If you are thinking about going into recovery there is a lot to consider. Having support though is something that is highly recommended. Not everyone will want or even need the same support system and what works for someone else may not work for you. Know your options and try them all! You may not connect right away but give it time. Below is detailed information about what a support person can do for you.
A counselor is a person with a professional license that allows them to give guidance to individuals or groups who are seeking support. A counselor will have a combination of education, training, and licenses all of which will vary depending on the state that they will practice in.
A peer mentor is someone who is can provide mentoring to individuals not at an authoritative level. A peer mentor typically has encountered similar situations as the person they are mentoring. For example, a peer mentor in the chemical dependency field is typically someone who is in recovery themselves. Peer mentors are able to be empathetic to their peers. Every person who receives mental health help or services has different needs. While some individuals thrive with their counselors, others may thrive with a peer mentor. Oftentimes, people will open up to somebody who has “been there, done that.”
A sponsor is part of the 12-step program and is somebody who has completed the program. Sponsors work hand in hand. For those who are sponsors, helping someone else keeps them on track and provides confidence. It is their way of giving back to the community. For the person who is being sponsored, a sponsor is someone who can guide them, help them, and be there for them through the difficult times that they face during sobriety. Sponsors often develop lifelong friendships with those who they sponsor and the idea is to keep the program in full circle.
The Disease Model of Addiction vs Existential Therapy
The disease model of addiction is obviously the more favorable model of addiction as the majority of chemically dependent individuals utilize this approach. It’s been proven over again that this model of addiction is effective and true in regards to encouragement.
My own personal belief is that will power and determination play a much bigger role in determining one’s fate. One example is Existential Therapy. I like this approach because of the freedom counselors and therapist have in implementing techniques. They are able to adapt the techniques they know to help the client in the realization of their unique identity. Therapists and counselors are also able focus more closely on the individual needs of the client, bringing out their identity.
Some critics however, claim that using existential therapy limits proper treatment due to the fact that they do not diagnose or properly or assess. There are other methods that work in addiction and in the end it’s really up to the client to find a program that uses approaches in which they believe will work for them. If the disease model of addiction leads someone to a life without addiction at all then by all means it’s effective. Each counselor should be choosing their own treatment methods for their clients and if that is the disease model of addiction then so it should be. However it is important that one not stick just to one specific idea in order to ensure the clients get the best possible care.
Common problems during treatment
Dealing with problems when you are seeking out help for your addiction is something you are going to have to get used to. The process of sobriety is never a straight line. However, there are some problems that are caused by the actual choice of treatment itself.
Many traditional treatment programs or 12-step meetings struggle with these problems because are they are self caused. The introduction of these problems is a major issue because they can cause unneccessary relapse even if the main addiction treatment process is working ok for the individual.
Common problems that can occur in treatment:
- Recovering individuals as counselors
- Confrontation as a treatment strategy
- The use of medication
- Controlled use
Recoverying individuals
Recovering individuals as counselors can only be good if they have the interpersonal skills and education to back it up. Often times counselors in recovery don’t have this and then they try to mold the client into their own way of thinking because they simply believe they know it all because they have been through the experience themselves.
Confrontation strategy
Confrontation is not always beneficial in counseling or at least thought that way anymore. The success rate of recovery is much lower when confrontation is involved. The solution? Have empathy and compassion and avoid confrontation as much as possible.
Medication usage
There are medications that are prescribed for addicts that may be counterintuitive; meaning trading once addiction for another. A successful treatment plan will eliminate all drugs, even if they are assumed to help.
Controlled use approach
Some users and abusers believe that they can go through treatment with controlled use. This doesn’t work as it’s merely the client’s perception of what is controlled. A treatment plan should only include eliminating the drug of choice completely.
If you are currently getting help for your addiction then you need to be careful to avoid these problems. Alternatively seek out an online addiction recovery program like Live Rehab which can help you recovery without dealing with what we’ve mentioned in this article.
How I would apply the rules of Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt Therapy is about helping you recognize that being present is the most important rule.
If I was implementing this approach while working with you, I would discuss my method and explain to you why it works. I believe that implementing rules without an explanation does not create the confidence that is needed. Then, after the trust is established I would be firm in my expectations but also have empathy and compassion. If you slipped and asked a question instead of a statement I would simply remind you of the rules and gently ask you to rephrase what they were asking. Implementing these rules may be uncomfortable at first but the once the you observe success you will understand the rules better and a beneficial outcome will be recognized.
Why I like the Bowen Family Therapy Approach
Bowen Family Therapy is part of a growing trend of independent approaches to healing and family centered centers. One of the main reasons that I believe that the Bowen Family Therapy appeals to me so much is that Bowen took his own approach to solving the dynamics and nuances of therapy. Instead of focusing on tried and true methods for everyone he instead devised his own methods which would eventually turn into a completely viable approach that everyone else could take too. The Bowen Family Therapy, in my opinion, offers a chance to present information to the client in a way which affords them the opportunity to recognize the unconsciousness factors impacting their life. All too often we see or examine therapy treatment styles which do not properly address these factors and therefore leave an empty hole which leads to relapse situations. Unfortunately, the Bowen Family Therapy approach cannot be used in every situation nor does it apply to every family so its practical application in the real world, depending on where you practice can have limited uses. Depending on the clients’ needs and their own family history it will be important to properly assess whether or not this approach will be of any use.