Pre-Treatment Work

This is preparatory work offered to a client preceding a clinical intervention, rather like driving lessons before a driving test. The work allows the client to explore their using behaviour and lifestyle. There are no wrong or right answers in this work; it is merely a journey of self-exploration and understanding. In essence pre treatment seeks to optimise a client’s opportunity of sustaining a drug free life when a clinical intervention is delivered.

From this work clients are able to identify their own faulty thinking and behaviour and develop new coping strategies. Clients often have some resistance around pre-treatment work stating they know everything about taking drugs. Pre treatment work is however centred around a life where substances are no longer taken; some clients have difficulty recalling what their lives were like before drugs e.g. what they did all day and who they did it with. Sessions cover a wide range of issues ranging from rebuilding family relationships to how to cope with ‘using’ associates as well as addressing practical issues such as benefits, appointments and legal issues etc.

Pre-treatment sessions are held at the project on a Thursday and can be accessed in a group format or on an individually basis. Usually three, two-hour sessions are offered to a client but for those who wish to explore their behaviour more further sessions can be arranged as and when identified.