Therapeutic Services

Our therapeutic services are a valuable asset to our other services and compliment the work we do within the Business, Harm Reduction and Schools Services.

Counselling

The counsellors who work for Druglink are trained and qualified to Diploma level or are on a professional placement during their final year of their Diploma course. A professional clinical supervisor regularly supervises their work.

This is an opportunity to talk and explore past and present experiences. Confidentiality is assured, no information will be disclosed to anyone without the permission of the client, unless there is a real concern of harm to self, others or children.

All counselling is conducted within the ethical guidelines of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Access to counselling can be by self-referral or through professional health workers such as GPs, social workers or CDAT.  Help is only a phone call away!

Community Outreach

Outreach has two main functions.

1) Face to face client contact

Support is provided for clients who are either abstaining from substances or progressing towards harm minimisation or reduction.

Either way a care plan is agreed between the client and outreach worker as to the method to be used to monitor the specific issue.

Although clients self refer to Outreach services, referrals are also received from family members, CDATs, Social Services, Probation etc. In certain instances there is joint work with other agencies in regards to clients.

2) Community Safety Initiative

Druglink is in partnership with Dacorum Borough Council and Hertfordshire Constabulary to raise awareness of community safety issues  in Dacorum.

The activities in terms of raising awareness with our partners are diverse: from providing literature/displays at specific community events to hosting presentations for specific target groups i.e. young people, senior citizens, special needs.

Druglink have also been involved in crime diversionary initiatives for young people who are poor attendees at school, and are also at risk of offending and/or at risk of using substances. The aim is to get young people involved with the rudiments of a specific interest, then mix the regular sessions with social educational items including drug and alcohol awareness sessions.

Among the crime diversionary initiatives that Druglink have contributed to are:

Motorbike Projects, Fishing Projects, Community Enhancement Programmes and the Carnival Project.

Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture

Acupuncture, as one of China’s traditional medicines, has a history of over 2500 years. Auricular acupuncture is acupuncture using points in the ear. It harmonises the functions of the different organs by balancing the YIN and YANG.

Auricular acupuncture, used in the addiction field, uses a five-point treatment, which has been used successfully for many years to help with detoxification, relaxation and to help improve general well being. This type of acupuncture has also been shown to greatly reduce cravings, alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce stress.

It involves the insertion of thin stainless steel needles into both ears where they are left for 40 minutes while the client relaxes, meditates or thinks about the changes that they need to make in their life.

The benefits of this treatment have been well researched and it is now widely recognised in the substance misuse treatment field as a powerful tool for the successful treatment of clients. Additional benefits have been shown as clients' rates of attendance and the desire to access services are increased if this treatment is offered.

Our acupuncture clinics are held in:
Hemel Hempstead:   Monday and Thursday 11 am – 1 pm
Berkhamsted:          Friday 1 pm – 3 pm