Clinician Substance Abuse Scenarios

This clinician is currently a substance abuse counselor in the state of Ohio and he has seen an abundance amount of difficult clients. In substance abuse clients sometimes the client really does not want to be in treatment, but is mandated to drug treatment by the court process. Then a clinician might come across the client that came to treatment because their parents or someone else in their family told them to come to treatment or they are not going to help them financially. Then these clients are mad and then the clinician usually gets the clients anger directed toward them. This can make a clinician frustrated and wonder how they can help the client. When a clinician goes into a session with a difficult client the clinician needs to understand

Clinicians must also understand that not all clients can be cured and understand what the clinicians’ limitations. From this clinician experience some clinicians cannot help some clients, it is okay to refer the client to another clinician instead of the clinician getting frustrated and causing harm to the clients. Clinicians always need to understand they are the professionals and the client is not, clinicians need to make sure to not let the client rattle their cage and act out or say things in anger toward the client. Clinicians always need to understand that they need to be caring and compassionate with their clients. Even though the clients are resistant they are still fragile. Remain patient and flexible with their clients. Understand the clients background and research the area they come from or the culture they come from. For example, substance abuse clients feel more comfortable with someone in recovery than some that just studied out of a book. This clinician is in recovery from drugs and alcohol and he has had clients ask for him because he can understand where the clients are at in their life. If this does not work let the client keep their defensive behaviors, it is not up to the clinician to get rid of them it is up to the client. Assist the client in helping them develop discrepancy in what they say their goals are and how it goes against their current