Written for beginning level students, this text provides a good, practical overview of substance abuse counseling and addresses key issues early, including designing treatments to fit the individual needs of a client. This text emphasizes that substance-abusing clients and their families form a heterogeneous group that must be treated from an individualized perspective. The authors believe strongly that clients differ not only in the behaviors and consequences associated with their drug use but also in culture, gender, social environments, physical concerns, mental health and a host of other variables. Using an integrated approach, the authors describe innovative methods for meeting clients' needs through personalized assessment, treatment planning, and behavior change strategies and show students how to select the most effective treatment modalities for each client.