Treatment Approaches for Alcohol and Drug Dependence
Chapter One
General Counselling Skills
RECOMMENDED USE
When it comes to counselling, there is nothing unique about the field of alcohol and
other drugs. The same skills that are effective for general counselling are also
effective for counselling people with drug-related problems. Research has shown
that treatment for alcohol and other drug problems is more likely to be successful
if therapists use empathic counselling skills (Miller, Benefield & Tonigan, 1993). On
the other hand, counselling alone is not usually sufficient to change the drug-taking
behaviour of most clients. Rather, good counselling skills will enable you to develop
a strong working relationship with your client that will support the implementation
of specific strategies designed to combat the drinking or drug problem.
GOALS
The counselling process therefore aims:
To build a trusting relationship where your client can communicate her concerns
and describe her behav ... read full excerpt from Treatment Approaches for Alcohol and Drug Dependence: An Introductory Guide ebook
