Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Practice Questions

Confrontation in counseling is primarily utilized to address discrepancies between a client's words and actions. This approach helps the counselor highlight differences in what a client is explicitly stating and their actual behaviors, feelings, or attitudes. By bringing these inconsistencies to light, the counselor can prompt the client to reflect on their situation more critically, potentially leading to insights regarding their behavior and choices related to substance use.

This process is an essential aspect of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the goal is to foster awareness and encourage change. When clients are confronted with these discrepancies, they can start examining the rationalizations for their behavior and the impact of their choices, which is critical for developing a path toward recovery.

While promoting self-awareness is an important part of the counseling process, confrontation specifically targets the inconsistencies that exist between a client's expressed thoughts and their actual conduct, making it a vital tool for facilitating dialogues that can lead to personal insights and behavioral changes.