People from all walks of life enter into a drug rehab program. Therefore, it is important that staff members and others who come in day-to-day contact with clients show the highest degree of respect that they can.
One area in which clients may have many differences is the matter of religion. At any given time, a staunch Protestant (who may still be “punishing” himself for even having gotten himself into such a situation, although no punishment is needed or even justified) may be sitting next to or having frequent contact with someone who does not believe in a God, Higher Power, Supreme Being, or any representation thereof. Across the room may be two people who share a common ethnic origin, but each came from areas where different religions were practiced. Counselors and staff members themselves may have their own religious affiliations. All of this can make for tense situations, unless respect is demonstrated right from the start, particularly from staff members.
Still another area where respect is needed is a client’s perception of what brought him into the rehab program in the first place. He may be dealing with concerns and issues that have caused him to lose all respect for himself, thus being unable to show respect for others. Even the simplest gestures of respect by staff members may be all that is needed to restore his ability to feel respect for himself and practice respect towards others.
Another client may follow the tenets and practices of a different culture, and these may extend into his dietary needs as well as his manner of dress and speaking. In this instance, he may actually give the appearance of being disrespectful when in fact he is just acting as someone from his culture normally would. Staff members and others would need to ensure that this is what is occurring and not just assume that disrespect exists or is being shown when in fact it may not be.
A good drug rehab program will provide its staff members with training in giving and receiving respect. In addition, they will support their clients in such a way that they will want to show respect, both for themselves and others. For more information on a rehab program that treats clients with respect and dignity, please log on to http://www.holisticdrugrehab.com/ or call 1-800-559-9503.
