5 Steps to Finding a Substance Abuse Counselor Near You

Do you or a loved one struggle with substance abuse and addiction? If so, you aren’t alone. Addiction and substance abuse have been on the rise, and there are a lot of people that are thinking about the best way to go through substance abuse evaluation or find a treatment center.

A substance abuse counselor could be what you need to finally break the cycle of addiction. They can serve as constant companions on your journey to sobriety and will play a key role in helping you get better.

Finding the right counselor for helping you treat substance abuse disorder is important. That’s why we’re here to help. Read on if you want help finding the right counselor.

Finding a Substance Abuse Counselor: 5 Must-Follow Tips

Looking for a substance abuse counselor can be difficult if you’ve never had to find one. Whether you want to enroll in substance abuse and mental health program or just want someone you can talk to about your addiction issues, it all starts with doing a little research and taking your personal needs into account.

If you want to find the right counselor, make sure to follow these steps.

1. Talk to Your Insurance Provider

Recovery services and insurance have had a complicated relationship. Some providers can view rehab and therapy as essential services and may cover them 100%. There are others that may offer a slight discount and others that may expect policyholders to pay completely out of pocket. Regardless of what category you fall in, be sure to talk to your insurance provider before you decide on any counselor.

Your insurance may have in-network resources you can use on your journey to sobriety. Going with a counselor or program that’s covered by your insurance can do a lot to help with costs.

It’s also important to note that it’s okay to talk to either your insurance provider or potential counselors and treatment centers about what you need. Individual doctors and other treatment centers can easily see if they accept your insurance.

2. Think About Your Scheduling Needs

Rehab and counseling won’t look the same for everyone. There are so many different ways you can get help, and it’s important to think about what you think would work best for your unique needs.

Some people may want a counselor that they can see once a week. They’re very busy with work, school, or other commitments, and they just need someone that they can check in with to help keep them balanced.

There are others that may need a lot more time with their counselor. They may want to schedule several sessions a week during the day or night. Others may prefer to do in-patient therapy and might be looking at counselors that are a part of established programs.

Regardless of what your needs are, it’s important to think carefully about how you want counseling to fit into your life. Take time to consider your current schedule and what you’re able to do for therapy.

3. Take Personal Preference Into Account

If you’re going to work with a counselor it’s important to make sure you choose someone you’re comfortable with. The counselor you choose will learn a lot of personal things about you, so it’s important to choose someone you can trust.

Would you feel more comfortable talking to a man or a woman? Do you think it would be easier to work with a counselor that can also speak Spanish or a different language? Have you been thinking about working with a counselor that understands your faith?

It’s okay to have preferences when you’re choosing your counselor. Take time to carefully consider what matters the most to you and pick someone that aligns with your needs.

4. Consider Different Therapy Styles

When some people think about rehab or speaking with a counselor, they immediately imagine someone having an intense 1:1 session in a formal setting. Individual therapy and counseling sessions can be a part of your recovery, but there are plenty of other ways for you to get help.

Have you ever considered going to group therapy? Finding a counselor that specializes in working in large or small groups could be beneficial if you’re more comfortable working through things in a group setting.

There are other forms of therapy that could help you. Art, sports, spas, and plenty of other fun activities can be a way to help you get well.

Take time to think about the kind of therapy you’d be open to exploring. Once you have a good idea of that, you’ll be able to find a counselor that can closely align with your preferences.

5. Check Reviews

Most people wouldn’t think of buying a TV or going to a new restaurant without reading reviews first, and you can apply that same principle to your counselor search. If you want to make sure that you find a good counselor to help you, take some time to read reviews.

When you’re looking for reviews, don’t just look for ones that are about the counselor themself. Take time to look at reviews for any clinics they practice at so you can get an idea of how both work together.

Did someone mention that their counselor was a good listener? Would they recommend them to friends or family? Did they feel comfortable with the counselor?

Be sure to read reviews critically. Don’t just focus on whether or not someone had a good experience. Look into the details to get an idea of what you should expect when you’re working with a certain counselor.

Get Help Today

Finding the right substance abuse counselor is an important part of living a sober life. If you follow the tips we outlined in this post, you won’t have an issue finding someone you’ll feel at ease with.

Do you have more questions about finding the right counselor? Are you interested in learning more about our services?

Regardless of what you need, we’re here to help. Be sure to contact us today so we can talk about the best ways to help you or your loved one.