An addiction counselor is a licensed behavioral health professional who helps people manage substance use disorders through counseling, relapse prevention, behavioral therapies, and recovery planning. At Empower Health Group of North Carolina, our counselors work with individuals experiencing alcohol, opioid, stimulant, prescription drug, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Recent data suggest that medication-assisted therapy, along with psychotherapy, is effective for opioid addiction ¹. Our addiction counselor near me in Wilmington may offer professional support using:

• CBT manages addiction triggers and cravings
• DBT replaces negative emotions with healthy ones
• Family Therapy for family conflicts and addiction triggers

Looking for drug abuse counseling in NC? Call us at 910-335-9102 , Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM to speak confidentially with our admissions team.

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What Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Do?

Substance abuse counselors help individuals to ²:

1. Manage Addiction Triggers and High-Risk Situations
2. Develop Healthy Addiction Coping Skills
3. Reduce Risk of Relapse
4. Address Underlying Mental Health Conditions
5. Build Long-Term Recovery Strategies

Here are 100 Activities and Habits That Support Long-Term Recovery.

Who Should See an Addiction Counselor Near Me in North Carolina?

Individuals struggling with alcohol, drug, or mental health issues may benefit from addiction counseling, especially:

1. People Struggling With Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD)
2. People Who Have Relapse Risks
3. Individuals With Anxiety, Depression, or Trauma
4. Family Members or Loved Ones Dealing With Addiction
5. Individuals Struggling With Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
6. People with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
7. Court-Ordered or DUI Clients with Addiction

Addiction Counseling Services We Offer in North Carolina

Our Licensed counselors at Empower Health Group of North Carolina offer services including:

• Alcohol Addiction Counseling
• Drug Addiction Counseling
• Opioid Addiction Counseling
• Cocaine Addiction Counseling
• Meth Addiction Counseling
• Prescription Drug Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• DUI Counseling

Addiction Counseling Approaches at Empower Health Group of NC

Our addiction counselor uses multiple treatment approaches to meet the patient’s needs. The combination of treatment options we use:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Our therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy works by helping patients understand, avoid, and deal with the situations that trigger their urge to use substances. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for:

• Alcohol and drug use issues
• Severe mental illnesses
• Anxiety
• Marital problems
• Behavioral disorders 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy used to treat various addiction and mental health conditions. Professional DBT Therapists teaches clients to:

• Manage negative emotions
• Minimize relationship conflicts
• Teaches mindfulness and healthy behaviors

Family Therapy for Addiction

Family therapy focuses on communication patterns within the family and helps to understand the effects of addiction on family dynamics ⁵. Our substance counselor may use multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) and multisystemic therapy (MST) to ⁵:

• Resolve family relationship conflicts
• Manage triggers that lead to substance abuse

Contingency Management for Addiction

Contingency Management (CM) is an addiction treatment that offers incentives for achieving recovery milestones. The American Psychiatry Journal reported that it has positive outcomes for substance use disorders (SUD) ⁶.

We may implement contingency management (CM) to promote abstinence from ⁷:

• Stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine)
• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
• Nicotine
• Opiates
• Marijuana

Person-Centered Approach for Addiction

Rogerian therapy, or person-centered approach, is a non-directive, client-centered approach ⁸. Individual substance abuse counseling is a session with a trained counselor that talks about negative thoughts and feelings surrounding addiction and establishes healthy habits.

Our counselor is able to assist individuals who have ⁸:

• Unwanted thoughts or behaviors that are unhelpful (addictions)
• Provides support in times of stress in life
• Enhances a patient’s capacity to make positive behavioral changes.
• Deal with interpersonal problems

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy for Addiction

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) changes internal beliefs and emotional reactions that lead to cravings and substance misuse ⁹.

Our addiction counselor may assist patients in managing their thinking patterns with the ABC model ¹⁰:

Motivational Interviewing for Addiction

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative and client-centered counseling intervention to help people change their substance use behaviors.

Our addiction counselor uses the core principles such as ¹¹:

• Engage and build a therapeutic alliance.
• Focus on what the client wants to change.
• Evoking and drawing out the client’s own reasons for making a change.
• Planning a concrete and actionable plan for when the client feels ready.

Note: Treatment approaches may vary depending on clinician training and individual needs.

What Happens During Your First Addiction Counseling Session?

After a call with our admissions team, they will schedule an appointment for you and do:

1. Comprehensive Assessment: Our addiction counselor does a thorough substance abuse evaluation and mental health screening of the individual to identify triggers.
2. Treatment Goals: After assessment, the counselor discusses addiction treatment goals with the participant.
3. Personalized Treatment Recommendations: Our addiction counselor recommends the best possible treatment options for the individual’s condition.
4. Start Counseling Session: The individual may receive CBT, DBT (when appropriate), or motivational therapy to treat underlying triggers of substance abuse.

Read More About: CBT vs DBT

Why Choose Empower Health Group of North Carolina For Drug Abuse Counseling?

NCDHHS substance abuse statistics reported that emergency department visits for drug/alcohol use have risen by up to 43% in the state. Our addiction counselors may help to reduce these numbers by offering:

1. Local Wilmington Location Counselors
2. Licensed Clinicians
3. Same-Day Rehab Assessments
4. Virtual Behavioral Health Service Availability
5. Co-occurring Dual Diagnosis Treatment
6. Multiple Levels of Care (PHP, IOP, Outpatient)

Read: What to Bring to Rehab?

Looking for a substance abuse counselor in North Carolina? Seek professional substance abuse counseling services online or in-person at our rehab. Call us at 910-335-9102 to schedule an online appointment or visit us at 2106 South 17th Street.

Questions Related To Chemical Dependency Counselor in North Carolina

People looking for ‘drug and alcohol counselor near me’ also ask about:

Is an Addiction Counselor the Same as a Therapist?

No. An addiction counselor focuses on helping people recover from alcohol or drug addiction, while an addiction therapist may treat a wider range of mental health concerns, including addiction. Both can provide counseling, depending on their training and licensure.

Can I See an Addiction Counselor Without Going to Rehab?

Yes. Many people receive addiction counseling without entering rehab through individual, outpatient, or virtual sessions. If you need more support, your counselor may recommend a higher level of care based on your clinical needs.

How Can A Substance Abuse Professional Help Me In My Recovery?

Substance abuse counselors help by providing:

• Safe and supportive space
• Develop coping skills
• Establish personalized treatment plans

What Should I Consider When Selecting A Substance Abuse Counselor?

Before selecting an addiction counselor, look for:

• Qualifications
• Experience
• Specialization in addiction treatment
• Insurance coverage
• Availability

Will My Sessions With A Substance Abuse Counselor Be Confidential?

Yes, our sessions are confidential and private. Our substance abuse counseling adheres to strict HIPAA compliance laws.

Addiction Counselor vs Therapist: What’s the Difference?

Confused between counseling vs therapy sessions? At Empower Health Group, both our addiction counselors and therapists are licensed professionals. Addiction counselors (such as LCAS in North Carolina) specialize specifically in the behavioral and physiological patterns of substance use disorders, while general therapists may focus on broader mental health dynamics. Both collaborate to treat dual-diagnosis conditions.

So, in short: 

• An addiction counselor offers a short-term solution for early or mild substance addiction.
• Meanwhile, an addiction therapist offers long-term treatment for addiction, relapse, and dual diagnosis.

What Types Of Addiction Treatment Options Are Available?

Our behavioral health clinic in Wilmington offers the following addiction treatment options:

• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Educational and Life Skills
• Mental Health Treatment
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Family Services
• Transitional Living or Continuing Care

What Is The Cost Of Addiction Counseling, and Does Insurance Cover It?

The cost depends on the duration of the treatment program. Our self-pay PHP treatment starts from $8,000 per month. We are in-network with Ambetter and accept most insurance plans (Aetna, Cigna, etc) for more affordable treatment. 

Does Online/Virtual Addiction Counseling Work?

Our virtual IOP/Outpatient programs offer counseling services to North Carolina residents. Individuals receive structured sessions from the comfort of their homes.

References

1. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1741907/full
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/drug-counseling
3. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-phases
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460325000437
5. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-82583-5_20
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7916027/
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/contingency-management
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/
9. https://www.primescholars.com/articles/rational-emotive-behaviour-therapy-in-supporting-substance-abuse-recovery-136653.html
10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11055976/
11. https://motivationalinterviewing.org/understanding-motivational-interviewing