addiction counselling
The use of addictive substances primarily allows temporary escape from problems such as depression and anxiety despite the harmful consequences. For most, the long term consequences bring the feelings of guilt and shame, these can get progressively worst sometimes leading to more destructive cycles.
Motivation and recompense are often the key element of addiction to drugs, eating disorders, gambling, drinking and sex all of which produce momentary highs, the lows that follow increase the feeling of despair.
It takes skilled therapists or counsellors to help a person to start to understand their emotional needs, this addressed by identifying the underlying problems related to their addiction. Addiction counselling consists of a number of approaches that is helpful for people with addictive behaviours. One such therapy is Behavioural Therapy which places emphasis on changing negative thought and behaviour patterns.
The focus of counselling is to help people deal with addiction issues as early as possible, through therapy sessions, education, support and addressing life issues, which may have contributed to the addiction in the first place.
Counselling works primarily through the therapist’s ability to listen to the client and highlight and add precision to an addictive situation or behaviour. Many areas of life are explored with the aim of helping the individual to recall and discuss certain information such as fears and resentments and general feelings.
