Cocaine and Treatment Focused on Individual

Person-Centered Therapy for Cocaine Addiction

Person-centered therapy is a treatment approach founded on the humanistic theory that if the right environment is available, each person will reach their authentic, complete capacity (Tudor 316). The usage of person-centered philosophy requires putting a value on human integrity and recognizing and acknowledging the reality of an entity (Tudor 319).

The Experience of Therapeutic Interactions

In comparison, person-centered therapy allows people to become their true selves through the experience of therapeutic interactions, which promotes self-healing (Cooper and McLeod 211). Person-centered treatment is one of the methods shown to be effective in helping patients solve multiple drug issues such as opioid addictions. The issue of cocaine addiction can have significant impacts on a person's self-reliance, self-awareness, and self-esteem. However, the use of person-centered therapy can help cocaine addicts to reconnect with their inner selves so as to transcend any limitations (Cooper and McLeod 215). This paper gives a description of how I would use person-centered therapy to treat an individual addicted to cocaine.

The Role of the Therapist

As a person-centered therapist, my primary role in treating an individual suffering from cocaine addiction would be to offer unconditional positive regard for the client's empathy, non-judgment, and life experience. Besides, my overall goal as a person-centered therapist would be to create a safe and conducive environment for the client's self-exploration so as to enable him or her to find a meaning in life, that they may have lost during the period of active cocaine addiction (Tudor 320). As a therapist, my application of person-centered therapy would be about helping the cocaine addict to become more self-directed, as well as to live by authentic, internal standards as opposed to external cues of what or who he or she should be. Besides, through the person-centered approach, I would make the patient recognize that finding meaning, value, and purpose in life is an essential step towards leading a healthy life of long-term sobriety (Tudor 321).

Supporting Growth and Change

By using person-centered therapy, I would enhance and provide vital support for the cocaine addict's growth and relationship by allowing him or her to explore and make use of his or her identity and strength. Additionally, I would ensure the existence of a close relationship between myself and the client so as to enhance his or her achievement of positive personal change. When using the person-centered approach in treating a cocaine addict, I would also ensure the consistency of the client's experience and self-image so as to prevent him or her from being vulnerable to anxieties and fears relating to cocaine addiction (Cooper and McLeod 219).

Genuineness and Empathy in Therapy

As a person-centered therapist, I would ensure that I remain genuine, congruent throughout the treatment process. That would ensure that I remain true to myself throughout my therapeutic relationship with the client (Cooper and McLeod 221). Additionally, I would accept the cocaine addict's experiences of cocaine addiction, whether positive or negative, without placing any judgment or conditions. That would allow the client to share his or her cocaine addiction experiences without the fear of being judged. I would also demonstrate an empathetic understanding of the client's cocaine addiction experiences, as well as recognize his or her emotional experiences without getting involved emotionally. In such a way, I would fully understand the client's experience of cocaine addiction, thus enabling me to create the most appropriate therapeutic environment (Tudor 324). Besides, I would monitor the client's behavior to identify the necessary adjustments in the treatment process.

The Impact of Environment and Relationships

Several factors can affect a cocaine addict's ability to flourish, including the lack of self-reliance, low self-esteem, as well as little openness to new experiences of cocaine addiction. The use of person-centered approach recognizes that the client's personal relationship and social environment can significantly impact such factors. Therefore, as a therapist, I would ensure the treatment of a cocaine addict in a neutral and comfortable environment where the client would feel at ease, and become open to learning about himself or herself. In such a way, I would provide the cocaine addicted client with an opportunity to counteract his or her past experiences that impacted his or her conditions of worth (Cooper and McLeod 222).

Self-Actualization and Personal Growth

According to research, an individual's personal judgment, experience, and meaning can get displaced with other people's ideas over time. However, through person-centered counseling, people, particularly those suffering from addictions, can undergo self-actualization and achieve personal growth (Tudor 326). Therefore, as a person-centered therapist, I would ensure the provision of a supportive environment when treating a patient with cocaine addiction so as to allow the client to expand and strengthen his or her identity, as well as separate themselves from their negative perceptions of how they should live. Besides, I would always maintain a positive attitude towards the client with cocaine addiction, even when I get disgusted with some of the client's actions. That way, I would be exhibiting genuine and deep care for the cocaine addict, thereby enhancing his or her rehabilitation process (Tudor 329).

The Effectiveness of Person-Centered Therapy

In general, the use of person-centered therapy can be very helpful to individuals with cocaine addiction. I consider it to be one of the most appropriate treatment methods for persons addicted to cocaine because it enables them to take control over the pace and content of the treatment sessions without the worry that the therapist will be judging or evaluating them. Besides, the use of person-centered approach in treating individuals with cocaine addiction allows the therapists to develop optimistic and positive views regarding the human nature, a situation which significantly facilitates the addicts' recovery processes.

Works Cited

Cooper, Mick, and John McLeod. "Person-Centered Therapy: A Pluralistic Perspective." Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies 10.3 (2011): 210-223. Web.

Tudor, Keith. "Person-Centered Psychology And Therapy, Ecopsychology And Ecotherapy." Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies 12.4 (2013): 315-329. Web.