In addiction, resistance is normal so professionals – and family – need to learn how to take it in stride, keeping in mind the ultimate goal: recovery.
When someone is battling an addiction, family and loved ones are usually quicker to advocate seeking help than the addicted person would be. This situation is called “resistance” and it’s one of the hardest issues for professionals to overcome. “The least desirable situation, from the standpoint of evoking change, is for the counselor to advocate for change while the client argues against it,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center (SAMHSA).
How to overcome addiction treatment resistance
All isn’t lost though. Counselors have the power to defuse or inflame the situation. If the professional opposes the resistance, that only makes the situation worse. Giving the client permission to take what they find helpful and leave the rest allows them to feel they aren’t powerless in the process.
It’s not just counselors who can benefit from this advice. Loved ones often make the mistake of trying to “argue” an addicted person into treatment, but long-term sobriety rates are much higher when the person is committed to their own recovery. Family support is important, but ultimately the addicted person needs to take responsibility for their own sobriety. When they feel like they are in control of their destiny, they are more likely to make the changes necessary.
If you or someone you love needs help for an alcohol or chemical addiction, call La Paloma’s toll-free 24-hour helpline today.
Tags: Addicted Person, Addiction, la paloma, Recovery, Resistance, SAMHSA, Sobriety, Treatment
You are right that long ternm abstinence occurs when the person is committed to their own recovery. It is their responsibility. But when the person has a minimal amount of days to complete goals and objectives of treatment their is a need to help the client move toward those goals ASAP. By gently addressing the specific issues that are causing the resistance helps move the client in the direction of recovery. Remember addiction is about control, and the use of drugs and alcohol gives individuals that control.