Changing any habitual behaviour is hard work and takes a lot of time and energy - changing harmful drug use patterns is no different and can take many years. The sorts of things that are likely to be focused on in this change process include: relationships with others; how to manage feelings; communication skills; problem solving skills; employment retraining; and financial management. For some people it can include going back and looking at things that happened in their childhood, for others it may be learning better ways of coping with the 'here-and-now'. There are loads of different styles of counselling and behaviour change - almost too many to mention.

Like withdrawal, the first choice is the setting; you can do this work in a residential rehabilitation program (a Therapeutic Community). These are usually longer-term, group-based treatment programs in a highly structured environment, designed to bring about rehabilitation from drug dependence. They are often characterised by strict membership rules, a confrontational style and geographical and/or social isolation. Another choice is supported accommodation services - these are less intense than residential rehabilitation programs - there is not 24-hour support from workers and the residents are expected to manage their own affairs. If you do not want a residential/live-in service, then there is a range of outpatient counselling services (as listed in Chapter 15, Quick Guide).

Counsellors may have different ways of working - for example, some may focus on your coping skills (thinking and feeling leading to changing behaviour - this is called Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy); others may focus on your relationships and family (family therapy). The important point is that you choose the type and style that you are comfortable with.