Support groups play a significant role in the treatment of substance abuse in the United States. Research has shown that continued engagement in support group dramatically improves the likelihood that an individual will remain sober. Clinical therapy groups, on the other hand, are focused on providing mental health services to children, the young, and the adults by emphasizing clinical psychotherapy means. Best, & Lubman, (2012) noted that support group is, therefore, an embodiment of the non-clinical support strategy that every counselor must understand its operation. In such setting, members share common problems especially those involving disease or an addiction. Vital to appreciate is that such non-clinical groups play a significant role in the enhancement of treatment amongst the substance addicts. For instance, counselors must know that recovery from addiction is an ongoing life process that needs a long-term supportive therapy from recovery groups. Through a broad sense of connection with others suffering from similar problems, addicts, and their family members can potentially get a reprieve.
A counselor must develop an empathic relationship with a client suffering from substance use disorder if they want desirable results. Through empathy, the counselor will be in a position to identify with the feelings of their clients and treat them accordingly. Empathy further reduces any potential conflict and also improves communication and relationships between the counselor and the client. In challenging the behaviors and thoughts that are not promoting recovery in the individual, three critical virtues would be essential. First, the counselor must provide advice to the client by making viable suggestions instead of imposing things on them. They should also show an increased sense of responsibility by emphasizing behavior changes beneficial to their client (Marsella, & Pedersen, 2013). Third, they must show self-efficacy to the client in a bid to instill a sense of optimism that will subsequently promote behavior change in the individual. Lastly, the counselor must focus on achieving behavior change by focusing on the positive sides of the outcome.
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References
Best, D. W., & Lubman, D. I. (2012). The recovery paradigm: A model of hope and change for alcohol and drug addiction. Australian family physician , 41 (8), 593.
Marsella, A. J., & Pedersen, P. B. (Eds.). (2013). Cross-Cultural Counseling and Psychotherapy: Pergamon General Psychology Series (Vol. 93). Elsevier.
