Drug Rehab Programs

Individual therapy is essential for addiction recovery

There is no question that an in-patient drug or alcohol treatment program can be the first major step towards recovery for many people. In some cases it may take several rehab stints before they are able to break their addiction, and sometimes once is enough.

This usually depends on whether the addict or alcoholic has also had individual therapy to get at some of the root causes of their addiction. While group therapy and educational workshops on addiction are valuable in changing the direction of the addict’s life, it is usually necessary to go deeper.

This is why it is important for anyone choosing a drug or alcohol treatment center, to ask what kind of individual therapy is offered as part of the program. It is very common for treatment centers to offer weekly one-on-one sessions, although most of the time the professional involved will be a drug counsellor and not necessarily a psychologist or therapist.

Usually, a drug counsellor will deal more with issues like avoiding relapse, learning to cope with triggers, how to handle cravings, and making lifestyle changes that will move the addict towards a healthier routine. This can include eating healthier, sleeping more regularly, and getting enough exercise. They may also advise the addict about how and when they might want to re-enter the job force.

It is not necessary to have years of training to be a drug counsellor. In fact, one can hold this position with very little background in the field. To really get at the issues that underlie an addiction, it is necessary to have the help of a professional who understands how emotional difficulties and past trauma can contribute to the potential for addiction.

The therapist or psychologist will have extensive training and may have specialties in any one of a number of categories of behavioural issues related to addiction. If the recovering addict is coping with the loss of a loved one or trying to handle some other kind of trauma, then a professional with extensive training is required.

If the addict is struggling with depression, anxiety or stress, then they are more vulnerable to addiction. It is necessary to attack these conditions before real recovery can be possible. Other mental health issues – like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, anger problems, and self harm – are also best addressed by a qualified therapist.

The approach taken by therapists and psychologists to tackling these mental health issues is based on the idea that addictions are symptoms of deeper psychological disorders. For this reason, this more intense and probing type of therapy should be given more than just once a week. In some cases, five-day-per-week therapy may be recommended.

This approach is based on the idea that the belief systems that appear to be contributing to the addictive behaviour have to be addressed if the addiction is to be treated. Without a fundamental change in perspective, the drug addict or alcoholic will have trouble breaking their patterns of addiction.

There are a variety of different kinds of therapy that might be offered at a drug treatment center that follow this more intensive path. Different types can be used in any given session. It depends what tool the therapist feels will be most helpful at any given time.

Therapy based on helping the addict to come to terms with some past trauma is one of the most important. Often, addicts have come from abusive homes, or have grown up around family members who have lived with addiction. The trauma often affects the person’s ability to process experiences. Sometimes having a safe place where they can explore sadness or feelings of powerless can be what’s needed to begin to get better.

Sometimes the traumatic event is related to grief or loss. This can involve guilt on the part of the addict, and can require that new coping mechanisms be taught to the person suffering from the addiction.

Reflective therapy involves teaching the addict about how the brain is affected by long-term drug or alcohol abuse. This more reality-based approach is indicated for those who look at their addiction in a more analytical way. Once the addict better understands the mechanisms at work in causing their addiction, they can begin to forge new coping tools geared towards abstinence.

Insight-based therapy helps the alcoholic or addict to understand the ways that addiction has negatively affected their life. As the addict comes to understand how their behaviour has affected them destructively, they will gain insight into how they can modify their behaviour.

The therapist plays a much more passive role in psychodynamic therapy, which is based on the work of famous analysts like Freud, Jung, and Adler. This helps the patient to gain a better understanding about how their mind works.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps the addict to explore how their thoughts affect their emotions and how both affect their behaviour. This is one of the most common types of therapy for treating addiction.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is most often used with patients who suffer from borderline personality disorder. This therapy is usually long term and depends on a strong bond of trust between patient and therapist. It helps the patient to learn ways to cope with feelings and to regulate problematic behaviours.