Betsy Byler
Betsy Byler
You Don’t Need Personal Experience to Work With Substance Use
You Don’t Need Personal Experience to Work With Substance Use
You Don’t Need Personal Experience to Work With Substance Use
Monday 10th October 2022
Betsy Byler debunks the myth that personal experience is needed for substance use therapy. Learn practical tips and alternative approaches.
Explicit
32 minutes
Informative
Empowering
Thought-provoking
Supportive
Engaging
About this podcast
Author:
Betsy Byler
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Recovery from Trauma
Family Recovery from Addiction
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
177 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Debunking Myths: Why Therapists Don't Need Personal Experience to Tackle Substance Use
You don’t need to be in recovery to do substance use work. The truth is that you are enough, as you are. You do not need to have the exact personal experiences as your clients to do good work and this includes substance use.
Ever felt like you need to have walked the same path as your clients to truly help them? Betsy Byler, host of 'All Things Substance', is here to bust that myth wide open. In this episode, Betsy takes a deep dive into the common misconception that personal experience with substance use is a prerequisite for effective therapy in this field.
With her extensive background as a licensed therapist and substance abuse counselor, she argues that empathy, understanding, and professional skills are what truly matter. Betsy shares her own journey of working alongside a police chief to create a diversion program for low-level drug offenders. This real-world example showcases how therapists can make a significant impact without having lived through addiction themselves.
She also explores various alternatives to the traditional 12-step programs, providing listeners with a broader toolkit for addressing substance use issues. For therapists, attending their own therapy sessions can be a game-changer. Betsy emphasizes the importance of self-care and honesty about one's recovery status, not just for personal well-being but also for building trust with clients. She also touches on the growing role of recovery coaches in the field and offers practical tips for confidently discussing substance use with clients.
By the end of this episode, you'll feel more equipped and confident to integrate substance use treatment into your practice, breaking down the stigma that only those with personal experience can do this work. Tune in to gain valuable insights and learn how you can contribute to addressing substance use as a crucial aspect of mental health.