I just started another college semester this week, and in that very first class the discussion centered on what is really important in making a first-class addiction counselor. As discussion progressed, a student came to a conclusion, “ that experience seems to be the only way to really know counseling.” That’s not quite true. I …
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Author Archives: Michael Taleff
Counseling Experience or Counseling Academics: What Is the Mark of a Good Addiction Counselor?
January 21st, 2014 | Posted by in Addiction | Addiction Discussions | Addiction Education | Counselor Education - (Comments Off on Counseling Experience or Counseling Academics: What Is the Mark of a Good Addiction Counselor?)“Seems Wrong to Treat Drug Addiction With Drugs”
October 7th, 2013 | Posted by in Addiction | Addiction Discussions - (Comments Off on “Seems Wrong to Treat Drug Addiction With Drugs”)One of my students stated this very opinion in a recent class. We had been discussing the use of addiction medications to treat addiction. She was initially opposed to the idea, and voiced that resistance in a demonstrative manner. But, at the same time, she seemed intrigued with the possibility of treating drug problems with …
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To Name is to Explain or Is It?
August 31st, 2013 | Posted by in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on To Name is to Explain or Is It?)I sometimes notice substance abuse professionals who believe they understand addiction concepts and behaviors when, in fact, they don’t. One main reason for this false impression is that they have a profound belief that naming a particular behavior or concept, explains it. A more technical term for this naming problem is the phrase called the …
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Why – Your Best Friend
June 1st, 2013 | Posted by in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Why – Your Best Friend)Make no mistake about it; one of your very best professional friends is the question – why. Perhaps the finest reason “why” is your best friend is that it doesn’t allow you to rest on your clinical findings, or clinical laurels if you will. It presses you to investigate clinical situations at a deeper level. …
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Want to be a Genius?
November 10th, 2012 | Posted by in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Want to be a Genius?)These three genius steps may contain the germ of what indeed separates the really competent (dare we say genius) addiction counselor from the rest of the pack.
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A Nod to Tommy Szasz
September 30th, 2012 | Posted by in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on A Nod to Tommy Szasz)I want to believe ol’ Tommy crusaded against this kind of “reasoning” (close mindedness) through out his entire career.
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Questions (Again)
August 15th, 2012 | Posted by in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Questions (Again))Something good and worthwhile.
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Do not confuse denial and overconfidence. Distinguish the difference and better treat your client base.
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Mere Theorizing Doesn’t Cut It
March 31st, 2012 | Posted by in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Mere Theorizing Doesn’t Cut It) There remains one little fly in the soup for mere theorizing. Do the theories represent true progress in our field?
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