Paraprofessional versus professional drug abuse counselors: attitudes and expectations of the counselors and their clients

Abstract

Three groups of methadone maintenance and drug-free outpatient counselors, ex-addict paraprofessionals (EXAs), non-ex-addict paraprofessionals (NEAs), and degreed professional counselors (PROs), were contrasted in terms of their views of drug abuse and drug treatment, their attitudes toward and expectations for their clients, and in terms of their clients' attitudes toward them. Across groups, counselors agreed on the major cause of drug abuse, the critical factor in treatment, the definition of treatment success, and their expectations for client success. While clients of the three groups viewed their counselors are equally able to understand them and were equally confident of the counselors, the clients of EXAs saw their counselors as more knowledgeable about critical issues of drugs and the street scene, were more willing to bring personal problems to their counselors, and expected and desired more participation from their counselors in both counseling-related and personal problems.