Canadian Addiction Rehab Alcohol Rehab Program & Addiction Counseling - Pat | Page 8

What Makes an Addiction
Counselor an Effective one?
• Empathy vs. Sympathy
– According to this study on professional counselors, a counselor who
will effectively treat their patients needs to be empathetic.
Sympathy, on the other hand, is one of the least important traits
your counselor would need.
• Other Qualities in an Effective Addiction Counselor
– Besides showing empathy, your counselor should have much more
to fall back upon than certification and a license. If the treatment is
to be effective, then your counselor ne eds to have patience. An
effective counselor knows that the road to recover isn’t an easy
one. It would take their patients much time and considerable effort
to get addiction off their backs. Their goal should be to be there with
you throughout the process, including the time when you finally get
there!
– Effective counselors also know the importance of trust. A person
battling an addiction won’t easily put their trust in just anyone. The
cousnelor would have to work with them in order to establish trust.
Only then would the patient even think about opening up to their
counselors!