Referral to Counseling
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Key Points
- Counseling is not required by your Boulder team in order to start or continue on treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
- Counseling can help you manage your Opioid Use Disorder and has good results when combined with medications
- If you are interested in counseling, please ask your Boulder Care Team for help finding this service in your community
Counseling for Opioid Use Disorder
At Boulder we aim to partner with you in achieving your wellness goals, whatever those may be. For many, wellness (recovery) can be achieved at least in part by taking medication like buprenorphine. For others, groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Smart Recovery, or Refuge Recovery are their key to feeling successful. For some, individual counseling helps them on their path to wellness. Boulder is here to help you find the treatment combination that will work best for you.
Counseling comes in several different forms. A few of these are reviewed below:
Individual Counseling
Helpful questions to ask of potential counselors include:
- What is your counseling specialty?
- Do you practice with “behavioral therapy”—usually called either CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)?
- Do you have experience with addiction care? If so, do you emphasize abstinence only?
- Do you have training in treating people with trauma? Do you have a trauma-informed approach?
- Are you open to including others in my counseling (such as partners, close family, or friends)?
Group Counseling and Therapy
Some counseling centers offer group sessions. These are often run by a licensed counselor or social worker with a great deal of training and experience. They can help you and your peers in the group understand addiction better, counsel about ways to prevent returning to use, and discuss skills to help you feel more successful in recovery.
Mutual help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can also be supportive for some people. Smart Recovery offers a similar structure without religious/spiritual associations, and Refuge Recovery offers a Buddhist approach. You will not get counseling from a certified counselor in this setting, but rather find healing support from your peers in recovery. You might have to try different groups or meetings to see what works for you.
While these mutual help groups are often in-person, there is a growing range of online support groups and meetings, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—check out our full list of Online Recovery Support Groups and Meetings.
Summary
Most people participate in various treatments at different times in their lives. If you are interested in counseling or other support in your community, please ask your Care Team for help.
Other Articles You Might Be Interested In
- Mental Health
- Questions to Ask a Counselor
- Different Types of Providers for Mental Health Care
- Wellness [Recovery]
Questions, concerns, or feedback?
You can send a message to your Care Team in the app with non-urgent questions or feedback, or you can always call Boulder's 24/7 Support at 888-316-0451.