Addiction Recovery

Understanding Alcoholism: A Guide to Alcohol Counseling

November 8, 2021

Start your road to recovery now by reading this article and learning more about the alcohol counseling treatment process and its benefits.

Addiction is a costly habit. Alcohol abuse and dependency are two phrases that have been used to describe alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder is the current term for this condition.

As a result of excessive drinking, your body develops a dependence or addiction to alcohol. It's when this happens that alcohol takes control of your life.

Getting expert help for alcoholism has numerous advantages. Whether the issue is binge drinking, chronic alcohol consumption, excessive alcohol, or alcoholism, the person seeking to achieve balance in their life will do so more quickly and safely by choosing the proper alcohol treatment.

Below are reasons why patients should consider seeking alcohol and substance abuse counseling.

12 Core Functions Of Alcohol And Substance Abuse Counseling

One of the best options for recovering addicts is to get help from a drug and alcohol counselor. To be productive and successful, professionals must be able to fulfill 12 different essential functions.

substance abuse counseling
Source: Freepik

Patient Screening

When selecting whether or not to admit a potential client for treatment, counselors must weigh in several variables. As the initial step in getting help for a client, counselors must employ the correct diagnostic criteria during the screening process. Abuse and recreational usage are two different things, and that line needs to be drawn clearly.

Counselors must be able to articulate their standards and demonstrate their abilities. Counselors look at the individual's history of substance misuse, psychological well-being, physical health, motivation, past treatment, and other factors.

Patient Intake

The admissions or intake procedure begins if screening reveals that a patient is a good fit for a program. In this procedure, each program or institution will have its own set of documentation to complete. Here, you'll find everything from consent documents to emergency contacts to the initial patient examination and more.

Patient Orientation

This section of the process will cover a wide range of topics, from client conduct standards and treatment charges to your client's legal rights and more. The talk can be about restrictions, quiet hours, daily schedules, etc., for an inpatient hospital. An outpatient program requires you to provide information on everyday services, hours of operation, and other such things to your patients or clients.

Patient Assessment

Similar to the screening process, but goes into further depth about your patient's background. The counselor would also want to focus on your patient's issues, needs, strengths, and limitations. To get a complete picture of the patient's health, the counselor needs to look into their history of substance misuse and co-occurring disorders.

patient assessment
Source: Freepik

Treatment Planning

After a thorough examination of your patient, it's time to start working on treatment planning, with the primary roles built upon the previous one. Ensure that they fully understand their treatment strategy and how and why their addiction counselor made this particular choice, patients will be actively involved at all times.

Counseling

Individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling are just a few of the possibilities available for counseling. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy may help patients deal with a variety of concerns at the same time.

Case Management

A specific approach will be used with each patient to help them attain long-term sobriety while also addressing any other challenges or concerns they may be having.

Crisis Intervention

There may be an emergency scenario at any time throughout rehabilitation or recovery, thus rapid action is required. In any case, a crisis plan can help the patient work through the problem and return to better mental and physical health and body after rehabilitation.

Patient Education

Many patients don't know why they're addicted or have other issues. They're also frequently unaware of the numerous resources that are open to them at any one time. Addiction counselors often help patients learn about available support services and addiction in general as part of their employment.

Referral

Patients may require assistance with bipolar disorder or nutritional support and counseling if they have been diagnosed with either an eating disorder or diabetes. One of the most excellent methods to ensure a good recovery for your client is finding professionals who can help satisfy all of their demands.

Reporting & Documentation

This includes documents such as evaluations, treatment plans, discharge summaries, and various reports. Patient confidentiality is just as important as keeping track of all the paperwork.

Working with other experts as advisors

This entails cooperating with colleagues within your organization and contacting and working with experts outside your organization. In these situations, consulting with others is an integral part of the addiction counseling process.

Family Counseling As Part Of Alcohol Addiction Treatment

There is an essential link between how well a family operates and how much alcohol a person drinks. Drinking patterns can be influenced by family behaviors, and drinking patterns can be affected by family behaviors. With family alcohol counseling, families might play a critical role in helping people begin the road to recovery. Many of these therapies concentrate on families' role in initiating help-seeking, initiating change, and maintaining that change over the long term.

How to Encourage Someone to Have Outpatient Alcohol Counseling 

alcohol counseling
Source: Freepik

Reassure the patient of the treatment's advantages. At home or a sober living facility, patients spend the night and travel to a treatment center for additional structure and assistance during outpatient alcohol counseling. Compared to inpatient rehab, which keeps patients confined to a treatment facility for the duration of their recovery, outpatient rehab gives them greater independence.

Top Alcohol Counseling Centers Near Me                 

Searching for alcohol counseling near me can open up a world of new possibilities by connecting you with an experienced recovery team.

Takeaway

Rehab facilities provide a secure and friendly atmosphere where you can learn about the underlying causes of your alcoholism.

Educating yourself on the therapy process will perhaps motivate you to begin a program of your own. Always keep in mind that you aren't in this alone.

Another Chance offers an alcohol counseling program in Portland, Oregon. Please contact the center if you need more information. We're here to assist you in getting back on your feet and start a new chapter in your life with the support of our facility. Our supportive group of people will be here for you while you work to overcome your drug or alcohol addiction. Please call us at (971) 351-0914 or stop by our office to learn more about our services.