People can be hesitant to participate in talk therapy. This can be due to discomfort around sharing their problems with a stranger, or perhaps they just aren’t sure what to expect. These are understandable reasons for reluctance, but for people in recovery, the benefits of psychotherapy should far outweigh hesitancy.
Medication and rehab can only do so much to help individuals maintain their sobriety, but talk therapy can serve as the missing link in an approach that takes the whole person into account, not just the substance use disorder (SUD). Talk therapy can make all the difference. At Promises My 5 Palms, we offer individual therapy as part of our addiction recovery programs to ensure the best outcome for our clients.
How is talk therapy used in addiction treatment?
Talk therapy is a common component used in addiction treatment due to its versatility. Instead of just one type of therapy, talk therapy or psychotherapy refers to a broad range of therapeutic modalities, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps people in recovery identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors while equipping them with healthy coping mechanisms for triggers
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Teaches skills to improve emotional regulation, cope with stress, and improve relationships
- Motivational interviewing: Helps address ambivalence to making positive changes by identifying one’s internal reasons for change
- Interpersonal therapy: Explores how addiction affects one’s relationships and teaches healthier ways to connect with others
- Psychodynamic therapy: Provides insights into emotions and behaviors that may contribute to addiction
As talk therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach, your counselor will determine which type of psychotherapy best suits your situation. For example, although CBT is one of the most commonly used forms of talk therapy, it may not be effective enough for those struggling with emotional regulation. In cases like this, DBT may be more appropriate. Be sure to speak honestly and openly with your counselor about your challenges to help them match you to the right therapeutic modality.
The benefits of psychotherapy for addiction recovery
Therapy sessions can support your recovery by helping you understand the underlying causes of your substance use and develop healthier ways to cope with stress, emotions, or trauma. Over time, therapy can also improve self-awareness, strengthen relationships, and reduce the risk of relapse. Several other benefits include:
Teaching healthy coping strategies
People misuse substances for all sorts of reasons, including stress, peer pressure, mental health challenges, and physical health problems. A psychotherapist will work together with you to identify your unique triggers and create a plan to deal with them in healthier ways that do not involve drugs or alcohol.
Promoting emotional healing
Learning to manage your triggers is important, but getting to the root of emotional distress is the key to lifelong recovery. Talk therapy provides a safe space to explore past traumas and process them through techniques like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). As you heal from trauma and mental health challenges, you may find that your triggers no longer have the same power over you.
Increasing self-awareness
Self-awareness is a powerful tool in recovery. The better you know yourself, the easier it will be to spot triggers and stressors and deal with them before they can derail your recovery efforts. Your therapist can help you better understand yourself and recognize how your beliefs lead to thoughts that manifest into actions that can be helpful or harmful.
Building a support system
Although you may be tempted to do it all on your own, it is essential to be able to rely on the support of others when you hit rough patches in your recovery journey. A support system can include your family and friends, as well as your peers in recovery who know what you are going through. Talk therapy can improve your communication skills so you can cultivate healthy relationships with others and build a strong support system to help you thrive.
Reach out to My 5 Palms today to register for addiction therapy
No matter what has been holding you back from achieving your recovery goals, 5 Palms has a psychotherapy program to help you overcome your challenges. To get started with individual therapy for addiction, give us a call at 1.844.675.1022 or fill out our online form today.