Counselling
Counselling is provided to persons 16 years and over whose primary drug of concern is cannabis. A high priority is placed on developing a positive and professional therapeutic relationship with clients and providing strategies and support to help the clients to meet their treatment goal.
At the initial session, counsellors will ask the
person to provide information on their pattern of cannabis use, life situation,
and any other relevant details. An individual treatment plan is developed in
collaboration with the client. It is based on the treatment goals identified by
the client.
A typical series of counselling sessions would be 3 to 8 weekly sessions for 1
hour at a time however this is flexible and can be negotiated between the client
and their clinician. Treatment is based on a combination of evidence based
treatment models.
Some topics commonly covered in counselling sessions include:
- Self monitoring of daily cannabis use
- Managing cravings for cannabis
- Managing high risk situations
- Thought monitoring and challenging
- Harm minimisation information
- Goal setting
- Sleep hygiene
- Planning for alternative activities
Other topics that may be covered include, but are not limited to:
- Communication
- Assertiveness
- Self-esteem
- Problem solving
- Anger management
- Relapse prevention
- Cannabis and oral health