Why is Counseling so Important in Treatment of Addiction

People who come for treatment of a substance use disorder often ask the question, “why do you require counseling as part of my treatment plan?”  Especially counseling as part of a GROUP process.  Well, the answer is really pretty simple.  The substance use disorder radically changes the way the brain processes reward/avoidance of distress/and higher order functions like “learning how to live life on life’s terms.”  Yes, many times medication is prescribed to help the brain return to its normal state.  But that is only part of the equation needed to treat addiction.  Someone with a substance use disorder has lived a very disruptive life – both for themselves and those who depend upon that person.  The great majority of “non-diseased” people are able t

o “live life on life’s terms” without the need to take a substance to “normalize” their lives.  And learning how to “live life on life’s terms” requires learning – and learning requires teaching.  Learning about ways to take the daily circumstances we all face requires interaction with someone who holds those keys – and interaction with other’s who are also learning how to live that kind of life.  In our program, we use SMART RECOVERY as the basis of our curriculum.  And we conduct the GROUPs virtually.  I know that many people have great trepidation in participating in a group process where their disease becomes evident to other people.  Of course, those people also have that same disease (addiction) and are learning those principles needed in order to rebuild a broken life.  Exposure is threatening – but it is also healing.  In AA, the first step is acknowledging “I have lost control over some substance and my life has become unmanageable.”  And that requires an open honest revelation to self and others.  But it is so very important to realize this is a disease – a disease like asthma or diabetes or other diseases that afflict use.  Addiction isn’t a moral failure, lack of self-control alone or other labels that cause those with addiction to seek to hide it or deny the importance of how this disease has disrupted their lives and the lives of those who depend on this person.  No, addiction is a disease.  The brain has been damaged as a result of the substance and the associated behaviors.  The brain has been altered.  And to repair requires treatment – treatment that requires re-learning.

So counseling is a necessary element.  At first it feels threatening.  But learning to face your fears and learn different ways to face and overcome those fears is a necessary element in achieving recovery.

Plaza Behavioral and Addiction Health clinic is here to help anyone who is caught in the throes of addiction.  We provide comprehensive outpatient treatment that addresses those elements that have been disordered due to addiction.  If you or someone you love is willing to accept treatment, we are here to provide.

Dan Criswell, MD
Plaza Behavioral Health and Addiction