Counselling People on Prescribed Drugs

This practical and comprehensive guide will prove invaluable for all those in the helping professions who are working, or wanting to work, with clients taking prescribed drugs. Describing the uses and limitations of psychotropic drugs, their effectiveness and impact on the counselling process, Diane Hammersley lays down guidelines for assessment, drug withdrawal and the appropriate counselling approaches to consider while clients are still taking drugs or are withdrawing from drug use. She also explores more complex problems - such as overdosing, psychotic episodes and antisocial behaviour - and suggests when and how to counsel and when to refer on. Providing a sound theoretical base and factual information, backed up by useful case examples, the author shows how clients' underlying and often deep-seated problems cannot really be solved until they are drug free and have recovered from their drug use. This clear and accessible book will encourage counsellors to work in this area with more confidence, and will help them provide the support their clients need both during the stages of their withdrawal from prescribed drugs and to get the maximum benefit from the counselling process.