The first chapter addresses the tasks and techniques of counseling in the first hours of contact with the client. These topics include now to greet patients, how to handle family members, beginning the therapeutic alliance, how to check for organic brain dysfunction, the initial assessment, assigning a treatment "buddy," and what to do with an intoxicated patient. The second chapter focuses on the biopsychosocial interview, including how to conduct the interview, diagnosis, and disposition and treatment plan. The third chapter considers the treatment plan. It discusses how to build a treatment plan, the diagnostic summary, the problem list, goals and objectives, treatment plan review, and documentation. Major chapters detail aspects of individual treatment and group therapy. A chapter on counselor-client contracts considers such issues as relationship skills, addictive relationships, communication skills, self- discipline, impulse control, relapse prevention, and stress management. A description of a five-step treatment process is followed by information on chemical dependency and its treatment. Other chapters address special problems, treatment of adolescents, a family program, clinical staff, discharge summary and aftercare, properties of various drugs, and characteristics of an effective counselor. 258 references and a subject index