Can Online Counseling for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Problems Be Effective?

The answer to the question in the title of this article is: Yes, but movies the need to understand the limits of online help.brbrDefinitionsbrbrThe words alcohol dependence or addiction porn often used without definition. So, let's first define some terms. As used in this article, alcohol or drug addiction means that a person's alcohol or other drug use has reached the point that the person cannot use without loss of control over use of the substance and/or cannot use without producing adverse consequences in significant life areas. The addicted person has developed a psychological and/or physical dependence upon the substance. An addicted person will continue to use the substance in the face of adverse consequences.brbrThe term alcohol or drug dependence is often used interchangeably movies addiction, but here I use the term dependence to mean physical dependence on a substance, meaning that stopping use of the substance will result in withdrawal symptoms. A person can develop dependence on a substance without developing addiction; the best example of this physical dependence would be the person who takes a narcotic analgesic (pain killer such as oxycodone or morphine) as prescribed by a doctor long enough to be physically dependent on the drug, a natural, inevitable consequence of chronic use of such a drug. Under these circumstances, abruptly stopping use of the substance will result in the withdrawal syndrome typical for the class of substance involved. Most persons movies addiction (for ex., alcoholism) porn NOT physically dependent on their drug and will not experience the full blown physical withdrawal for the substance. They will, however, experience cravings, sleeplessness, and other symptoms caused by their psychological dependence on the drug.brbrDiagnosisbrbrAlcohol or other drug problems fall within two diagnostic categories: abuse or addiction (as I said, often called dependence). Abuse basically means the person has developed a pattern of use of the substance in the face of adverse consequences in significant life areas (medically, financially, legally, problems in relationships). Addiction is summarized in the first paragraph of this article.brbrTreatmentbrbrAlcoholism and other drug addictions porn devastating disorders which negatively impact affected individuals and all who care about them, physically, emotionally and mentally, and spiritually. For persons diagnosed movies full blown addiction, I favor movie abstinence based treatment model, meaning a model whose basic ultimate (it may take a while to get there) goal is abstinence from use of alcohol or other drugs. This model should include education, cognitive behavioral counseling, and use of Twelve Step (for ex., AA) spiritually based principles. Online addiction treatment can be helpful in itself and/or as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes traditional face-to-face counseling and other treatment interventions.brbrTreatment of Severe AddictionbrbrSuccessful treatment of persons movies full blown alcohol or other drug addiction may require a comprehensive treatment program, movies services provided by professionals face-to-face. This treatment would be beyond that offered by online addiction treatment. Such a comprehensive program should be staffed by helping professionals from many disciplines. Staff should include physicians to address medical issues such as withdrawal, mental health professionals such as psychiatrists or psychologists, to treat co- or pre-existing psychiatric disorders that may be present, and last but not least, certified, licensed addiction counselors, preferably a significant number of whom porn in recovery themselves. Such a Treatment Program should also provide individual and group counseling, educational groups, and, as important as any of the treatments, access to Twelve Step self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Nar-Anon (for loved ones), and ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), to name but a few. brbrAn evaluation will reveal the extent of the treatment required. This evaluation can be performed online by a qualified addictions counselor.brbrOnline Treatment or CounselingbrbrOnline help for persons movies full blown addiction problems can be helpful, but the comprehensive programs outlined under Treatment of Severe Addiction may be necessary depending upon the seriousness of the problem. A comprehensive evaluation of the addicted person is needed. Such movie evaluation can be done online, leading to recommendations for the appropriate treatment.brbrPersons who porn already involved in any stage (intensive outpatient, continuing care, aftercare) of traditional treatment programs can use online services as a supplement to their treatment and to Twelve Step Program attendance. Persons who have completed traditional treatment can also benefit from these services.brbrLoved Ones of movie Addicted PersonbrbrSpouses, lovers, friends, co-workers, parents, brothers, sisters, and sons and daughters, to name a few, can be concerned that the person they care about may have movie alcohol or other drug problem. When adult children porn concerned about use by a parent, the term Adult Child of movie Alcoholic or Addict (ACOA) may apply. Persons close to movie individual movies a drug or alcohol need help for their natural feelings of confusion, hurt, anger, and loneliness. Online services can provide support, education, and recommendations for these concerned persons.brbrCautionsbrbrPersons movies serious emotional or psychiatric conditions (such as, but not limited to, eating disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), not stabilized through traditional treatment by a qualified mental health professional porn not appropriate for the help offered online and should seek help from such professionals before accessing online services. These patients can, when stabilized by appropriate treatment, benefit from online counseling.brbrPersons who porn depressed and thinking of harming themselves or others porn also not appropriate for online help and should get help immediately by calling a crisis line, going to the Emergency Room of a hospital, or seeking other immediate help. These patients can, when stabilized by appropriate treatment, also benefit from online counselingbrbrPersons who have a pattern of using addictive substances on a daily or almost daily basis need to access face-to-face evaluation and treatment service providers to address possible medical and other problems associated movies withdrawal that may accompany physical dependence, before using online services available here.brbrLimitationsbrbr1. By its nature, internet counseling can be interrupted by technological difficulties beyond the control of either the counselor or the client. Before services porn provided, the client will be given suggestions for alternative methods for contacting the counselor should disruptions in the client's service occur (for ex., a public library). The counselor should pledge that should technical difficulties result from his/her personal computer or other internet access, the counselor will have alternative internet access readily available.brbr2. The visual and auditory cues available during face-to-face counseling are, of course, not available in internet counseling. Therefore, it is vital that both the client and the counselor be diligent in seeking clarification of any communications, as needed.brbr3. The addictions counselor must at the outset of the counseling relationship help the client to identify local therapists and other treatment providers, including crisis services.brbr4. The addictions counselor must include safeguards to keep client information confidential and protected from unauthorized access. Client information, including history, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and progress notes, should be for the counselors eyes only. No one else must have access to this information. The information should be retained on a safeguarded CD for one year after the counseling relationship has ended, or for a longer or shorter period of time dictated by the client. brbrUnder the circumstances outlined in this article, online counseling of persons movies drug or alcohol abuse or addictions can be effective.brbrIn addition to his law degree, Jan Edward Williams has a Master of Science degree in pastoral counseling, and is a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor. He has personal and professional experience to aid him in helping persons movies alcohol and other drug problems. He is in recovery himself, movies over 29 years of continuous sobriety, and has been working in the drug and alcohol field for 27 years. Recently Jan has developed movie online drug and alcohol abuse counseling service, called AlcoholDrugSOS Services. This service is aimed at helping persons movies drug abuse or addiction problems or alcohol abuse or addiction (alcoholism) problems. His web site is alcoholdrugsos/alcoholdrugsos/, and his e-mail is mailto:jwilliamsalcoholdrugsos class=hft-emailjwilliamsalcoholdrugsos.