Medication isn’t enough to guarantee a full recovery from addiction. Once detox is complete, the patient may require extensive therapy and counseling to identify triggers, develop healthy habits and deal with co-occurring mental health issues. There are several benefits of addiction therapy, so if you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder, reach out to a clinic as soon as possible.
Benefits of Addiction Therapy
With the proper guidance and support from a therapist, clients may adopt a positive mindset. They begin to take an active part in the healing process and rebuild a better life for themselves.
The many unique benefits of addiction therapy are discussed below:
Diagnose Mental Health Disorders
Addiction and mental health conditions often go hand-in-hand. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and mood disorders have all been linked to substance use disorders. While detox treats the physical symptoms of addiction and eases the painful withdrawal symptoms, the psychological symptoms still persist.
Addiction counseling in San Antonio aims to identify the underlying mental health issues behind addiction. The doctors can then devise an effective individualized treatment plan based upon it.
Process Past Trauma
Many people who are survivors of violence, assault, and other trauma, turn to alcohol or drugs to cope. They may repress their memories or suffer from frequent flashbacks. However, an addiction therapy program focusing on PTSD can provide a safe and supportive space. With the help of a trained and empathetic therapist, the patient can process difficult emotions and identify triggers. This minimizes the damaging effects of trauma.
Teaches Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Modern evidence-based therapies (EBT), whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven, are focused on making lasting behavioral changes. Some of these practices include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Relapse prevention therapy
In other words, addiction therapy helps clients to identify negative habits and replace them with healthier ones. The patients thus learn effective coping strategies to deal with the various challenges of life without relying on substances. For instance, those with a history of self-harm and suicide ideation can greatly benefit from DBT therapy in San Antonio.
Prevent Relapses
Despite the best efforts, relapses do happen from time to time. However, a robust aftercare plan can prevent these relapses. Aftercare planning may include regular check-ins with one’s therapist and monitoring of the recovery progress over months or years. Other forms of support may include sober living options and life skills training.
Change Negative Mindsets
Addiction is a serious mental and physical disease. It instills negative emotions like fear, shame, guilt, and low self-esteem in the patient. They may believe that recovery is impossible or that they must suffer for their past mistakes.
A crucial part of addiction therapy involves convincing the patient that they aren’t alone. Moreover, like most diseases, addiction can be successfully treated. Therapists can quickly spot the client’s negative thoughts, motivate them to adopt a more positive mindset, and find new ways of fulfillment.
In particular, enrolling in cognitive-behavioral therapy for addiction can increase the client’s self-efficacy. As a result, they can independently and successfully handle high-risk situations.
Repair Strained Relationships
Addiction can wreak havoc on one’s interpersonal relationships. It alienates them from their loved ones at a time when they need support and reassurance. Both support group meetings and family counseling can help bridge the crucial gap in communication. Consequently, the patient is able to reconnect with society again.
How Does Addiction Therapy Work?
There are many different types of addiction therapy. Based on one’s specific needs, recovery goals, and case history, the healthcare experts may recommend a particular treatment plan.
However, broadly speaking, addiction therapy has three main components:
- Individual therapy sessions to identify the key areas that need work
- Support group meetings with fellow peers, such as the 12-step program
- Family education and counseling to clear misconceptions about addiction and teach loved ones how to provide better support
Find Quality Addiction Counseling
With healthcare resources becoming more affordable and accessible than ever, it is never too late to seek help for addiction. A combination of medication and addiction therapy can ensure lasting sobriety and wellness. Reach out to a drug rehab and treatment center with a quality therapy program and get the help you deserve right away.
