Addiction Treatment

Irrespective of the treatment setting and level of care, all programs for addiction recovery utilize specific therapies to make healing possible. The options of therapy include a broad array of group and individual therapy sessions, which may include:

Biofeedback Therapy

This type of therapy helps addicts in recovery develop an understanding of the involuntary processes going on inside their bodies. During a biofeedback therapy session, a therapy puts electronic sensors on the patient’s skin to monitor their brain activity. Once a trace of their brain wave pattern is here, the therapist can use it to recommend different psychological techniques that can best serve the patient.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy combines several non-conventional treatment methods to support addicts overcome their repressed emotions and feelings that might have contributed to their addictions. Some common activities included in experiential therapy include adventure therapy, hike trips, and rock climbing.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy focuses on an addict’s overall mental health and well-being. By incorporating different holistic therapies, like meditation, art therapy, acupuncture, and yoga, addicts can better control their drug cravings, relax their minds and bodies, and learn how to control the triggers contributing to their addictions.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational enhancement therapy, or MET, helps people in addiction recovery learn how to identify and replace negative thoughts and behaviors associated with their addictions. This type of therapy particularly benefits those fighting an addiction and other co-occurring mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy supports people by exploring their emotions and helping them learn how their subconscious thoughts might fuel their addictions. Through this technique, many addicts have successfully identified the core causes of their substance use, leading to early resolution and treatment but long-term maintenance of sobriety. Psychodynamic therapy also helps patients avoid temptations and cravings during their recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, has been designed to encourage clients to examine and question their recurring thoughts to phase out unhealthy or negative ones. This technique can successfully address different types of behavioral and substance use addictions as it equips the patients with skills to recognize and replace their maladaptive behaviors. Moreover, the therapy also enables them to foresee a risky situation and devise a plan to get through it without leading to a relapse. CBT has been proven as one of the most successful addiction treatment techniques that can be easily paired with other treatment types and can be continued even after formal treatment ends.

Contingency Management

Contingency management is particularly effective in treating a variety of addictions, such as addiction to stimulants, marijuana, opioids, and alcohol. Experts use it to encourage and reinforce sobriety in patients by instigating high motivation for desirable behaviors through rewards. Contingency management is particularly famous as it can successfully control two of the biggest issues associated with addiction recovery: dropping out of treatment halfway and relapsing after the program ends.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a type of addiction treatment method that helps resolve ambivalence in recovering addicts by allowing them to embrace their efforts. The basic aim of this technique is to strengthen the patient’s motivation and commitment to change in a way that is consistent with their values. Instead of imposing specific changes on clients, this therapy tends to meet them where they are and help them move towards their goals by slowly building their readiness to change.