Hi, guys! I will have a new client who is a drug user. How should I start my work with this client?

Welcome.

Thank you for the suggestion!

I think, first of all, you should try to build a good relationship with your client. Creating rapport with clients is fundamental for successful counseling. It helps social workers and clients develop a sense of mutual trust. This trust can encourage clients to be transparent about their addictions and what may inspire their addictive tendencies. When social workers are trustworthy, their clients are often more open to the recovery process. Relationship building means learning to spot clients’ nonverbal and other cues, which can inform the direction of subsequent steps in the recovery process. A strong professional relationship between social worker and client can make a recovery a positive, collaborative process. This can be critical because the individuals seeking substance use counseling may enter treatment with a suspicious and negative mental outlook. Establishing a safe, engaging relationship with clients is a key first step to helping them see the value of counseling and its goals.