Abstract
Governments have been urged to adopt real-time prescription monitoring in order to manage and reduce risks associated with the long-term use of sleep and anti-anxiety medications. Given this imperative, accessible psychological interventions for benzodiazepine (BZD) dependency and withdrawal are essential. The aim of this study was to understand how counsellors support clients assessed as suitable for community-based drug withdrawal services to reduce their BZD use. Six BZD counsellors and two service coordinators were interviewed. Counsellors collaborated with their clients and prescribing doctors to develop individualised taper schedules that were in line with recommended clinical guidelines. Psychoeducation underscored a range of evidence-based interventions, and a trauma-informed approach was considered essential in working with clients to reduce their use of BZDs. Continuity in care was affected by the degree of prescribing doctor support for the taper. Counsellors reported that workforce sustainability was enhanced by quality clinical supervision and professional development opportunities. The role of counsellors in providing accessible, community-based interventions for clients to reduce their use of BZDs was supported. Psychosocial support, combined with a medically supervised taper, has a strong evidence base and implications for client-centred interventions are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 514-523 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Counselling and Psychotherapy Research |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 31 Jul 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2022 |