There are many reasons why lasting recovery is possible in a professional rehab facility. Beyond safety, security, and support, you’ll have access to qualified staff who understand your unique needs. Take a closer look at the many different ways a substance abuse counselor is an advocate for your sobriety.
Providing Consistent Encouragement
Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction is challenging. Fortunately, it’s a lot easier with constant encouragement and support. While friends and family can help, they aren’t professionals. However, a substance abuse counselor is a consistent, reliable source of encouragement.
Additionally, counselors offer accountability. It’s easier to overcome temptations and resist cravings when there’s someone checking in with you every day. Counselors are an excellent way to remind patients of their daily goals and progress.
Offering a Non-Judgemental Ear
In many ways, addiction recovery feels like a roller coaster ride. It’s normal to experience strong emotions and serious ups and downs, regularly. Thus, a counselor offers patients the opportunity to express their feelings without judgment.
The unique nature of the relationship provides comfort when talking with addiction counselors. By knowing what they share is private, patients accept their vulnerability. In a one-on-one session, they talk about their past struggles, apprehensions about the future, and any recovery obstacles.
Providing Solutions to Common Recovery Problems
Often, generic solutions provide answers for patients. However, every patient in rehab is going through a unique experience. For this reason, they may require a unique solution. Therefore, substance abuse professionals work through these problems with patients and determine the right solution.
Unfortunately, some patients don’t have a reliable support system. Regardless, counselors work to create a new support, ensuring continuing care long after rehab ends. Not to mention, counselors can also help patients who worry about lingering withdrawal symptoms or ongoing cravings. Sometimes, just realizing these are normal can offers peace of mind.
Crafting Custom Coping Mechanisms to Prevent Relapse
There are many challenges that appear during withdrawal and rehab, but the hard work doesn’t end immediately afterward. Addiction is a lifelong illness, and you’ll need to continue maintaining your sobriety. Fortunately, counselors help patients develop coping mechanisms for lasting success.
Coping skills are the way patients handle future stress and temptations. For example, some patients discover a new hobby, like painting or cooking. Others find that exercise is a wonderful stress reliever. Overall, every patient has the opportunity to uncover their own coping mechanism during therapy.
A Substance Abuse Counselor at Steps to Recovery
At Steps to Recovery, patients have many opportunities to interact with substance abuse counselors. You might spend time with them during training, educational classes, or therapy sessions. The many effective treatment methods patients can expect at Steps to Recovery include:
• Family counseling
• Dual diagnosis care
• Aftercare
• Group counseling
• Life skills training
A substance abuse counselor can be a great help during rehab. At Steps to Recovery, in Levittown, Pennsylvania, counselors and medical professionals offer support, encouragement, and accountability every day. Call 267.719.8528 now to permanently overcome your addiction.