover. Their services play an important role in helping patients recover psychologically. After they consult with a substance abuse counselor Pasadena dwellers can find higher meanings in their lives, improve their relationships and live as productive citizens.




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