In counseling, clients are defined as people who receive services from a mental health professional. A family is a group of people who are related to the client. Community education is a program of organizations that promote learning and work with people to improve their lives (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2017). Educators work with youth and adults on a variety of problems ranging from alcohol abuse to relationship problems and should possess various competencies.
For instance, competency 99 implies that community educators should conduct culturally relevant education programs that inform people about procedures related to the prevention of alcohol abuse and recovery (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2017). They should be aware of the differences among ethnic and racial groups and cultural distinctions in views on substance consumption. Education providers should know existing research and theory about the prevention of alcoholism and teaching methods (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2017). Moreover, they should possess public speaking skills and understand the benefits of cooperating with community associations.
Community educators should possess the skills to deliver treatment programs, facilitate discussions, and create and change educational materials to meet the demands of the clients. In terms of attitudes, educators should be sensitive to cultural differences in order to create appropriate educational materials (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2017). They should also have an appreciation of historical and social influences that affect the perceptions of clients and their families about substance abuse.
One of the ways to treat clients is called didactic therapy which is conducted in the form of individual or group sessions. The aim is to educate clients about the issues related to substance abuse. Some didactic therapy groups can be cognitive-behavioral and focus on helping individuals to solve personal problems (“Didactic therapy,” 2017). Meanwhile, other groups provide the development of communication skills or help to fix the relationships.
Didactic therapy groups do not conduct therapeutic treatments but rather help people learn more about substance abuse disorders. They are designed to teach clients about relapse prevention, anger management, meditation, and relaxation techniques (“Didactic therapy,” 2017). There is usually a group leader who provides discussion materials and offers advice to other members. The purpose is to create an environment where people can discuss their issues without prejudice.
References
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2017). Addiction counseling competencies. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Didactic therapy. (2017). Treatment Solutions. Web.