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A DAY IN THE LIFE: DETOX COUNSELOR

through a difficult medical procedure and became addicted while taking their medication as directed. Addiction is a disease that can affect anyone, so do not judge people who are dealing with this mental and physical illness. Addiction is defined as “a repeated pattern of behavior that continues even though the person knows that it is negatively affecting their life.” People can be addicted to many things, including alcohol, drugs, stealing, This plan may include inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, individual therapy, group therapy, and employment plans. Detox counselors call facilities to find space for their patients and may work with their insurance company to help them find a way to pay for treatment. They also lead group therapy sessions in which detox patients come together to discuss their addictions and strategize ways to recover. Detox counselors may also be a part of a patient’s larger treatment team and meet with doctors, psychiatrists, and nurses to help develop a care plan for the patient. When a person enters detox, it is often one of the lowest moments in their lives. Some people realize that their addiction is out of control and they need medical help in order to stop using. Others are taken to detox against their will, due to legal statutes determining that they may be involuntarily committed when they are unable to make healthy decisions for themselves. The first person detox patients meet is their intake counselor. A detox counselor will talk with the person to get a sense of their medical, trauma, and psychiatric history. This intake interview can be difficult, as the patient is often experiencing tough physical and mental withdrawal symptoms at this time. Often, the intake interview needs to be completed before the treatment team can administer drugs to help patients with their withdrawal symptoms. In addition to intake interviews, detox counselors also help patients through one-on-one therapy sessions. During these discussions, counselors can help patients discover what triggers them to use their drug of choice and help them come up with strategies to deal with and/ or avoid these triggers. Detox counselors also help patients come up with an aftercare plan.

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HELPING THOSE WITH ADDICTIONS