One of the biggest obstacles most addicts face when it comes to recovery is their fear. They are afraid of admitting that they have an addiction because of what it will mean for them. Many do not believe they could survive without the drugs or alcohol they are addicted to while others fear they will be unable to cope with rehabilitation. It is often fear of the unknown that prevents them from accessing help and treatment for addiction, and many will wait until it is too late and their health has been irreparably damaged before they finally reach out.
What is Addiction Therapy?
Many addicts worry about what therapy is going to be like and it can prevent them from asking for help. They believe they will fail in their attempts to get clean and would rather not try than actually seek help and fail. However, with more information and education, they would be in a better position to understand what rehabilitation is actually like. Below are some of the therapy options used by various rehabilitation clinics around the UK.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of behavioural modification technique used by most therapists when it comes to addiction treatment. The idea behind CBT is to help the patient to identify the maladaptive behaviours he or she uses and to teach him or her ways of using more positive behaviours to deal with certain situations. Once the patient has established a way of dealing with situations and scenarios in a less destructive manner, these behaviours are continuously reinforced until they become natural. CBT is often used in conjunction with other treatments such as 12-step work.
Supportive Psychotherapy
Supportive psychotherapy is a type of counselling designed to change attitudes in patients struggling with addictive or compulsive behaviours. It can be provided on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting.
Motivational Interviewing
Denial is very common among addiction patients, and the inability to see the destructive path they are on often becomes a major obstacle in the recovery process. Motivational interviewing aims to help patients break down these barriers and become motivated to succeed in the programme. The therapist will use question and answer sessions that are designed to help the patient look at his or her attitudes and to gently encourage him or her to stop justifying addictive or maladaptive behaviours.
Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Some rehabilitation clinics use DBT to help patients get a better handle on their emotions. CBT techniques are used alongside methods such as mindfulness or meditation to encourage patients to learn how to deal with situations in a positive manner.
Contingency Management
Contingency management is often used in the treatment of teenage addiction because it focuses on a rewards and consequences system. Teenagers often cannot see that sobriety is a reward in itself so need encouragement for positive behaviour. They are rewarded for good behaviour but there will be consequences when they do not behave well. The idea behind this type of treatment is that it encourages patients to get clean and stay clean. They know that if they stay clean, they will be rewarded but if they do not stay clean, they may lose certain privileges such as phone or internet access.
If you are an affected individual, then the type of therapy you will be given will depend on the facility you attend and your personal circumstances. Most rehab clinics will evaluate your situation before developing a tailored treatment programme based on your requirements. Nonetheless, the treatments used will be designed to help you overcome your addiction and to teach you how to live a clean and healthy, sober life.
This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here
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