A drug therapist helps individuals with drug problems by assessing their needs and devising strategies to prevent substance abuse. They may incorporate group therapy and keep office hours for private sessions and medication advice.
A drug therapist works with individuals who have or have had problems with drug use. One of the general goals of a therapist is to help rehabilitate the individual. A therapist is sometimes referred to as a substance abuse counselor. Most of the time, a person in this position will be dedicated to devising strategies that will help keep the person off drugs. Drug therapists may work in a community center, a hospital, or a rehab facility.
The first thing a therapist can do is assess the individual’s needs. Every person seeking professional help for drug-related issues will have different needs. For this reason, a drug therapist can do several things to tailor an individual detox program. This may include taking a medical history, assigning a questionnaire, and conducting an interview. All of these tactics can be used to gain information about the person that will help the therapist build a program to better serve the individual.
Once an assessment is done, the counselor or therapist may have enough information to establish a substance abuse prevention program. The program will usually have outlined strategies designed to prevent substance abuse. This can start with a step plan. In this plan, the drug therapist may have a numbered list of steps that must be taken for drug prevention. Typically, the list will be therapist-established requirements that have proven successful through past experience.
Group therapy is another common duty of a drug therapist. Sometimes a therapist will incorporate group counseling as part of the treatment, as many people can be helped at the same time. Generally, individuals are asked to share their accounts of drug use. Sharing stories can be used to ensure that no one is alone in the battle to improve. Also, someone can share something in group therapy that can be used by someone else to help their own recovery.
In many cases, a pharmacist therapist will keep office hours to meet with people frequently. The therapist can use this time to talk with people in a private setting. Availability is also an important part of this work. In addition to scheduled group sessions and office hours, many therapists may be available for medication advice at times not listed, as the needs of a person seeking recovery can be unpredictable. In general, a person seeking to be a drug therapist needs to have a good understanding of drug addiction, be people oriented, support and lead a team.
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