A substance abuse counselor helps patients overcome their addiction to a chemical drug or something else. Thus, they can help their clients to be safe from a substance’s negative effects. In case you want to become a substance abuse counselor, here are a few questions that you can consider to prepare for the interview.
1. Why Are You Interested In Becoming A Substance Abuse Counselor?
I have been preparing to become a substance abuse counselor since I was in college. So, I took the help of a professional with an addiction counseling background. He taught me about this field and how it can help people with addiction. I want to be a part of this industry to change people’s lives.
2. Explain The Duties Of A Substance Abuse Counselor
There are varied duties of a substance abuse counselor, including,
- Organizing interviews with patients.
- Conducting counseling sessions.
- Advertising periodic drug tests.
- Recording treatment’s progress details.
- Reviewing the records for assessing the treatment of patients.
- Developing after-care programs.
- Improving treatment plans as per the individual’s requirement.
- Taking follow-ups.
3. What Are The Main Challenges Faced By A Substance Abuser?
The primary challenges that they face are,
- Disturbed moral reasoning.
- Trouble handling negative emotions.
- Cognitive disruptions.
- Lacking problem-solving skills.
4. How Will You Respond To A Patient Who Is Experiencing A Relapse?
While helping out a client who is relapsing, I would try to be compassionate and let them know that I believe in them and I won’t pass a judgment. Also, I would help them understand why the relapse happened so that they know their prospective triggers in the future.
5. Are You Familiar With The Substance Abuse 12-Step Program?
Yes, I am familiar with the 12-step substance abuse program and I feel it is one of the most successful programs when it comes to addiction recovery. The program is ideal for helping people with substance use disorders to become sober. It is based on the idea that people who are suffering from addiction have a higher power that they will turn to for their strength as they try to recover.
6. How Would You Describe Your Work Style?
I maintain composure, keep my emotions in check, avoid aggressive behavior, and control anger. Even in the most difficult situation, I am open to criticism and deal with everything calmly. I can deal with high-stress situations and am sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. I make it a point to be helpful and useful on the job. My patients can rely on me as I am responsible, reliable, and dependable. I am ethical but honest when it comes to my work.
7. Can You Tell Us About The Behavioral Treatment Used For Substance Abuse?
The behavioral treatment used by substance abuse counselors includes,
- Behavioral Therapy
In this therapy, the patient is taught how they can avoid a situation where they are more to substance abuse by modifications in feelings, such as pain and anger, positive reinforcement, social skill training, relaxation method, etc.
- Motivational Interviewing
Motivating any patient to alter their behavior and go for treatment.
- Multidimensional Family Therapy
In this, the family members of the patient are taken for supporting the patient to recover from drug addiction. Through different means, such as discussion with family members, participating with the patient in the drug abuse program, and motivating the patient.
- Motivational Incentives
It’s positive reinforcement of the patient from drugs.
8. What Will You Do While Treating An Aggressive Patient?
As a counselor, I would rather focus on the weakness of the patient and focus on their strength. I would avert any aggressive discussion or power struggle. It would be my aim to focus on the personal responsibility of the patient for a change.
9. What Is Your Personal Experience With Substance Addiction And Recovery?
I have personal experience with substance addiction and recovery since I have struggled with alcohol for a long time. My experience has given me a new perspective to work with patients who are struggling with substance addiction.
Tip: The question might be a little difficult to answer. However, no matter what answer you give, you should be open and honest while discussing your journey. It makes your interviewer feel that you are an honest person and that your patients can trust you.
10. Can You Explain To Us What Slip Is And What Is Relapse In A Substance Abuse Patient?
A slip is when a substance abuser is on their rehabilitation program and following a prolonged period of abstinence and picks up drugs or alcohol suddenly but stops right away. Slip can be avoided and the substance abuser can return to his treatment.
However, relapse can be more serious in comparison to a slip. This is because in case of relapse the patient goes back to the same situation of substance abuse. So, he or she starts taking alcohol or drugs in the usual amount and stops going to the rehabilitation program.
11. What Factors Can Lead To A Patient’s Relapse?
There are many factors responsible for a patient’s relapse and these are,
- Coping Mechanism
Patients lacking skills required to diverse from substance abuse might relapse.
- Impact of Negative Feelings
Exposure to alcohol or drugs is an attempt to subdue the feeling of loneliness, negative thoughts, shame, and guilt. If the patient is prone to any of these, it can push him or her to a relapsed state.
- Attitude
The positive attitude and mental strength of the patient play a vital role in stopping him from substance abuse. A positive environment prevents the patient from falling back into substance abuse’s mind frame.
- Availability and Opportunity of the Drugs
Availability of substances of abuse persuades a patient for drug re-consumption and will take them to the stage of relapse. So, alcohol and drugs should be kept out of reach of the patient.
12. How Can You Treat Patients Who Fall To Relapse Or Slip?
For the first and second slip, I would design an abstinence program that will help in improving their problem-solving, decision-making, or behavioral skills. Further, I can also extend the rehabilitation program by 2-4 weeks. But if there is a third slip, I will transfer the patient to a stabilization group. With this, a patient is going to go under an intense care program for 2 weeks and when they attain complete abstinence, he can return to his previous treatment regime.
However, in case of relapse, I will change the counseling schedule and introduce the patient to individual counseling for up to 4 weeks. Other than that, I will recommend my patient to go for regular urine testing and attend a clinic followed by an in-house treatment.
13. Do You Know The Difference Between Substance Abuse Treatment System And Substance Abuse Treatment Program?
Yes, I know the difference between the two.
The substance abuse treatment system treats a patient with a substance abuse issue but it comes with a wide range of services. However, a substance abuse treatment program is a wide range of interventions and services dealing with substance abuse disorder inpatients and offers them both acute stabilization and ongoing treatment.
14. Are You Familiar With SAMHSA’s Four Dimensions Of Recovery?
Yes, I am familiar with the four dimensions that contribute to the recovery. These are essential for supporting life in recovery,
- Health
Managing or overcoming one’s symptoms or disease and for anyone in recovery making informed choices supporting their emotional and physical well-being.
- Home
Having a safe and stable place to live.
- Purpose
Taking part in daily meaningful activities, such as school, job, volunteerism, creative pursuits, and family caretaking. Also, it means having an independent income and the resources for taking part in society.
- Community
Being a part of social networks and relationships that offer friendship, support, hope, and love.
I am familiar with how I can encourage my client’s engagement and give priority to these in my counseling.
15. When Did You Develop An Interest In Helping Someone With Addiction?
I developed an interest in helping patients with addiction pretty early on in my career. After I worked with some clients in recovery and saw the difference I brought to their lives with my treatment. So, it pushed me to pursue substance abuse counseling as a career. Also, I enjoy the autonomy that comes with this job. I can set my own schedule and choose where I would prefer to work. I was driven to work as a counselor by the fact that I can do something to help this community become a better place.
16. How Will Monitor The Progress Of A Treatment?
I know monitoring the progress of treatment is important for a patient. So, I will analyze the data of urine test results; check the attendance records of the patient at rehabilitation programs and scheduled sessions, by rating the improvement of patients towards achieving a goal and paying attention to the self-rating of progress by the patients towards the achievement of their goals.
17. Do You Know About Comprehensive Continuous Integrated System Of Care?
Yes, I am familiar with the comprehensive continuous integration system of care. It is a model to organize services for individuals with COPSD or co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders. CCISC has been designed for improving the treatment capacity of these patients in a system of any complexity and size, ranging from different parts of the country. The model follows four basic characteristics,
- System-Level Change
The model has been designed to be implemented throughout the whole system of care and not simply to be implemented for training initiatives or individual programs.
- Adequate Use of Existing Resources
It is a model that is to be implemented within the context of present service resources, no matter how scarce. It focuses on strategies for improving services to patients with COPSD within the context of every funding stream, service code, or program contract, instead of braiding and blending duplication of services or funding streams.
- Incorporating Best Practices
The model identifies the best practices to be implemented in the system for the treatment of a patient with COPSD. One of the primary aspects of CCISC is the incorporation of clinical and evidenced-based consensus based on best practices for the treatment of different types of patients with COPSD, within the system.
- Integrated Treatment Philosophy
The CCISC model is based on successful treatment intervention principles, which are derived from available research and included in an integrated treatment philosophy that uses common language, which makes sense from the perspective of substance disorder, as well as mental health providers.
18. What Do You Think Are The Benefits Of A Group Therapy?
I feel there are several benefits of group therapy. It includes teaching coping mechanisms, offering social support, and reducing drug use. Group therapy can also be effective for keeping people motivated in the process of recovery.
19. How Do You Keep Yourself Motivated As A Substance Abuse Counselor?
Being a substance abuse counselor, I am driven by desire. But other things that keep me energized and motivated as a counselor is learning new techniques and skills for working with the substance abuser. Witnessing the effectiveness of my treatment and seeing my clients go back to their normal life keeps me going. Their eyes filled with gratitude have been a constant source of energy for me.
20. What Are The Signs That Someone Is Experiencing Addiction?
Substance abuse can have a range of physical, psychological, and social symptoms. I will give a brief idea about all of them.
- Psychological Symptoms
- Not being able to stop using and a person making a series of unsuccessful attempts to give up.
- Using and abusing substances in spite of continuous health issues.
- Dealing with problems by taking the drug.
- Becoming obsessed with a substance and spending more energy and time to find ways to get the substance.
- Taking risks to get the substance or engage in some behavior, such as stealing or trading sex for illicit drugs.
- Consuming a rapidly large quantity of drugs or alcohol to feel the effect.
- Physical Symptoms
- Changes in a person’s appetite.
- Withdrawal symptoms, such as diarrhea, cravings, constipation, sweats, seizures, uncharacteristic behavior, and trembling.
- Insomnia is a common physical symptom.
- A change in appearance, such as looking tired or having disheveled hair.
- Increasing tolerance.
- Social Symptoms
- Sacrificing on an activity that bought them joy earlier.
- Dropping activities and hobbies.
- Use the substance alone or secretly.
- Maintaining an adequate supply, even when they don’t have enough money.
- Denial that they are substance abusers.
- Keeping stashes.
- Going through financial difficulties.
- Legal problems due to illicit drug and alcohol dependencies.
21. Do You Know What Is Relapse Prevention Therapy?
One of the most successful substance abuse cases I have handled was a young female struggling with addiction for several years. I recommended undergoing Motivational Enhancement Therapy and through this, my patient was able to reduce her drug abuse and enhance her mental health.
I take this as the most successful case since my client was ready to change and get better. She had been ready to work hard and she put on the effort required for recovery.
22. Which Is The Most Effective Communication You Use With Your Clients?
I feel one of the most effective communication methods is, to be honest, and open with my clients. Also, as a counselor, I tell my patients that they aren’t alone in the job. Thus, their support from friends and family members can be quite beneficial.
23. Do You Know What Is Relapse Prevention Therapy?
Relapse prevention is a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy that lets patients manage and cope with any trigger that might lead to a relapse. With relapse prevention therapy, patients can open up about what is triggering them and, in any situation, they might encounter a relapse. Through this kind of we develop a coping strategy with specific environmental factors that might provoke relapse. Relapse prevention therapy tells patients that relapse doesn’t mean failure.
24. Are You Familiar With Evidence-Based Practices?
Yes, I am familiar with evidence-based practices. Several treatment plans have been tested and proven scientifically for addiction recovery. There are several evidence-based practices that can help with addiction recovery. A few of these include-
- Motivational interviewing
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Social support therapy
- Relapse prevention therapy
- Family-based interventions
- Motivational enhancement therapy
25. Have You Been Able To Use Your Educational Or Work Experience When You Worked As A Substance Abuse Counselor?
Yes, I have used my education and my work experience when I worked as a substance abuse counselor. The most crucial aspect of this is relating emotionally with my patience since I know it can be difficult to open up emotionally because of their addiction. My experiences have helped me understand their situation and offer support.
Conclusion
The field of substance abuse is growing with time. More and more people are being exposed to the dangers of addiction. Substance abuse counselors play a significant role in helping patients with addiction.
