Chapter Activities
Chapter 16
The following are activities to practice and hone you skills.
1. Good counselors take care of themselves, have good support groups, and do not carry work
problems home. Break into small groups and discuss how you can best ensure your physical and
emotional health while working in addictions treatment.
2. Break into small groups and discuss the following ethical dilemmas:
a. You are in the process of establishing trust and a client asks a very personal question
about you. Not wanting to lie, or eroding rapport, how would you address this?
b. You are a drug and alcohol counselor who is also in recovery. A former client from
treatment sees you at a 12-step meeting and asks if you would be their sponsor. Is this a
breach of ethics? What is the best way to deal with this?
c. You are in the process of establishing trust. A client wants to share something with only
you, and asks you to promise to not share this with anyone else. How would you
address this?
3. As per the text it is common for new counselors to talk too much in therapy. Yet we often do not
recognize this, as we do not see ourselves. Work with your clinical supervisor to record or sit in
one of your group or individual sessions (informed consent is required from the client). How
much of the talking did you do? Was it more than expected? What can you do to enhance active
listening?