Tristan Price

Short answer: counselling alone is not medical detox. As a Registered Lifeline counsellor in Johannesburg Tristan will do an immediate risk assessment for withdrawal severity, document symptoms, screen for red flags (seizures, severe tremor, hallucinations, delirium, dehydration, suicidal intent) and arrange an urgent medical referral when needed. In practice that means coordinating with your GP, a private detox unit or the nearest public psychiatric or emergency department in Gauteng, supplying clear clinical notes, and putting a safety plan in place while you wait. He will also provide behavioural stabilization strategies (breathing, grounding, monitoring) and family guidance during the acute phase, but any suspected complicated withdrawal should be medically managed — not left to talk therapy alone.

He will treat both problems as part of a single clinical formulation rather than ‘shuffling’ you. As a clinician he will assess for dual diagnosis, use validated screening tools, and apply psychotherapy (motivational interviewing, CBT, trauma‑informed work) to reduce use and address emotional distress. If medication is likely to help — for example for severe depression, bipolar illness, or PTSD-related hyperarousal — he will refer and collaborate with a psychiatrist or your doctor for assessment and medication management. Expect integrated planning: concurrent therapy, risk monitoring, and coordinated care with other professionals rather than sequential hand-offs.

Confidentiality is the default, but it has clear legal and ethical limits. Tristan abides by professional standards and POPIA: he won’t disclose your information without your consent except when there is an imminent risk of serious harm to you or others, mandatory reporting of child abuse, or if compelled by a court subpoena. He will always seek your permission before contacting family, and when family involvement is clinically useful he will negotiate what is shared. If police involvement is necessary for safety or legal reasons that will be discussed up front — you won’t be blindsided.

Counselling with families is pragmatic and strategic rather than moralising. Tristan will map the enabling behaviours, identify what the family provides that sustains use (money, shelter, avoidance of consequences), and put in place measurable changes: clear boundaries, contingency plans, scripted interventions, and safety rules. He will coach family members in de‑escalation, set up practical supports for treatment entry (transport, funds, referrals), and run short, focused family sessions to shift behaviour patterns. If necessary he will link you to legal, social welfare or protection services in Johannesburg to manage high‑risk situations.

Counselling focuses on concrete, repeatable skills you can use in the moment. Tristan will help you build an individualized relapse‑prevention plan with identifiable early warning signs, high‑risk situations (specific bars, people, routes), and micro‑actions: immediate coping scripts, delay tactics, urge‑surfing techniques, and safe exit plans. He'll work on restructuring routines (alternative activities, brief exposure with coping practice), rebuilding a sober social network, and rehearsing responses to pressure. He’ll also arrange practical aftercare — quick phone check‑ins, booster sessions, and links to local support groups or community resources in Gauteng — so relapse becomes a managed risk with clear next steps, not a mysterious moral failure.