Drug and alcohol abuse remains a global issue, and trained addiction therapists are required now more than ever to help fight this crisis. The figures are astounding. According to an Optum study, someone in America dies of an opioid overdose every 13 minutes. 

According to the National Institute on Substance Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 15.1 million people aged 18 and over had an alcohol use disorder in 2015.

A career as a substance abuse therapist can appeal to professionals who want to help many people manage addiction. There are some characteristics of a drug therapist.

Compassion for Others

Compassion for others is one of the essential qualities of drug abuse therapists in Dallas. It’s tempting to pass judgment on someone who has been addicted to alcohol, but to protect their patients, the counselor must stop doing so. 

The therapist who works with people who have drug abuse problems should display sympathy and care because they are also anxious and coping with a lot of difficulties.

Personality Qualities

Good interpersonal skills are required for a drug addiction therapist. They must be easily relatable. Patients should feel secure addressing sensitive subjects and intensely personal concerns with them. 

Although maintaining a professional relationship with the client, the counselor should be willing to improve customer satisfaction. Most drug addiction therapists work as part of a team of addiction medicine and rehabilitation practitioners, so they must communicate and work well with social workers, doctors, nurses, and other field professionals.

Listening Skills

Another one of a drug addiction therapist’s strengths is the willingness to connect. To regain from an addiction, an individual must express their thoughts and feelings. 

They may well have missed friends or family members as a result of their addiction. Their social support system may be weakened. To find out what encourages the patient and what encourages them to abuse various drugs, the psychologist must listen.

Patience

It takes a lot of time to treat someone who has a drug problem. The treatment could last the rest of a person’s life. To avoid relapse, many individuals require regular treatment or therapy. 

People with drug problems can need ongoing assistance in preventing causes, establishing healthy coping strategies, and establishing a social support network of people that will raise them rather than allow their addictions. 

People who have difficulty opening up and expressing their emotions, experiences or personal history of addiction and substance and other mental health problems need patience from the counselor.

Effective Communicator

A drug addiction specialist can also be a good communicator, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some addicts have difficulty comprehending other people’s emotions. They may be unwilling to cooperate and have shuttered parts of them. 

To break down the barriers that an addict has created around themselves, the counselor may need to try various communication strategies. The counselor should be good listener and open with people from multiple backgrounds and experiences.