The Role of the Psychologist on the Drug User Treatment Team

Abstract

Current practice in drug user treatment tends to provide, within any one agency, essentially the same treatment for all clients entering that agency. Instead, an agency should use a team approach, with a specific and unique treatment plan for every client, provided by the members of the team. The psychologist should play a central role on this team, being responsible for the treatment plan, for an individual evaluation plan, for assessing progress, for program evaluation, and, in many instances, for supervision of treatment staff. The functions and the different roles played by the psychologist are described, and the characteristics and skills needed for success are listed.