Overcoming Chemical and Behavioral Addictions

COUN 6202A Week 2 Discussion Overcoming Chemical and Behavioral Addictions

Clients with problems with addiction are not necessarily hedonistic, irresponsible people looking for a way to feel good and escape the responsibilities of the world. On the contrary, most individuals in the throes of addiction are in emotional pain and yearn for recovery. In spite of their strong desire, recovery is not easy. Recovery requires a great amount of personal effort and internal motivation. Individuals working toward recovery encounter a seemingly insurmountable number of personal challenges blocking their decision to change, including denial.

Denial of one’s addiction is such an expected part of the recovery process that it could be called the theme song of addiction. To admit powerlessness and a lack of control goes against human nature. It is important that you remember this in your work with people with problems with addiction since denial will probably be the first of many challenges they encounter. 

Once individuals overcome their denial, there will be many more challenges blocking their path to recovery. It is important that the counselor is prepared to help them identify and address each new challenge.

For this Discussion, review this week’s readings. Then review the media. Identify which clients struggled with chemical addiction and which clients struggled with behavioral addiction. Reflect on the challenges the individuals faced in overcoming their chemical and behavioral addictions.

POST

Post  a brief description of the two clients you selected and whether each has a chemical or behavioral addiction. Then explain one potential challenge for each client in overcoming his or her addiction. Support your response using the Learning Resources and the current literature.