question archive Wk 6 Discussion – Title Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation
Wk 6 Discussion – Title Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation
Subject:SociologyPrice: Bought3
Wk 6 Discussion – Title
Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to other students.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
What are some of the unique needs of culturally diverse addiction clients like Native American, Latino, Elderly, Disabled and LGBTQ concerning substance abuse counseling?
What are some effective strategies to support client advocacy during substance abuse counseling?
What are some legal and ethical issues that could arise during substance abuse counseling?
Explain what you have learned from this course about changing a behavior.
Aimee Kaiser
Top of Form
What are some of the unique needs of culturally diverse addiction clients like Native American, Latino, Elderly, Disabled and LGBTQ concerning substance abuse counseling?
Some of the unique concerns of culturally diverse clients relate to promotional materials, in which there is a lack of representation, or the language is a challenge to someone with an intellectual disability or a language barrier. Physical access to treatment centers is also a challenge for many physically disabled and elderly individuals, including transportation to treatment. Often, a mistrust of the system exists because of previous interactions with majority providers in which there has been a cultural insensitivity driven by cultural stereotyping (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016).
What are some effective strategies to support client advocacy during substance abuse counseling?
Advocacy is especially important in cases where a client is experiencing oppression or discrimination due to their gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, cultural background, age, or physical disability. Counselors can reach across borders and work with primary care physicians and other members of an individual’s provider network to communicate the client’s needs and ensure fair treatment and ethical care. Selecting promotional materials and creating office spaces which demonstrate inclusivity is a good way of making clients from all backgrounds feel welcome and seen (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016).
What are some legal and ethical issues that could arise during substance abuse counseling?
Legal and ethical issues may particularly impact clients with dual diagnoses, and the need to treat both diagnoses simultaneously. Ethical issues affecting the LGBTQ population include ensuring and maintaining privacy boundaries, when substance abuse counseling often involves family members and community groups. A counselor must be careful to avoid placing the client in an environment in which they might be expected to reveal more than they are ready. Minors are also a complex population, in which counselors are required to ensure confidentiality, with certain exceptions, but may also be facing pressure from parents to disclose the content of sessions (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016).
Explain what you have learned from this course about changing a behavior.
Bottom of Form
Addiction is absolutely not limited to substances, or even outwardly harmful issues. One can be “addicted” to something that even appears healthy on the surface, but the psychological attachment to a substance or behavior is the challenge of addiction. Changing a behavior is not an instantaneous process, and can come with lapses and relapses, just like a drug or alcohol addiction. Process addiction, just like substance addiction, has root causes and is helping an individual cope with something in their lives. A behavioral addiction should be treated with the same care and exploration as a substance addiction, and include teaching the client to adapt new and healthier coping skills.
Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling (3rd ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Priscilla Cerdas
Top of Form
What are some of the unique needs of culturally diverse addiction clients like Native American, Latino, Elderly, Disabled and LGBTQ concerning substance abuse counseling?
As a counselor, one must always be prepared to work with individuals and communities that are diverse from one’s own culture. As a first generation Latinx American, I have learned although I am generally comfortable working with the Latinx community, there are some cultures I am less familiar with than others, and thus my learning is ongoing. Unfortunately, minority groups such as the LGBTQIA+ have higher risk factors of using substances than their heterosexual, cisgender peers. This is likely due to years of, and ongoing discrimination (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Unfortunately, not all states respect LGBTQIA+ rights, therefore as a counselor one must be aware of the client’s rights, and advocate for social justice.
Some groups such as Native American’s most used drug is alcohol – however it is still used at a lower rate than amongst Caucasians, Hispanics, and African Americans (Americans Addictions Center, 2021). Contributing factors that increase risk include: Historical trauma, violence, poverty, high levels of unemployment, discrimination, racism, lack of health insurance, low levels of education attained. Many of these ultimately rooted in colonialism and the stolen land of Native Americans many of us currently reside on. Native Americans also have specific rights in terms of how reports of abuse and neglect are reported, therefore counselors should consult with local officials to consult. Culturally, certain substances such as tobacco and some psychoactive drugs have been normal to Native American culture for centuries (ACLU, 2021).
As counselors, we are mandated reporters of abuse and neglect to minors, elders and the disabled. If a client is not cared for appropriately, it is both a legal and ethical obligation to call in the appropriate supports (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016).
What are some effective strategies to support client advocacy during substance abuse counseling?
Continuing education and advocating within your own community are effective tools to support client advocacy. Being aware and participating in local policy change and resources available to clients is also an effective strategy. We of course can’t do it all, but we can do small things that lead to great changes. Often clients will ask therapists for letters to confirm diagnoses in efforts of taking leave from work or accessing other resources. Our words and actions as therapists
Bottom of Form
are powerful.
What are some legal and ethical issues that could arise during substance abuse counseling?
I am currently licensed in the state of Massachusetts and am in the process of obtaining my LMHC in Florida. Through trainings in both states I have learned about the Marchman Act and the Baker Act. For the Baker act to be implemented, the client must need treatment, and refuse despite threat of harm to themselves or others. For the Marchman act, a person can be held up to 72 hours for an involuntary substance use assessment (Marchman Act Florida, 2021).
Explain what you have learned from this course about changing a behavior.
American Addiction Centers. (2021). Alcoholism-treatment. American Addictions Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/native-americans
ACLU. (2021). Against drug prohibition. American Civil Liberties Union. https://www.aclu.org/other/against-drug-prohibition
Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling (3rd ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Marchman Act Florida. (2021). What does a Marchman Act Do? Marchman Act Florida. https://marchmanactflorida.com/marchman-act/what-does-a-marchman-act-do/
