Behavioural therapist
Other denominations
Technician specialised in the treatment of addictive disorders
Description
The behavioural therapist provides biopychosocial care to persons suffering from an addiction of some kind (drugs, alcohol, nicotine, gambling, etc.). His/her activities focus, on the one hand, on the early diagnosis of the pathology, explaining the broad lines of the treatment to the patient and his/her family, and on the other hand, on working in partnership with social workers, physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals to discuss the causes and physical, psychological and social symptoms of addiction and work towards breaking addictive habits. Technicians who specialise in addictive disorders also partake in prevention campaign to eradicate addictive habits, either in their work environment or in connection with other organisations.
Tasks
- Coordinate with other professionals who deal with persons displaying an addictive behaviour to devise joint activities which place emphasis on the part that involves psycho-social rehabilitation and the detoxification of behavioural habits.
Coordinate with other social administrations and organisations outside one's own organisation who can offer support and resources in the frame of psycho-social rehabilitation processes. - Recognise addiction disorders and identify situations and determining factors which lead to the consumption of addictive substances.
Interpret clinical diagnoses made on the physical and mental status of the person based on his/her medical and social records.
If a doctor, make a diagnosis.
Draw up patient records to identify all the variables found to converge in addictive behaviour (environment, family, life experiences, etc.).
If necessary, meet with other persons from the patient's environment to collect information on the persons to be cared for. - Devise and teach individual or group social/public health treatment programmes, in multi-disciplinary partnership with other professionals involved in caring for addicts (physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and educators).
Carry out one-to-one or group therapy sessions and apply intervention protocols established to this effect and in line with the school of thought (behavioural-cognitive, psychoanalytical, etc.) followed by the institution.
Hold support sessions with members of the addict's family or others persons from his/her surroundings.
Together with the patient, determine which measures to take to prevent recidivist behaviour. - Inform the patient of any results achieved and progress made during the treatment.
Carry out follow-up sessions according to the protocols established for this purpose. - Provide a care service to the relatives of persons suffering addictive disorders and take into account the changes addiction may cause in family relationships (codependence).
- Program and implement prevention campaigns in the work, family or educational environment, focusing on areas with a high risk of addictive behaviour.
Participate in educational workshops to help addicts learn social-work guidelines that promote their reintegration into society. - Analyse the social dynamics linked to the incidence of addictive disorders in the community and prepare epidemiological reports, either individually or jointly.
Assess existing intervention policies and programs.
Participate in publications regarding addictions, designing informative websites, advertising campaigns and other information sources.
