Counseling Services in the Drug Field

Abstract

This study of drug abuse counselors indicates that superior counselors are likely to be actively involved in programing on behalf of their clients. However, the findings show important differences in issues they raise and issues clients raise in counseling sessions. The study, conducted in 1981 made use of self-report data obtained from forty-five counselors drawn from twenty-nine treatment programs in eleven States. To obtain the sample of counselors judged superior, eleven single State agencies (SSAs) identified drug treatment programs in their States having the best counseling services. Administrators of programs identified the counselors in their programs who were considered superior according to a set of criteria. Telephone interviews were used to collect data from the forty-five counselors who participated in the study.