As much as addiction is a physical disease, it is equally as mentally and emotionally crippling. Yes – it takes a toll on a person’s body, but it also affects their mental stability, emotional capacity, social aptitude, and more. Everything is integrated. Addiction touches all aspects of a person’s life, and therefore, can be very hard to manage on one’s own. Many people struggling with drug addiction, as a result, will seek professional counseling.

Addiction counselors play a very important role in the recovery journey. During a person’s treatment, an addiction counselor will get to know the person who is struggling, listen to and assess his or her needs, and help develop an individualized treatment plan for recovery and after care. Through one-on-one and group therapy sessions, the addiction counselor will also:

• Help clients get to the root of their drug problems (what caused them to turn to drugs?)
• Identify potential relapse triggers, such as places, people, or emotions that create cravings
• Develop coping skills to handle those triggers, when they arise
• Create a specialized, long-term treatment plan to help sustain an individual’s sobriety
• Provide unbiased, non-judgmental emotional support for clients in recovery

If you or a loved one is battling a substance addiction, it is important to know that you are not alone. There are over 20 million people battling a substance use disorder today, and nearly 8 million who are battling a mental health disorder alongside that addiction. Drug abuse and addiction can happen to anyone, of any age or upbringing. The important thing for you to know now is that it is treatable and manageable. There is support out there to help you overcome this battle. You do not have to go through this alone.

The question is, how do you find the right addiction counselor to help you navigate this all?

The right addiction counselor is one is reputable and trusted amongst the recovery community. He or she will have great knowledge and experience, as well as an empathetic and compassionate demeanor towards all types of people, no matter their stories or backgrounds. Most of all, this therapist will be a great listener—he or she will listen to your needs, your history of substance use, your challenges in life, as well as your fears and goals. He or she will also listen for your readiness to get sober and live a sober life. Committing to recovery is not easy, but it is an addiction counselor’s job to make this process as comfortable, positive, and effective as possible for you.

Addiction counselors are also there to create a safe and stable environment for you. To find true healing, your counselor may help you open up old wounds, as well as understand, accept, and move past them. Communication is key in the recovery process. In order to beat addiction, you need to first defeat the underlying issues that caused it. An addiction counselor is there to talk, to ask questions, and to listen to you as you work through this process – discussing your feelings, your traumas, your successes, your faults, your doubts, and your hopes. The right addiction counselor will be unbiased and make you feel comfortable (or at times, comfortably uncomfortable) every step of the way.

Another key quality to look for in an addiction counselor is one who understands and is trained in co-occurring disorders. As noted above, millions of people struggle with both addiction and a mental health problem. Because they affect the same areas of the brain, substance and mental disorders often go hand-in-hand. Even if you do not think you (or your loved one) is facing a mental health issue, it is important never to rule the possibility out. These problems can include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, an eating disorder, panic attacks, social anxiety, among many other common conditions. Recovery from these co-occurring disorders is most successful when addressed in combination with addiction therapy. That is why it is so important to choose a dual diagnosis rehab center who is equipped to assess all aspects of a person’s mental, emotional, and physical health.

The Addiction Counselors at Turnbridge

At Turnbridge, we truly believe that it’s our people that sets us apart from other drug treatment centers. Our team of addiction therapists, clinical nurses, case managers, and support staff are all wholly dedicated to creating individualized treatment plans for each and every young man and woman at Turnbridge – treatment plans for substance abuse and addiction, as well as any underlying mental health disorders involved. We believe to fully recover, the healing of mind and body must be integrated.

The addiction counselors at Turnbridge specialize in cognitive care and are trained in gender-responsive and trauma-informed therapy. This is very important, as men and women experience drugs and addiction differently. The recovery process between genders greatly varies. Our therapists will assess each young man and woman’s addiction and mental health conditions, and will use a combination of evidence-based therapy methods to help him or her overcome those struggles. Therapies are a customized regime of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, group counseling, medication management, and more. They also lead group therapy sessions, of same-gender, same age-grouped peers. Our addiction counselors and therapists also like to involve family members throughout the recovery process, which is another part of what makes Turnbridge so unique.

Addiction counselors are trained to help you work through difficult issues and to come out of recovery the best person you can be. A great addiction counselor understands that sobriety is not easy, and will be a part of your support system throughout the entire recovery journey.

When you are struggling with addiction, and especially with difficult emotions or withdrawal symptoms, it can be very hard to know who you can trust and lean on for support. It can be hard to find a willingness to open up, at all. We understand this immensely. In fact, much of Turnbridge’s support staff, clinicians, counselors and therapists have walked in similar shoes – many have also been personally touched by drug and alcohol addiction, and have successfully walked the road to recovery. Many are Turnbridge alumni themselves. This personal understanding of addiction, as well as of the Turnbridge treatment program, adds to the intimate and supportive recovery community that is Turnbridge.

You deserve an addiction counselor that understands the complexities of addiction, especially at a young age; who will always listen to you, no matter what you bring to the table; and who will help you fight this fight and overcome the past traumas or decisions that led you here. For more information on the addiction counseling services at Turnbridge, please don’t hesitate to call 877-581-1793 today.