Talking with your counselor

Opioid dependence is more than a physical condition. The way you feel and the way you act are also part of your dependence—and that means counseling isn't just a "nice-to-have," but an essential part of your treatment.

In fact, medication and counseling together can help you stay in treatment and improve the likelihood of success. Counseling can also provide the support and guidance you need as you work to rebuild your relationships and get your life back on track.

Getting started may be easier than you think

On your first visit, you might begin the conversation by talking about your current situation, and how you've been feeling lately.

Explain that you're concerned about your use of opioids and think you may have become dependent. Or, if you're already in treatment, talk about your decision to get treatment, your hopes for the future, and what obstacles to success you may need help with. Counseling can also help you deal with the day-to-day challenges of getting opioid dependence under control.

What kind of help can you expect?

Your counselor can help you:

• Understand that opioid dependence is not only physical, but can also change how you feel (your psychology) and how you act (your behavior)
• Learn how to identify triggers, things that cause you stress, and high-risk situations that may lead to relapse
• Learn how to identify and avoid the triggers and high-risk situations that may lead to relapse—and learn what you can do when you can't avoid them
• Cope with emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in healthier ways
• Make meaningful lifestyle changes
• Take steps to improve your relationships
• Work on important life strategies, such as finding the job you want, getting your finances in order, and taking better care of yourself
• Follow your treatment plan and keep your medication-assisted therapy on track

You might want to discuss:

• What situations make misusing opioids more likely—or less likely—for you
• Ways in which your opioid dependence has had an impact on your life—including your job, your finances, your relationships, and the way you take care of yourself
• Whether you have found yourself acting in ways you don't feel good about
• What's most important to you, including the people you love, and the things you'd like to do with your life
• Anything else that might help your counselor understand what you've been experiencing

Get all of your questions answered

Create a list of questions to ask your counselor, and bring it along so you don't forget anything. You might also be wondering:

• How can counseling help me?
• How long does counseling typically last?
• What is my role in counseling? What are my responsibilities?

Print this guide and write in your own questions. You can also mark the questions you think are most important. Bring the guide along when you talk with your counselor—and get them answered.

Feel free to speak frankly and honestly. Remember, what you tell your counselor is private and will not be shared without your explicit permission.

Treatment for opioid dependence has 3 components: physical, psychological, and behavioral. Successful treatment includes addressing all 3 components. That's why making a commitment to counseling and finding the right counselor are so important.

Print this guide and take it along to your counselor appointment

Still looking for the right counselor? Let us help: call 866-973-HERE (4373) for help finding private, online, or group counseling.

You can also talk with your doctor about counseling. Or get tips on connecting with counseling, and learn more about how counseling and medication work together.

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