Chemical dependency counseling is usually undertaken by a licensed individual who can work in different settings which support those people who are addicted to drugs, alcohol or both. The type of training that the counselor has to undergo varies somewhat by region but most require the counselor to have a bachelor’s degree as the minimum education and a number of hours of practicum hours prior to getting their license.
Chemical dependency counseling can be done in a number of different locations. In many cases the counselor works in a drug treatment center; here they help develop and oversee the way a program is structured and run and work either one-on-one with a patient or in a group setting. Group settings are designed to promote dialogue and communication between people who all are experiencing the same challenges as they deal with their addiction. The counselor also will address the group, teaching them what behavior is expected of them and the potential pitfalls that lie ahead.
When the counseling is one-on-one the counselor helps the individual get through the early stages of recovery. As the individual progresses through therapy and is preparing to leave the program the counselor will help the individual prepare an action plan that is designed to keep the user clean while he or she picks up the threads of their life and resumes normal activities. Chemical dependence counseling is helped considerably when they are fully aware of what resources are available in the community as this can be helpful in providing the recovering addict with the help that may be necessary to make sure the individual remains free of drugs and alcohol.
A great deal of this help can come from support from a counselor that works in an outpatient clinic. These El Paso TX counselors may be part of groups or organizations that focus on prevention rather than treatment and do outreach programs for their community. These counselors are often responsible for writing and preparing material that help people think rationally about their current behavior before taking the fateful step to drug dependency.
Part of chemical dependency counseling is to work with the families of those who have a serious problem with addiction. Many of these counselors work in day treatment centers as well as hospitals and El Paso TX behavioral health facilities, in some cases these specialists are not truly drug counselors but they may be psychologists or have been trained in meditation techniques.
Chemical dependency counseling is available at University Behavioral Health of El Paso. The experienced care givers safely manage the mental health issues associated with withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.
