Addiction Rehab Thousand Islands All About Addiction Counseling | Page 6

Counseling Addiction: Breaking the
Unhealthy Behavior Pattern
 Addiction is different from habit because an addict is not able to control
his impulses due to unpleasant circumstances. A habit is the result of a
person’s choice – he/she can start or stop whenever she wants to and
can be successful if he/she has the willpower.
 Counseling could help the addict resist urges and learn to cope with life
stressors without getting involved in anything destructive.
 Addiction could also be used synonymously with dependency. The addict
develops tolerance towards the activity or substance and with more
consumption would require more of the object of attachment. The
treatment plan should include etiology and prognosis of the addiction,
risk factors that could cause relapse and work on productive coping
mechanisms. Counselors could help by empathizing with addicts,
motivate them and provide them with the tools to improve their quality
of life.