• What are the requirements to become Accredited by IAAAC?
• How do I become a Supervisor?

An Addiction Counsellor is trained to listen carefully to your problems and to support you while you find your own solutions. The relationship between an Addiction Counsellor and a client is confidential and is based on respect and trust. Addiction Counselling helps you to look at the behaviour which is causing you concern and to explore ways of changing that behaviour. It is a time for you to express difficult feelings such as anger, fear, suspicion and jealousy in a safe, supportive environment. You will not be judged or criticised, nor will you be put under pressure to do or feel anything. The Addiction Counsellor will help you find solutions that are realistic and workable for you.

Addiction Counselling should help you to take back control of your life and to understand the reasons and the feelings behind those reasons, for your behaviour. This, in turn, may help you handle situations and those associated feelings, differently, in the future. You may learn different ways of communicating with others so you can become more assertive, or you may develop greater self-respect. Often it is only when we talk to someone unconnected with our lives that we begin to hear what we ourselves are really saying and feeling. Addiction Counselling offers you this opportunity.

Addiction Counsellors may use different types of counselling techniques such as motivational interviewing or cognitive behaviour therapy, but choosing a particular type of counselling is far less important than choosing the right person — a counsellor whom you will feel comfortable with. Research shows that different styles of counselling can be equally effective. The key factors are the skill of the counsellor, whether you feel comfortable with them and your own level of motivation.

The first one or two meetings with a counsellor are your chance to see how you feel about the counsellor and decide if you can work together. A good practitioner will expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

• What kind of counselling do you offer and what is it trying to achieve?
• How long is a session and how often are they held?
• How many sessions might I need and how does the counselling end?
• Can I contact you between sessions if I need to?
• What training have you had and how many years have you been practising?
• What professional organisations do you belong to?
• Have you had experience of working with people with similar problems to mine?
• Is counselling confidential and when might confidentiality be broken?
• How much do I pay per session and is there a cancellation fee?

This depends on you, the counsellor and the problem. It is usual to contract with the counsellor to attend for six sessions and then review the progress. Fee may be approximately 60 euro per session and some counsellors offer a sliding scale depending on your ability to pay. Counselling is provided free within the Health Boards but resources vary depending on where you live. Some voluntary organisations provide free or low fee counselling.