If a client insists that external factors cause their drinking, what is a primary objective for the counselor?

When a client attributes their drinking to external factors, a primary objective for the counselor is to guide the client toward taking responsibility for their behavior. This approach helps the client recognize that while external influences may play a role in their decisions, they ultimately have control over their choices and actions. This shift in perspective is crucial in the recovery process, as it empowers the client to move from a stance of victimhood to one of agency and accountability.

Encouraging self-reflection can lead clients to explore their own decision-making processes and the internal motivations behind their behavior. By helping clients understand that they have the capacity to change their behavior regardless of external circumstances, counselors facilitate a critical element of the recovery journey: personal empowerment. This focus on personal accountability is a key component in effective counseling for substance use disorders.