Lived Experience in Addictions Counselling
Introduction
Lived experience in these roles can mean different things to different people, but it generally means that someone has firsthand experience of a specific issue. In the case of addiction counselling, this could be someone who has had an addiction themselves or who has lived with someone with an addiction.
Lived experience in these roles can mean different things to different people, but it generally means that someone has firsthand experience of a specific issue.
You might have heard the term “lived experience” when talking about addiction counselling, alcohol treatment, drug treatment or counselling. Lived experience in these roles can mean different things to different people, but it generally means that someone has firsthand experience of a specific issue.
For example: If you are undergoing counselling for addiction and your counsellor has also been addicted to alcohol or drugs themselves (and they are able to share that information with you), then they would be considered a “lifer” in addiction recovery terms.
What does lived experience in addiction counselling mean?
What does lived experience in addiction counselling mean?
A counsellor with lived experience is someone who has had personal experience with the substance or behaviour that they are helping you with. For example, if you are experiencing problems related to drugs and alcohol, it would be best for your counsellor to have some knowledge about these issues.
The more specific the problem and its cause(s), the greater likelihood there is of having a counsellor with appropriate ‘lived’ experience.
How does the lived experience factor work?
Counselling should always involve both parties talking about their experiences. The client shares their story while the counsellor listens attentively and asks questions where needed. Having lived through something similar means that the counsellor can better understand what an individual goes through when facing similar challenges so they can guide them towards their own recovery path without judgement or prejudice — this is called empathy training which helps build trust between therapist and client; an essential part of effective therapy sessions!
A strength-based approach
A strength-based approach to counselling is a way of helping clients understand, build and use their own strengths. Clients are encouraged to find meaning in their experiences and make changes that are meaningful to them. A client’s strengths are used as a foundation for change, which can then lead to empowerment. The hope created by this approach can increase self-esteem, self-confidence, self-respect and self-worth.
Living with lived experience
Having lived experience can help you understand what it is like to live with a problem.
- You can empathise with your client’s situation better than someone without lived experience, and this empathy can be very important when they are trying to make changes in their lives.
- You may also be able to act as a role model for recovery.
- As a client’s counsellor, having lived experience is also an advantage because it means that you have already been through some of the difficult times yourself and know what it takes to overcome them. This knowledge can help residents develop hope for their own recovery from addiction or other mental health issues by seeing how far you have come on your own journey of recovery.
Their lived experience can be beneficial not only for yourself but also for others who have gone through similar experiences too — so don’t worry if this doesn’t seem relevant at first!
The lived-experience factor — how does that work?
The lived-experience factor is a common concept in addictions counselling. It refers to the idea that people with lived experience of addiction, or other mental health issues, are better equipped to help someone with those issues because they’ve been there themselves.
The lived-experience factor can be positive or negative depending on who you ask. Some argue that only people with direct experience of addiction should be allowed to do this kind of work; others argue that it’s important to have a range of perspectives at the table so as not to replicate systems which might be oppressive or harmful (i.e., if all counsellors were white men).
Finding qualified professionals for addiction recovery
As you navigate your first steps in recovery, it is important to ensure that they have qualifications and experience in the field. However, you should also look for a counsellor who is open and honest about their own lived experience — they may have even walked through addiction themselves.
A person who has undergone treatment themselves will be able to approach your situation from an informed perspective that respects the challenges of recovery. Furthermore, a counsellor with personal experience understands how difficult it can be for someone struggling with addiction to trust people at first — and this trust is critical when it comes time for therapy sessions.
Conclusion
In summary, it’s essential to understand that lived experience is valuable and useful. However, it should not be the only qualification for an addictions counsellor. It’s also worth noting that someone with no personal experience with addiction may still be able to provide excellent clinical care. This can happen when they have worked closely with others who have had similar experiences or are willing to learn from them to help others recover from their addictions too!
