When it comes to success in treatment, there is a key ingredient needed, “will.” Will can be defined in varying ways depending on the situation it is applied. For substance use treatment, if a client does not have the will to remain sober and progress in their recovery, there is very little that clinicians can do to assist this particular individual. In order for a client to enter treatment voluntarily, one of the primary requirements needed is will.
What is Will?
“Will” can be defined– in regards to treatment– as the desire to want better for one’s self, remain sober, and begin the process of recovery from substance use. If a clinician is working harder than the client who is in treatment this not beneficial for either party. Individuals without the drive to become sober, there is little chance for success as this drive is rarely established during treatment.
This is based on my experience of working in the field of substance use treatment. Substance use treatment is not a vacation or a retreat from life but rather a brief exclusion from everyday life. This hiatus offers individuals the opportunity to establish a connection between the cause of their substance use, triggers, situations, and coping skills. These points are needed in order for the client to have a chance at long term recovery.
“I Only Want To Do 30 Days”
The answering of these questions and the acquisition of skills requires time, commitment, and dedication. Clients who enter treatment with a time frame that is firm and not negotiable do understand that the treatment program is fluid. There is no predicting how long someone will need treatment.
So, often clients are more focused on the amount of time they plan on staying in treatment rather than being present in the moment. Often, with years of substance use and negative behaviors, the clients need to allow the time needed to give themselves the best chance at long term recovery and sobriety. The focuses should not be on the number of days. This is where willingness becomes important.
Why Will is Needed in Treatment
There is a precedent set when clients first enter treatment: going into treatment is not a vacation and it is not a break from life. Life and its daily struggles do not disappear entering into a substance use treatment program. Depending on the level of care that a client is in, there could potentially be a controlled environment limiting triggers and many unwanted circumstances of everyday life. Clinicians offer support during treatment, however, the hope is that while the client is in treatment they can develop a sense of internal motivation i.e. “Will.” This Will can instill motivation for self-betterment rather than self-approval.
When therapists are taking the brunt of a person’s recovery, it enforces the individual’s reliance on others. Without will, therapists and all other support members will continue to do their work; enforcing the idea that they do not need to put as much effort forth because others will always be there to pick up the pieces for them. As an adult in today’s society, this is not realistic and can lead to reliance on substances as a way to handle scenarios when they do not receive help. The “Will” for the client is not something that often is inherent, especially related to enabling behaviors by family and friends or rather the client not feeling like they have hit their so-called, “Rock Bottom” yet.
Conclusion
The unfortunate reality that clinicians often face with certain clients is that if the client does not want to implement changes in their life and want better internally, there is no word or intervention that can be implemented that will be effective for that client. As clinicians, there is an inherent want to help everyone and provide the platform for clients to be able to jump start their recovery process and begin their life in abstinence from substance use. This will be possible for some, for others who do not yet have that internal will, this will prove incredibly difficult to achieve.
