Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 20, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Anyone who has struggled with an addiction is likely to be aware of how difficult it can be to beat such an illness, especially when no professional help is available.
  • While some people successfully manage to kick these habits out of their lives for good, these lucky folks are in the minority as the majority is still stuck in the struggling phase.
  • Because of the very nature of addiction, the affected person has this constant need to satisfy an urge which leads to a loss of control over their actions.
Reading time: 8 min

Anyone who has struggled with an addiction is likely to be aware of how difficult it can be to beat such an illness, especially when no professional help is available. While some people successfully manage to kick these habits out of their lives for good, these lucky folks are in the minority as the majority is still stuck in the struggling phase. Because of the very nature of addiction, the affected person has this constant need to satisfy an urge which leads to a loss of control over their actions. Those who somehow manage to hold onto some control and continue with their attempt to quit are faced with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that subside only when they restart abusing drugs or alcohol, a primary reason why so many people go back to drug use while still in recovery.

A generally accepted rule is that those who wish to break the cycle and overcome their destructive habits need appropriate addiction counseling to tackle the underlying issues and behavior. Only then can a person consider moving on and learn to live a life free from alcohol and drugs.

Different types of theories and definitions have been proposed regarding addiction. While some focus on physical experience, others emphasise its psychological effects. Similarly, some experts explain it using a medical model, while others define it as a cultural and social issue. In general, addiction refers to any behavior that:

  • Is repetitive, persistent, and dominating
  • Brings serious negative outcomes, but the victim still carries on
  • Has a qualify of compulsion where the individual does not feel like they have a choice
  • Involves psychological or physical dependence and may bring about significant psychological or physical stress upon stopping the behavior
  • Includes an element of denial of the negative consequences, both to self as well as to others

The world has experienced a devastating rise in fatalities due to drug and alcohol overdose in recent years. Nevertheless, the stigma attached to addiction remains pervasive and persistent, rooted in the belief that these addictions are personal choices that reflect moral failing and a lack of willpower. Hence, many people never seek the help they need and continue to live as it is instead of looking for addiction counseling therapy.

The word ‘counseling’ is an umbrella term used to describe different types of therapy that are effectively included in a comprehensive recovery program. The choice of these therapies depends on your addiction counselor and the rehab provider who will assess your personal circumstances and current situation to decide on the best counseling therapies to include in your personally-tailored treatment plan. Irrespective of the therapies included in counseling sessions, all work to achieve the same aim: to get to the root of the addictive behavior and change the negative processes and thoughts holding you in the strong grip of addiction until now.

In addition to the regular detoxification programmes that are commonly offered by addiction rehabs, counseling serves as another vital component of the addiction program and is commenced as soon as the initial detox is concluded. In this aspect, both individual as well as group counseling, are used to deal with the root cause or problems or even help with the withdrawal symptoms. These counseling sessions will help you realise that merely talking about things can help you get better.

Counseling is a regular part of treatment and must be offered to each client to give them the best shot at beating addictions. Consider it as an investment in money and time for recovering addicts, and in most cases, the outcome is well worth it.

It is often the case that friends and family members are able to see the problem long before the addict can. This is most likely because addicts are often in denial about their issues. Denial is a natural defense mechanism of the brain that protects an individual from an unpleasant reality. For addicts, the same phenomenon hides the truth of what lies before them. They may also fear addiction recovery and have scary thoughts about sober life. Instead of working on resolving the issue, these people find it much easier to simply deny the existence of the problem.

Regrettably, many drug addicts who even enter rehabilitation still practice denial, and this denial is one of the largest barriers to their recovery. Proper addiction counseling can help addicts see their situation the way it really is and break down the barrier of denial. For this purpose, motivational interviewing is often added to the counseling sessions as a non-confrontational and supportive therapy to increase the patient’s motivation to accept the issue and seek help.

Substance abuse counselors are the best support system for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. By forming relationships with their clients built on trust, these experts provide support, guidance, and the necessary resources for patients to utilise for recovery.  They can not only provide help with emergency crisis management but also assist in managing long-term addiction issues as well.

Another important role of these counselors in the journey of drug addiction recovery is the provision of necessary tools that clients can use to avoid relapses in the future. For this purpose, they may work closely with the patients to plan a comprehensive relapse prevention plan tailored to each client according to their requirements. Lastly, the drug addiction counselors also serve as a bridge between the addicts and their families and help them form strong bonds that only speed up recovery.

Addiction rehabilitation is easily available and hugely beneficial for most addicts but can only work if the patient is ready to accept it and make necessary changes to their life. Many addicts enter rehab to fight addiction only because they have been railroaded by their family and friends but do not understand the importance of their intention to change.

For such people, addiction counseling can provide the support and help needed to go through the rehabilitation process. These one-on-one and group sessions with trained therapists allow the addicts to take charge of their life and induce the necessary changes for a new, better, and addiction-free life.

Addiction counselors can provide recovering addicts with the right guidance through the process and help them identify the cause of illness. Additionally, they are also responsible for helping these addicts learn how to live a life of sobriety completely independently without any help.

However, it is crucial to understand that honesty is extremely vital to reap the benefits of addiction counseling. The patients must be completely open and honest with their counselors to have the biggest chance of succeeding. Fortunately, a good addiction counselor is trained to know how to accomplish this by giving the patients a chance to open up and confront the issues.

It’s finally time to get up and take charge of your life by breaking free from addiction. Book your first addiction counseling session today to get started.

FAQs

When does a behavior or activity become an addiction?
From a psychological point of view, any behavior, such as drinking or taking drugs, becomes an addition when you become dependent on it to avoid dealing with another emotion, thought, or activity. For example, a lot of people prefer drinking to reduce anxiety in social situations. Similarly, some people take drugs to temporarily forget their current or past stressors.
 
From a physical point of view, behavior or activity becomes an addiction when you constantly need to increase the amount of substance to feel the same effects. Known as tolerance, an example of this behavior is the need felt by many addicts to constantly increase their drug doses and essentially double or triple them to get high.
Who is at risk of developing a drug or alcohol addiction?
While anyone can fall victim to drug or alcohol addiction, certain factors have been shown to increase it by a significant ratio. These include:
 
History of abuse or neglect
Impulsive behavior
Expose to one or more traumatic events in the past
History of exposure to domestic violence
Personal or family history of addiction
Unstable childhood
Low levels of self-esteem
History of overwhelming stress levels
A lack of healthy social support
Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression
A recent bereavement
A risky environment that supports addictive behaviours, for example, working in a bar
What should I expect from drug and alcohol counseling sessions?
In the very first session, the addiction counselor will likely discuss confidentiality with you. Afterwards, they will work with you to recognize addictive behaviours and the underlying causes to devise a treatment plan. Sometimes, these behaviours are pretty easy to identify, and, in some cases, an individual has multiple addictions at the same time, making the process a bit challenging. Nevertheless, determining the cause of addiction is the mainstay of treatment as it helps break the bad habit and let go of it while preventing relapse in the future.

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