Defining the Role of the Counselor:
Counseling Techniques and Strategies
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Division of Student/Career Services
Department of Intervention Programs
TRUST Program
Role of the Counselor
• Services available for the student
affected by a family member’s chemical
dependence:
– Individual counseling
– Group counseling
• TRUST Support Group Curriculum
• Training in February 2005
TRUST Program
Role of the Counselor
• Accept referrals from:
– Teachers
– Administrators
– Parents
– Students
• Provide student with intervention services.
• Provide information of community resources.
TRUST Program
Role of the Counselor
• Use Counseling Services Record Sheet
[FM-4121 Rev. (04-98)] to document intervention services.
TRUST Program
Role of the Counselor
• Document the amount of referrals received and
the type of intervention provided.
• Codes to be used:
• GC: Group Counseling
• IC: Individual Counseling
• AC: Agency Consultation (information of community resources)
– Specify and identify all TRUST referrals.
– Provide Administrator with TRUST data.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
• Chemical Dependence Individual Counseling
– What to say to a student who is being affected by someone
else’s alcohol/ substance/ chemical dependence:
– The 7 “C”s
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You did not cause it
You can not cure it
You can not control it
You can take care of yourself
You can communicate your feelings
You can make your own choices
You can celebrate being you
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
1. You did not CAUSE it
•
The drug use is not your fault
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Children blame themselves for a parent’s drug
use, sometimes because the addicted family
member places blame on them.
The guilt that is placed on the child has a
tremendous impact on his/her personality
development.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
2. You can not CURE it
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Chemical Dependency is an illness.
The child feels unloved, angry, rejected and
thinks the dependent person chooses this
lifestyle.
The child can begin to love the family
member again if he/she can separate the
illness from the person.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
3. You can not CONTROL it
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•
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The chemically dependent family member is
the one who can decide to stop drinking or
using drugs.
Is up to him/her to change.
Mental health professionals can help the
chemically dependent individual to begin the
process of recovery.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
4. You can take CARE of yourself
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You are not alone
Help the child prepare a Safety Plan of what
he/she can do when the family member
becomes intoxicated/inebriated.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
5. You can COMMUNICATE your feelings
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You can talk about the problem
Find someone you trust who will talk to you.
It can be a counselor, teacher, a friend’s
parent, a big brother or sister.
Help the child identify ‘safe people’ he/she
can talk to.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
6. You can make healthy CHOICES
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Empower the child to make positive choices
in his/her everyday life which will lead to a
drug-free lifestyle.
Empower them to ‘break the cycle’.
TRUST Program
Counseling Strategies and Techniques
The 7 “C”s
7. You can CELEBRATE being you
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Encourage the child to identify his/her
strengths, abilities, skills, etc.
Assist the child in the process of increasing
self-esteem and feelings of worth.
Help the child to ‘feel good’ about him/her
self.
TRUST Program
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use
• Physical Changes
– Activity level
– Change in sleeping pattern
– Weight increase/decrease
– Appearance
– Lack of concentration
– Nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills
– Red or watery eyes
TRUST Program
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use
• Social and Psychological Changes
– Mood changes
– Withdrawal
– Change in peer group and social activities
– Increase irritability, anger
– Negative attitude toward authority figures
– Decrease school performance, attendance
– Decrease in motivation
TRUST Program
Risk Factors of Substance-Exposed Children
• Risk factors include those individual
characteristics or social environments
associated with an increased likelihood of
substance use.
TRUST Program
Risk Factors of Substance-Exposed Children
• Learning
– Poor visual/auditory perception
– Difficulty with fine and gross motor skills
– Immature grasping /manipulation skills
– Highly distractible
– Low level of persistence
– High level of frustration
– Inability to stay on task
– Decreased interactive play
– Inability to follow directions
TRUST Program
Risk Factors of Substance-Exposed Children
• Behavioral
– Exhibits extreme behaviors or reactions
– Easily over stimulated
– Low tolerance for change
– Difficulty with peer relationships
– Poor inner self-control
– Decreasing compliance with commands or
instructions
– Aggressiveness
– Inability to express needs, fears, etc.
TRUST Program
Protective Factors of Substance-Exposed Children
• Protective factors are related to
decreased likelihood of substance
use or of nonuse.
TRUST Program
Protective Factors of Substance-Exposed Children
• Protective Factors
– Significant relationship with an adult
– Socially adept or competent (developmental
counseling)
– Pro-social interaction with school peers
– Healthy expectations
– Parental involvement
– Negative attitude toward drugs
– Perception of drugs as being harmful
TRUST Program
Community Resources
• Division of Student/Career Services
http://studentcareerservices.dadeschools.net/index.htm
• Switchboard of Miami Help Pages
www.irissoft.com/switchboardmm/
• Al-Anon / Al-Ateen
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Alcoholic Anonymous
TRUST Program
For more information contact:
The Division of Student/Career Services
Department of Intervention Programs
Safe and Drug Free Schools
Ms. Paula Swope, Staff Specialist
Dr. Monique Jiménez, Curriculum Support Specialist
Phone: (305) 995-7310
Fax: (305) 995-2230
mjimenez@sbab.dade.k12.fl.us
pswope@dadeschools.net
TRUST Program