by Sandra Bazen Cobb

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: January 12, 2010

Individual counselling for victims of drug and alcohol addiction has helped many addicts to not only become sober, but continue to live sober lives. Group therapy serves the same purpose for many addicts, especially the ones who need to tell their stories and have a sympathetic ear from their peers.

However, there are many people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction who are ashamed and humiliated by their situation and therefore do not wish to share their "dirty laundry" with the world, no matter how sympathetic the listeners may be. One on one counselling might work better for these more introverted people.

Individual counselling for addicts with a qualified professional can help speed up the process of living a clean and sober life. It can also help those who have kicked their habit to continue living a sober life. Often there are unresolved issues in an addict's life that led them to become an addict or alcoholic. Childhood issues, self-esteem, too little success or a shattering of one's dreams can quickly lead people into life-styles that abuse drugs and/or alcohol. These issues are rarely dealt with successfully in a group setting.

Group therapy can temporarily relieve the pressure and the stress associated with past life issues, but the next day can bring back the demons of yesterday, leaving the struggling addict without sufficient armor to defend themselves from the temptation of going back to the life that they have become accustomed to - a life of avoidance via drugs and alcohol.

Individual counseling for drug and alcohol addiction is not a get-out-of-addiction-free card. There was one gentleman who was quite well educated, who refused to reveal his personal truth to his counsellor. This was found out quite accidentally when his sister went in to meet the Psychiatrist. She mentioned the most traumatic event of the gentleman's life, and then expressed her hope for her brother's future, now that he was getting counselling to deal with the matter. Her brother literally exploded verbally and told her in no uncertain terms that she should keep her mouth shut. Needless to say, the doctor was shocked and they all said good-bye.

Perhaps the truth would have come out eventually if the gentleman had continued to see the counsellor, but he never returned. The event from his past was so shameful to him that he could not face the counsellor. It is these people, those who are filled with such shame and horror at their own actions, who rarely continue to live successfully sober lives because they never trust anyone enough to tell them the truth and risk losing what little bit of respect they have left.

Individual counselling for addicts can be successful, but it takes time and the patient must have total trust and confidence in their counsellor. This means that well-meaning family and friends should never interfere with the counselling process. It also means that one on one counselling may need to continue for years in order for the true issues to come out and be dealt with once and for all.

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