Is Attending Therapy Mandatory After A DUI Offense?

Getting a DUI comes with serious legal consequences, and you may be wondering whether you will need to attend therapy after a DUI offense. The short answer to this is that it will depend on the severity of your sentence, which is determined by your BAC level, whether it’s your first offense, and if anyone was seriously injured or killed as a result of your offense. Attending DUI classes is mandatory with most sentences, and this will come with both group and individual counseling sessions. We share more with you in this article.

Understanding the Purpose of DUI Classes

The purpose of DUI classes is to reduce the chances of reoffending. The length of the program you are required to attend will determine how many counseling sessions you will receive. In programs for first offenders, group counseling will be more of a focus, however, you will still receive a few individual sessions. The purpose is to work through your triggers, help you identify what drives you to substance abuse, and work out coping mechanisms that are specific to you.

Is Counseling the Same as Therapy?

With multiple offender and longer programs, you will receive more individual counseling sessions. It is important to keep in mind that counseling is not the same as therapy. The counselors you will meet at DUI education classes are licensed and they all specialize in working with patients who have a history of substance abuse. Therefore, they are perfectly equipped to work with you on reducing your chances of reoffending.

However, if for any reason you require more extensive therapy, you will need to seek out these services on your own. For a specific group of offenders, the court may even mandate that you attend additional therapy sessions outside of DUI classes.

It All Depends on Your Sentence

If you are a repeat offender or your DUI offense has resulted in serious injury or death, you may need to fulfil other conditions as part of your sentence. For instance, the court can mandate that you attend therapy sessions on top of your DUI education classes. This can be necessary under certain circumstances, such as if your child custody claim is at stake.

Remember that successful completion of DUI classes or therapy sessions are a part of your probation terms, therefore it is in your best interests to participate actively and fulfil all requirements.

Attend DUI Education Classes at Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, Inc.

At Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, we believe that DUI education classes are the first step towards successfully getting you back on the road. Regardless of the length of your program, you will benefit from informative classes as well as group and individual counseling sessions. These will be delivered by licensed counselors who will work with you to address substance abuse. If you have any questions about our services or the counseling sessions included as part of each program, please feel free to check out our FAQs.