adult step 2
substance use service

The Adult Step 2 Service is a Community based early intervention service for adults (18+) affected by substance use. Funded by The Public Health Agency (PHA), Links Counselling Service are committed to providing you with a confidential, professional, and accessible service which is available for anyone living within the Northern and Southern Trust areas.

Various support options are available to individuals who’s alcohol or drug use has become problematic and harmful. Our team of counsellors will collaborate with you to ensure that you get the most appropriate form of treatment, supporting you to make the necessary changes to reduce your use of alcohol or drugs and helping you to learn new mechanisms for coping with difficult emotions and situations in your life.

Support will also be provided to adult family members and carers affected by the alcohol or drug use of another person, even if the person using alcohol or drugs does not want help or is not engaged in the Adult Step 2 Service. Our counsellors work alongside you to strengthen your own coping and self-care strategies, while also helping you explore healthier ways of supporting a loved one who is misusing alcohol or drugs.

What do we do?

After your referral, one of our counsellors will contact you for a triage phone call. This counsellor will talk with you and help assess what might be the best course of action. This might be one of the following options;

Brief Intervention Sessions
focussed on managing problems or emotional distress.

1-to-1 support through talking therapy
which may include Motivational Enhancement Therapy,
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,
Relapse Management Therapy or counselling support.

Family Support
Information and structured support sessions to family
members impacted by a loved one’s substance use,
even if loved ones are not engaged in support.

Where services exist within your community that may be of help, we will work with you to ensure that you can access on going resources within your locale.

We accept referrals from the person seeking help themselves, family members or friends, or from a range of professionals.

Group Information Sessions

Our weekly Group Information Sessions offer an opportunity for you to learn more about our service, what to expect during the assessment process, and the range of supports available. These sessions aim to build understanding, increase your confidence in engaging with treatment options, and provide helpful psychoeducation at an early stage. Attendance is optional, and anyone awaiting an assessment, or those who have not yet made a referral but would like to know more, are welcome to join.

Please see below for available sites and dates of upcoming in person and online sessions.
Online and In Person sessions run for one hour: 10-11am

ONLINE SESSIONS:

3rd Wednesday of every month
(starting 17th Dec)

NORTHERN TRUST AREA:

Ballyclare
3rd Friday of every month
(19th Dec, 16th Jan, 20th Feb, 20th Mar, 17th Apr)

Ballymena
2nd Tuesday of every month
(9th Dec, 6th Jan, 10th Feb, 10th Mar, 7th Apr)

Coleraine
1st Thursday of every month
(4th Dec, 8th Jan, 5th Feb, 5th Mar, 2nd Apr)

Cookstown
4th Thursday of every month
(22nd Jan, 26th Feb, 26th Mar, 23rd Apr)

Southern Trust Area:

Armagh
1st Monday of every month
(1st Dec, 5th Jan, 2nd Feb, 2nd Mar, 6th Apr)

Lurgan
2nd Friday of every month
(2th Dec, 9th Jan, 13th Feb, 13th Mar, 10th Apr)

Newry
2nd Monday of every month
(8th Dec, 12th Jan, 9th Feb, 9th Mar, 13th Apr)

Tandragee
1st Friday of every month
(5th Dec, 2nd Jan, 6th Feb, 6th Mar, 3rd Apr)

If you are interested in attending any of the group information sessions listed above, please contact
our Head Office on 028 3834 2825 or email info@linkscounselling.com.