Your doctor has diagnosed you with alcoholism and said that you need alcohol abuse counseling to regain your health. But you may ask yourself, “Why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” and wonder why you can’t just go sober alone. You need this type of care because it can help you beat addiction and stay sober for good. So let’s take a look at what this type of care entails to learn more.
What is Alcohol Abuse Counseling?
Alcohol abuse counseling takes you out of your comfort zone and pairs you with a professional – or a group – who understands addiction. They can help you trace the core of your addiction, including why you started drinking, and figure out why you struggle through an abusive cycle. They do this by talking to you in an open and frank manner.
Just think of the type of help you get when you go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. However, you’ll usually be directed by a medical professional who understands how to diagnose and manage addiction. With their help, you can not only learn more about the nature of addiction but can also master unique care options that help you regain your sobriety.
Why Do I Need Alcohol Abuse Counseling?
Those with an alcohol abuse disorder often cannot see their abuse, as they are too close to it. In a sense, the person cannot see the forest through the trees. Counseling helps to provide a more balanced examination of this problem to help you stay healthy and regain your sobriety. A few ways that alcohol abuse counseling can help include how it will:
- Assess the nature of your alcoholism – Figure out why do you drink and the severity of the addiction
- Pattern recognition – Learn about your triggers and why these impact your abuse
- Behavior adjustments – Stop falling into addictive patterns of behavior by using this care
- Personal insight – Get an outside view of who you are from a professional who understands addiction
One of the first things you need to do is to break down all of the contributing factors of your substance use. By the time you are done, you’ll be able to say “no” to alcohol or at least understand how to say no. You may still need some more help in a rehab program. But at least you know the answer to the question, “Why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” to get you started.
How Does This Counseling Fit Into a Rehab Plan?
If you are going to a rehab center, you may ask yourself, “Why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” if you’re already getting otherwise comprehensive care. This type of counseling is beneficial, particularly in a rehab center, because you can use the lessons learned there to manage alcohol addiction better. For example, you can learn more about why you drink through your counseling sessions.
Then, you can go to your rehab specialists and open up to them about your triggers. This understanding can fuel a more efficient recovery. Alcohol counseling programs often force you to face your problem head-on and give you the chance to be honest. And then, rehab can help you learn coping mechanisms to manage your sobriety.
So don’t think that alcohol abuse counseling is separate from rehab – they are part and parcel of the same type of care. Remember: addiction is a multifaceted disease. And while abuse counseling can help you better understand the nature of your addiction, it cannot handle all aspects. For example, rehab can help you get through withdrawal symptoms to make your ultimate recovery easier to handle.
Care is Available for Your Needs
As you can see, the answer to “Why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” is more complicated than you may have imagined. As a result, you may need more help to manage your addiction and substance use problems. If so, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Crestview Recovery right away to learn more. Our experts have years of experience and can provide dual-diagnosis, individual therapy, trauma care, and more in a 90-day care program. So, verify your insurance and call 866.262.0531 to get started.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
