The Big Book indicates that chemical dependency is “powerful, cunning and baffling”.  It can be a difficult and confusing disease to address.  Families often feel out of their depth when dealing with their loved ones in the grips of addiction.  Sometimes they are looking for next steps in trying to get the help their loved one needs. Other times they need guidance for extending appropriate support, enacting boundaries, or doing their own recovery work.  I began to offer consultation services because the families and individuals I worked with asked me to.

It may be important to note that consultation is not counseling.  Consultation is a more practical, solution-focused and results-oriented conversation.  While providing advice, giving guidance, asking questions and dispensing information, I focus on WHAT needs to be done.  Counseling on the other hand is a more process-oriented conversation, helping the client raise awareness, develop understanding and make connections.  In counseling, the WHY is often more important than the what.

The consultations I offer tend to be in two categories: Pre-Intervention and Post-Intervention Consultations.