Alcohol and Drug Rehab Counseling
My name is Mr. Pitt. I’ve been a rehab counselor for over 20 years. My specialty is rehabilitation counseling for drug addicts and alcoholics. It is a commonly held misconception that this is the only type of rehab counseling when in fact there are rehab counselors for disabled people, for people with career issues, and with a wide range of medical and behavioral problems.
I am not a trained psychologist or psycho-therapist but I do find the theories and practices of these disciplines are very helpful to me in my professional career. There is often a ‘hidden’ cause for people’s addictions to alcohol and drugs. Being able to make people introvert and examine possible reasons and events that might have triggered the disease of addiction is a most fruitful course of action for rehab counseling.
As with a psychologist my job is to listen. I not only listen; I listen sympathetically. I do not judge. In my one-to-one counseling sessions I encourage my patients to say anything that is on their mind no matter how objectionable it might sound to ‘normal’ people.
I do not hold to the 12 step method used by Alcoholics Anonymous. Although their 12 step methodology has had very good results over the years I feel it is too god-orientated and also encourages too much passivity. AA seems hung up on the notion that all recovering addicts must first acknowledge the existence of some type of Supreme Being, and that they should submit their will to this being. I don’t see how religious ideology is helpful to a recovering addict if that person does not have any religious beliefs to start with. Why complicate the issue to recovering from drug and alcohol dependency by clouding the waters with theological issues? I’m happy if a Catholic comes for my counseling and finds strength in his or her religious beliefs to resist the substances that have caused problems in their life. I’m not willing to tell a practicing Buddhist who believes there is no god to change their metaphysical notions to accommodate a deity that makes no sense to them.
What I do like about the AA 12 steps method is the insistence on group support. It is often very helpful for a recovering addict to hear the experiences of other recovering addicts and those who have already beaten the disease. It makes the goal of recovery seem closer and more feasible.
I also think there is much to be said for the AA insistence that the recovering addict seek to redress the wrongs they have done to people. It can be very depressing and negative to take the first steps of admitting addiction and disease, and then detailing all the ways in which your life has been derailed and how you have hurt the loved ones in your life. There is a lot of therapeutic value in patients seeking to make amends to the people they have hurt with their behavior and actions.
I feel the really successful rehab programs are those that are not entirely based in an office or group session. People have to take their therapy out of these environments and apply them to all aspects of life. They will have to leave rehab institutions at some point and so this process should start as soon as is appropriate. The rehabilitation facility where I work separates people from society to remove temptation, to allow people to ‘dry out’. However, once the initial period of ‘cold turkey’ has finished then preparation to re-join society must be started immediately. That is why we allow patients home visits and weekends away from the facility. Patients must not be made to feel like ‘prisoners’. Rather they must take responsibility for their own recovery.
This website is designed as a resource for people training to be rehab counselors. It is also about showing people that there are plenty of substitutes in life for alcohol and drugs. I intend to stimulate recovering addicts’ interests in life. Thus, I write about travel, about home products, about music, about many topics. Where once drugs and alcohol was the mainstay of interest, the every day, the mundane, the flow of life must be re-embraced. This is effective counseling.
Alcohol Detox Symptoms
Alcohol dependence is a condition wherein a person is physically or mentally addicted to alcohol. This disease, which is also known as alcoholism, can be treated through counseling, alcohol education or detoxification.
Alcohol detoxification is one of the primary treatments being given to alcohol dependents. It is the process of flushing out the alcohol content in the body. This is usually done at a clinic or a hospital for patients with moderate to severe alcohol dependence, or in an outpatient setting for those with mild alcohol cases. The treatment generally takes about 4 to 7 days. However, there are alcohol detox symptoms accompanying this process. These symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, which is why it is important for a person undergoing alcohol detoxification to consult a doctor and constantly check in with a health professional.
Alcohol detox symptoms usually occur as early as 4 to 12 hours from the last alcohol consumption and can last for days. The severity of the symptoms experienced depends on the severity of a person’s alcohol dependence. The most common mild symptoms include sweating (usually at night), tremors, nausea, vomiting, pulsating headaches, anxiety, difficulty falling asleep, mild mood swings. Other symptoms are increase in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, dilated pupils, and clammy skin. These are usually not dangerous but accompanied by craving for alcohol.
Severe symptoms of alcohol detox called Delirium Tremens are agitation, hallucinations which are usually visual, convulsions and seizures. This commonly affects people with a 10-year history or more of alcoholism. These symptoms may occur 3 days after the last drink, but can also manifest up to 7 to 10 days after the last alcohol consumption. The symptoms are managed by doctors with medications and usually require hospitalization. This is considered a medical emergency and health professionals must be contacted promptly. It can lead to death if left untreated.
The goal of treatment during detoxification is to relieve the alcohol detox symptoms experienced by patients. This may help treat physical dependence on alcohol; however, further treatment is necessary to recover from alcohol abuse.
How Does Exercise Help People Overcome Substance Abuse Demons?
Could pulling on a pair of sneakers and taking a jog around the park actually help those battling substance abuse win their fight? Or buying a pair of fancy soccer cleats like the Adidas F50 adizero and participating in a kick around? According to a number of experts the answer is yes.
In fact many drug treatment programs already include exercise of some form in their curriculum but until recently there had been very little research commissioned into just how exercise like playing soccer, jogging or even just brisk walking helped addicts.
Now though the National Institute on Drug Abuse has provided increased funds for researchers to look more deeply into the exercise and recovery link. and already it has been found that exercise does not just help those who already have substance abuse problems but also prevents those who do not from falling into a habit.
For example one study found that teenagers who participated in some form of exercise every day were 40% less likely to smoke cigarettes than their peers and half as likely to smoke marijuana.
Here also are some of the early findings of a research study that is ongoing at Brown University:
- Rats given the opportunity to ingest amphetamines left in their cages if they had a wheel to run on. To researchers this indicates that the exercise stimulated a “reward pathway” in their brains, leaving them less likely to be lured by the drug.
- In the rats that exercised researchers found that the physical activity increased production of stem cells in the regions of the brain related to learning and mood.
- In monkeys, young monkeys who had not been exposed to exercise and playing with others as babies actually binge drank when offered alcohol. Their exercising counterparts for the most part did not.
Saving a Life With Power of Attorney?
I recently had a young woman come to me, desperate to help her alcoholic mother. Her mother lived alone and her life was spiraling out of control with a devastating addiction that caused her to lose her job, her home, and most of her life savings.
This young woman had been studying power of attorney in a college course and wondered if it would be of help to her mother. She hoped to gain power of attorney over her mother and start the process of getting her mother’s life back together. I told her that a power of attorney cannot be obtained involuntarily; a person must competently relinquish control of certain aspects of their life using this form.
She was able to convince her mother to give her power of attorney over her finances so that she could pay bills on her mother’s behalf. Previously, her mother was not in the right mind to pay the bills, which caused a lot of additional fees. With this young woman having the power to pay the bills, her mother’s finances were in much better order.
Unfortunately a power of attorney cannot save a life; it doesn’t offer the kind of control that something like a guardianship can. However, it can make some aspects of addiction easier. It is something that involved parties can consider as a possible option in some situations.
A Recovering Alcoholic – A Success Story
Alcohol addiction is a serious disorder that damages the lives of millions of Americans each year. Not only does it impact the lives of sufferers, but also the lives of their families and friends – sometimes seriously, as some alcoholics tend to violence when they have been drinking.
I recall one story I was told by one sufferer which would have been amusing if it weren’t so disturbing. They would break everything in sight after a heavy night of drinking. Cups, saucers, dinnerware sets, even refrigerators – nothing was safe.
Thankfully this gentleman was single – I would have been most concerned if he had shared a home with someone who may have found themselves in the flight path of a dinner plate thrown across the room. While this man has been sober for several years now, he tells me that he think he went through several entire dinnerware sets before finally purchasing some plastic shatter proof plates from his local department store – finally reducing the damages.
Clearly, for sufferers like this, replacing the contents of their kitchen is no substitute for a proper rehab program. Reducing the severity of the symptoms of drinking is merely a work around; the goal should be to eliminate the behavior – i.e. the drinking – that is the root cause of the problem.
Today this man is a successful businessman, and is a model for other alcoholics looking for positive remodels as encouragement that the path to recovery is worth pursuing. He has the best refrigerator possible for an alcohol addict – it is completely empty of all forms of alcoholic beverages – and his mini bar only contains orange juice.
While no alcoholic can ever truly be declared cured, I have high hopes this man will stay sober for the indefinite future.
What Responsibility Does a Wine Club Have?
I’ve often considered what level of responsibility a wine of the month club might have when it comes to alcohol addition. I realize, especially those clubs which only ship a few bottles a month might say that they are only contributing a small amount to the problem, but any contribution is a bad thing right?
I have come to the conclusion in my practice that a wine club does bear some responsibility, but it is more important to stop the negative behavior (the drinking) and deal with the underlining issues of guilt or negative self associations which are truly leading to a downward spiral.
Plenty of people enjoy alcohol responsibly, so going back to Prohibition IMO does not make sense.
Addiction And Its Toll On Finances
One of the problems of addiction is that it is a drain on funds. It really doesn’t matter what you are addicted to whether it be cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, or anything else. It costs money to fuel that desire. So you end up with the two problems: your addiction itself which can ruin lives and a shortage of money that comes about as a result of the addiction.
People who are struggling often find themselves in a downward spiral. They might start to perform poorly in their job which then results in them losing it. As the addiction takes over, nothing seems to matter and they start doing things that become more harmful. Their money dries up and they become desperate. They look for debt relief grants and any other miracle solution to their money problems and only the lucky ones have a family member that is willing to help.
The sad part though, is that nothing can be done until the person with the addiction truly wants to make a change. That often doesn’t come until they hit the very bottom and by then they are already wiped out financially and emotionally. Even if they are somehow able to rid them self of the addiction, their life will never be the same. They will have to spend years building it back up, all the while being very careful to never have a relapse.
Addicts often never make full financial recoveries that get them back to the point where they were before they fell ill. That means they have to struggle on multiple levels for the rest of their lives. Finding a good counselor can be crucial in helping them ground their feet and get turned around but that counselor or program can’t help them much with the financial side. They are truly on their own there and have to work hard to build back the trust they lost from others so that they can return to rewarding jobs.
The Family Coat Of Arms And Origins Of The Name Pitt
Mr Pitt, you are doing a great job by providing counselling, especially as nobody else seems to counsel those with career issues, and those who are disabled. I salute you sir and wish you well. I don’t personally have any problems that you could help with, but I still wish to express my thanks and respect for the help you provide to those who need it.
As an expression of my thanks I thought you might to know about the origins of your surname, Pitt. Before moving to the USA, the name was found in the village of Pett in Kent. The name comes from the Old English Pytt which means a pit, and is what is known as a ‘habitation’ name. Habitation names were given to people who lived near topographic places like a hill, stream or, in this case, a pit.
The family coat of arms has a black background with three gold balls and a horizontal band across the middle of the shield with blue and silver squares. The family motto is Per ardua liberi which translates as ‘Free through difficulties’.
The heritage of the name Pitt is thought to have arrived in England from Holland or Belgium and is descended from noble families, many of whom were involved in the paper industry. Indeed, the Pitt family emerged as a notable family in Devon where a notable Flemish industrialist held estates at Boconnock. This family evolved into the Barons Camelford.
Famous people who share your surname include two British Prime Ministers, Pitt the Elder and Pitt the Younger.
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs of Successful Rehab Centers
Let’s take a look of what sucessful alcohol & drug rehab centers generally offer in their treatment programs.
During the drug and alcohol treatment program portion, the active addiction is addressed, beginning with detoxification from the drugs and/or alcohol (with medication as required), then involvement in a twelve step program; obtaining a sponsor; actively working the twelve steps through group and peer tutoring and living with peers in various stages of recovery help build a strong foundation on which an addict or alcoholic can begin to grow.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT / CO-OCCURRING DISORDER PROGRAM
Dual-diagnosis and treatment for co-occurring disorder means that we view substance abuse as a symptom of underlying psychological issues. People experiment with drugs or alcohol initially because of peer pressure. When that invisible line is crossed into addiction, however, the using becomes driven by depression and/or anxiety. As a dual-diagnosis program we emphasize the twelve-steps of recovery. Our clients attend multiple twelve-step meetings and participate in twelve-step work to gain freedom from from alcohol and/or drug addiction. In addition, our clients participate in individual and group counseling in order to alleviate the depression and anxiety underlying the addiction.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Individual therapy consists of meeting one-on-one with a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Certified Alcohol Treatment Specialist to address the underlying psychological issues behind the addiction, usually depression and/or anxiety. The therapists will aid the client in exploring the root cause of the anger, depression, anxiety or/and manic depression symptoms. When the anger is released, the anxiety and depression are alleviated, thereby allowing happiness to move in. Therapists are experienced and trained to address such issues as; child abuse, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hostile relationships, family of origin issues and other core issues.
GROUP THERAPY
Group therapy is geared toward understanding and finding a resolution to the faulty belief systems and root causes of alcohol and drug addiction within the context of a group of peers. Generally, individuals believe that they are the only one that been abused, neglected or mistreated. When they talk about these issues among peers and with trained therapists, they are able to see and hear how others in the “same program” are resolving issues. This allows the client to give and receive peer support while simultaneously knowing that they are not alone, thereby helping to alleviate feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
FAMILY THERAPY
In order for clients to remain clean and sober, they must have a support system when they leave the alcohol and drug treatment center. This does not necessarily mean family members, but significant friends or significant “others”, who will be there for support after the dual diagnosis treatment portion of the program has ended. Family therapy sessions function to help the client work out issues with family members or friends, learn about available support systems when they leave and plan for issues such as housing, belonging, dependency and so forth. Counseling groups are facilitated by trained licensed professionals.
MEDICAL EVALUATION
A comprehensive medical evaluation is conducted during the alcohol and/or drug detoxification process. The medical team will carefully assess each client’s individual situation. Laboratory analysis including liver and kidney functions, complete blood counts and metabolic blood workups are used in the medical evaluation as needed.
AFFILIATED MEDICAL TEAM
Our affiliated medical team includes an addiction medicine specialist, a physician’s assistant, a licensed clinical psychologist and nurse practitioners with decades of experience in behavioral medicine, pain management and addiction medicine. Our medical team will do a full and comprehensive assessment, carefully evaluating each client’s history and current issues. Each client’s current condition, as well as medication will be closely monitored, with the medical team on call twenty-four hours a day.
SPIRITUAL COUNSELING
Healing the mind, body and spirit can include spiritual counseling. If you would like some help with a question relating to a spiritual matter or some prayer for your well-being, healing or recovery from addiction, we have advisors available upon your request.
TWELVE-STEP PROCESS
Working the twelve steps of recovery sets the foundation for your journey outside of the program. Our clients will be introduced to the twelve-step process and sponsorship. They will begin working on the steps in a group session. The client will be educated on what each step represents and also how and when it can be applied to his/her life.
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Vital to an individual’s well being is proper exercise. Taking into consideration the status of the alcohol and drug treatment program client’s current physical condition, an individualized exercise program will be established.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Massage therapy is one of the most effective natural tools for healing the body from the damages caused by the life style in association with alcohol and drug addiction. The nurturing touch is simple, instinctual and more powerful than we can imagine. Some of the many studies on therapeutic massage show conclusively that it reduces stress, alleviates depression, reduces pain and boosts the immune system. Therapeutic massages are not included in our alcohol and drug treatment programs, however they are available upon request for an additional fee.
YOGA
Classes are offered at our physical fitness center twice a week. A committed yoga practice produces personal transformation, energy and growth. A regular practice contributes to a fuller realization of all aspects of your own self-potential as it creates physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being.
Wine Gifts After Recovery
It’s never advisable for someone to put themselves in warms way when it comes to their addictions. One thing that is difficult though, if you’re an alcoholic, how can you avoid alcohol altogether? What if you have family members who really enjoy wine?
Personally, it seems to me that giving wine gifts isn’t necessary the problem in itself, but how they are purchased certainly can be an issue. If you need to buy a wine gift for a friend or family member during recovery it can be problematic to be sure. The easiest way to do it in my opinion is to ask a friend or family member who knows your situation to take care of the purchase for you, as putting yourself in that situation isn’t smart!