Individual Therapy
Addiction can affect the body in a number of ways. While the physical effects of substance abuse can be harmful, there is also a psychological side that people often overlook. In many cases of drug addiction treatment, individual therapy and substance abuse counseling is used during the process.
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) and individual drug counseling are crucial for long-term addiction recovery. Addiction is something that can take over the brain and it often shows in our behaviors and thoughts. This is why most drug addiction treatments use a number of psychotherapy methods during the process.
If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse, now is the time to get help. Drug addiction can completely take over a person’s life and can lead to negative consequences. Don’t wait; make the decision to get help today.
The Importance of Therapy and Individual Counseling
Many rehab centers offer two main services: detox and individual therapy and or counseling. Detox is the first step towards any case of drug addiction. Detox essentially rids the body of all substances or alcohol. This is typically the first step before moving on to psychotherapy.
The next step is individual therapy. While detox and medication assistance go a long way in setting a person up for recovery, the final step is therapy. These two elements help take care of the physical effects of dependency and the symptoms that come with it. However, therapy is the key to long-term recovery and sobriety in the future.
When someone recovers from drug addiction, they will most likely experience cravings and certain stresses. Unfortunately, this typically leads to a relapse (which is extremely common for recovering addicts). A relapse occurs when a person goes back to using drugs or alcohol after treatment is over. Individual drug counseling helps a person cope with these cravings and have a solid mindset for when these instances occur.
Building An Effective Mindset After Treatment
Individual substance abuse counseling teaches a person different techniques and builds a foundation for the future. During your sessions, you’ll be able to rebuild your life, rethink your relationships, and change your mindset. Some of the main points of individual counseling include:
- Addressing the root cause of your addiction: A deeper understanding as to why the person turned to drugs or alcohol, to begin with. Those who are addicted to substances typically do so to cope with other underlying reasons.
- Repair damaged relationships: Counseling allows the person to rebuild those relationships that were caught in the crossfire of their addiction. Rebuilding damaged relationships is a big part of the recovery process and is encouraged.
- Accepting your situation and illness: The first step to recovering from addiction is admitting the problem. Accepting that you have a problem can be tough but it’s a necessary step towards getting the proper treatment.
- Learn and practice life skills: Decision-making and problem-solving skills are both crucial to staying sober and clean. Learning these skills can make a huge difference in the long-run.
- Build strong relationships: Individual counseling allows you to build new and strong relationships that can help you recover
All of these can be learned during individual drug counseling and can be extremely useful for life after treatment. Getting treatment is only half the battle, the other half is staying sober and clean after treatment is over. Learning these skills and techniques can help you be better equipped when cravings and stress begin to appear.
What is Discussed During Individual Counseling?
During individual substance abuse counseling sessions, an addict’s past, present, and future are all discussed. Depending on the type of therapy, many different approaches can be taken to help a person change or rethink their habits. Some of the common topics of discussion for individual therapy include the following:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Past traumas
- Future worries
- Career changes
- Problems at work
- Problems at school
- Relationship issues
- Marriage challenges
- Parenting problems
These topics will differ from case to case. It is also important to know that these sessions are personalized and will differ from person to person. You may find some individual counseling sessions or types more useful than others. It’s all part of the process of getting you towards a cleaner and healthier life for you and your family.
These sessions typically last anywhere from 45-60 minutes. The amount of times you may meet with your therapist on a weekly basis varies by case. More severe cases may require more guidance and counseling. Above all, psychotherapy is known to result in fewer relapses and is a great way to get your life back on track before and after treatment.
Common Types of Psychotherapy and Individual Counseling
There are a number of different counseling types when it comes to psychotherapy including individual therapy. A person struggling with addiction will most likely utilize a number of different therapy types. With the primary goal of learning, growing, improving, and recovering from addiction. Let’s take a look at some of the common forms of psychotherapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT for short) is one of the most widely used therapy options for addiction treatment. CBT is centered around changing a person’s behaviors and thought processes (in this case, substance abuse). It helps the person learn skills to overcome their dangerous behaviors and thoughts.
The reason why cognitive behavioral therapy is so effective is that it completely changes how a person thinks. If all goes well, a person should retain this way of thinking even after treatment. Having a clear and honest mind about your habits can go a long way after treatment. It’s these positive and ever-improving thoughts that make CBT so helpful in cases of addiction.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
While dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is used for some mental illnesses, its primary features can be used for addiction treatment. DBT emphasizes the relationship between the therapist and the person. Having this trust can go a long way when it comes to addiction treatment. Dialectical behavior therapy has also been used to help people struggling with suicidal thoughts.
DBT also uses cognitive-based methods to get to the root of the problem. This type of therapy identifies some of the negative thoughts we may face during addiction. DBT is based on the idea that the way we think about our addiction and the world around us can make a big difference. By accepting the world around you and the situation at hand, you can slowly begin to manage your addiction.
Motivational interviewing is a commonly used counseling technique that helps a person build confidence and fight off insecurities. Some people may have lowered inhibitions and decreased motivation to change their habits. Motivational interviewing helps a person overcome these insecurities and move towards change. By encouraging and helping a person build their confidence, addiction treatment becomes possible and effective.
The Benefits of Residential Treatment
Residential treatment (also referred to as inpatient treatment) is the most complete and effective form of addiction treatment. Residential treatment usually has the addict staying in a reliable rehab center with qualified therapists and clinicians. For cases of co-occurring disorders and severe addiction, residential treatment is highly recommended.
One of the great benefits of residential treatment is the 24/7 availability of staff and therapists. It can be extremely tough to cope with some of the symptoms and thoughts during addiction. As stressful as it seems it is always beneficial to have a supportive group by your side no matter the time. Find out if residential treatment is right for you or your family.
During residential treatment, a person is able to meet with qualified therapists and use a multitude of individual counseling methods. A residential program may be the best option for some cases of drug addiction. Here at Create Recovery, we’ve partnered with some of the best residential facilities in the country.
Other Create Recovery Treatment Options
Duration of a Detox
Reports have stated that a medical detox for substance abuse and addiction will continue until the withdrawal symptoms decrease enough to where the patient is stabilized mentally and physically.
Additionally, to manage the patient’s withdrawal symptoms, detox prepares the patient mentally and physically for the next step, a substance addiction treatment counseling and therapy program.
In some circumstances, antidepressant medications may be used for co-occurring mental health disorders like depression. Depression is a common symptom for patients with addiction to stimulants like methamphetamines or cocaine and opioids like prescription painkillers and heroin.
Patients suffering from psychiatric disorders can benefit from antidepressants to help stabilize them. Attaining a stable dosage of those medications can help prepare patients to begin working on their addiction and allow them to focus on their recovery.
Sometimes, patients will attempt detox several times. Reasons could be they didn’t complete their first round of detox or if they had relapsed. But even when relapse occurs, the only way to obtain complete sobriety is through completing detox.
Don’t Wait; Get Help Today!
Addiction and substance abuse can cause a number of negative issues in your life and can affect those around you. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, individual therapy and or drug counseling might be worth looking into. It’s never too late to get help towards a better life. Contact us today for more information on individual drug counseling and other addiction resources.
