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12 Core Functions Of The Substance Abuse Counselor

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The Global Criteria for the 12 Core Functions of the Substance Abuse Counselor, by John Herman, defines treatment planning as the process by which the counselor and client identify and rank problems, establish immediate and long-term goals, and decide on the treatment resources to be utilized. Treatment planning begins as soon as initial assessments are completed.

The treatment plan serves as a never-ending stream of therapeutic plans and interventions designed to help the client complete the treatment program successfully. In order to develop an effective, measurable treatment plan three questions must be answered:

1) What is the problem?
2) Do I understand exactly what the problem is and how it influences the client?
3) What skills are needed to help reduce or eliminate the problem? …show more content…

The structure of the treatment plan includes problem statements, goals, objectives, and strategies/ interventions. The treatment plan must be tailored to the client’s individual needs and written in behavioral terminology, that the client will be able to understand. The treatment plan forces both the client and counselor to focus on the client’s needs and goals they want to accomplish while in treatment. The problem statement should be brief; specific, and based on the client’s perception of the problem-quotes used. Its purpose is to describe a condition that needs treatment. It should not be longer than one sentence and should describe one problem. Problems are evidenced by signs (tells the clinician sees) and symptoms (information the client reports). The problem described on the treatment plan should be followed by physical, emotional, or behavioral evidence that the problem exists (ex. Inability to maintain sobriety outside a structured facility, AS EVIDENCED BY: blood alcohol level of

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