Clients who deal with substance abuse issues are usually experiencing difficulty with deeper issues.  Substance abuse generally appears as a strong coping tool in order for the client to 'deal' with life, or it can be an approach to self-medicate a pre-existing medical or mental health issue.  Clients can expect an initial Alcohol and Drug Assessment to help provide insight into past issues.  The approach to substance abuse counseling is more than telling the client to "stop using."  Counseling clients with substance use issues requires the client to both engage in deep reflection and be willing to commit to a change in overall behavior.