Psychotherapy for Addiction

Why Psychotherapy Matters

When it comes to substance use disorders, you need cutting-edge treatments that are proven to work. Medical detox is a great first step, but you will need more than that if you intend to maintain your sobriety long-term. This is why many people turn to robust psychotherapy for addiction but it can take a number of different forms. You will need the help of an experienced counselor or therapist to guide you toward sobriety, especially in the early days.

Icarus Behavioral Health offers you the supportive therapy you need to maintain your sobriety in a number of formats. From individual therapy with CBT and DBT to group therapy to family therapy, we have a program that will work for your unique situation.

Keep reading as we walk through these steps with you in the early days of your treatment for alcohol or drug abuse at Icarus.

Psychotherapy as a Pillar of Substance Abuse Treatment

During the early days of sobriety, many people think that they can white-knuckle it and get by with 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery meetings, and sheer force of will. Unfortunately, this may not be the best or most effective approach to quitting substance abuse. You need the trained guidance of a skilled psychotherapist or licensed counselor to guide you through the first steps toward sobriety.

Treating addiction is a serious business with real consequences for those who are caught in the snare of alcohol addiction or drug addiction.

To this end, you need to utilize healthier coping skills and may even need some behavioral interventions put in place. Supportive therapy is essential to addiction treatment programs because it allows you to understand your own psyche better. You will get to the root cause of your substance use, learn how to better manage it, and make plans for the future.

Psychotherapeutic interventions should be offered at every stage of the addiction therapy process. If you are undergoing medically supervised detox, you should be offered the listening ear of a licensed counselor. This is a service that you will find at Icarus Behavioral Health. However, it also plays an important role in the rest of your treatment completion.

With psychotherapy, we can address your risk factors for continued use, any past trauma you may have endured, and any signs of preexisting mental illness.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Emotional Regulation

One of the most prominent models of therapy in addiction treatment is the use of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Originally developed for use with borderline personality disorders, it is now a promising treatment method for those with alcohol or drug abuse issues. Because of its robust offering, DBT is preferred for those who have other mental illness issues that might contribute to substance use.

According to one research study, DBT is great for people who struggle with alcohol addiction or drug addiction who may not have responded to other types of intervention.

DBT aims to teach people how to better cope with their emotions. It starts with implementing mindfulness, the state of being where you can simply sit back and observe your emotions and physical sensations. It emphasizes the ability to tolerate distress and negative emotions. Learn to sit quietly with your feelings, even when they are difficult or uncomfortable.

You will learn healthy coping skills such as meditation or centering yourself. Sometimes, you might work on grounding exercises that anchor you to the present. Other times, it might be about distraction or focusing on something other than your desire to use. By building up your toolbox of coping skills, you are one step closer to overcoming addiction.

Last but not least, you will eventually learn how to regulate your own emotions. You will learn tools for dismissing negative feelings without assigning judgment to them.

Overall, DBT residential treatment centers like Icarus are one of the most powerful models when it comes to psychotherapeutic interventions for addiction treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Interrupting Negative Feedback Loops

Cognitive behavioral therapy is another tool that therapists can utilize when it comes to alcohol or drug addiction treatment programs. Unlike DBT which aims to make you more at peace with your uncomfortable feelings, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tries to interrupt negative feedback loops.

In clinical practice, there are three aspects that influence your decisions: thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you can interrupt the cycle of thoughts or feelings, you can change the negative consequences of some actions.

For example, you might think that your spouse is mad at you which leads to shame. Shame can drive you to drugs or alcohol. However, you could interrupt this pattern of thoughts by addressing your concerns instead of dwelling on them. This influences the emotions you feel and ultimately leads you to select a different action.

You will learn important skills that make your life easier to manage. It can even be used for other mental health disorders that might contribute to your substance abuse disorders.

Family Therapy for Broader Support

When you enroll in treatment programs, it is still important to maintain your relationships with those you are closest to. Family therapy aims to teach loved ones how to best support you in your addiction therapy and gives you a network to rely upon when necessary.

First, a solid rehab family program can teach your loved ones how to hold you accountable, if they are open the situation fits all of your needs. They might learn how to kindly recommend coping skills and how to listen effectively when you are struggling to maintain your sobriety. A lot of attention is focused on the ability to guide you through sobriety and to best support your substance use disorder.

Second, it pays attention to the myriad ways in which family members might have been hurt through your substance abuse. Your family has suffered from the fallout of your addiction, likely for an extended period of time. It takes time and skill to heal those relationships so that you can be a functioning family unit once more.

You are more likely to be successful in your substance abuse treatment when you have the unwavering support of your family behind you. Let Icarus Behavioral Health help you to rebuild damaged relationships and get the support you truly need.

Group Therapy for Peer Support and Feedback

In addition to the various treatment modalities for individual therapy, the importance of a robust group therapy program should not be understated. Treating substance abuse with a group therapy model enables clients to get real-time feedback from their peers. In turn, this allows them to reduce social isolation and create a wider net of support.

It is also possible to learn just as much from these group sessions as you did in individual therapy. You can learn how others cope with some of the same struggles that you are facing. One important thing to note is that you can learn new coping skills that you can utilize in your addiction treatment.

Overall, group therapy is important because it makes you feel less alone. You will know that you are not the only one walking this road. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), group therapy reinforces social connections. This support network can give you people to reach out to when you are struggling.

Keep in mind that group therapy is not simply a meeting of people who struggle with substance use disorders. Rather, it is facilitated by one to two licensed counselors who are experienced with the group model. They can help to keep the conversation on track and productive, providing prompts and guidance as issues arise.

What Level of Support Do You Need for Psychotherapeutic Interventions?

All of these treatments for substance abuse disorders are key to helping you heal. The question is: what format should you seek these treatments in? Some people prefer residential programs where they can rest easier knowing that using drugs or alcohol is not an option. It gives them the freedom and space they need to safely dive deep into the world of therapy and treatment.

Others may want a less restrictive program that allows them to come and go, without giving up their daily routines. To this end, you might opt for outpatient programs.

Residential Treatment for an Immersive Experience

Icarus Behavioral Health offers both options. Residential treatment is a great next step after you undergo a medical detox. We can monitor you, immerse you in therapy, and offer you around-the-clock support. This is a great first step that can segue into partial hospitalization.

Partial Hospitalization for More Practice

Partial hospitalization or Intensive Outpatient (IOP) allows you to spend all day with us at the treatment facility. You will have access to the same services that you would have received through inpatient or residential treatment. The benefit is that you can return to your home in the evenings where you can work on your family relationships and practice your coping skills.

Outpatient for Maximum Freedom

Outpatient is the least restrictive option, allowing you to come and go as your appointments are scheduled. You will be spending time in our facility, but not nearly as much as you would have with partial hospitalization. This offers the most freedom to practice what you learn in psychotherapy.

There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to seeking help for your substance abuse. It all depends on your individual needs and desires when it comes to treatment. All of these services are available to you, no matter what level of support you need in the early days of treatment for substance abuse.

Enlisting the Help of a Skilled Addiction Treatment Center

When you struggle with alcohol or drug abuse, you need to enlist the help of a skilled treatment facility that caters to these issues. Icarus Behavioral Health is a leader in offering a variety of psychotherapy approaches for your substance use disorders to help you kickstart your recovery journey.

We can help you every step of the way, starting with medical detox and moving into other treatment modalities. If you find that you are unable to get sober on your own, allow our experienced staff to help you take the first steps. Our five-star rehab will offer everything you need to maximize your time with us.

Reach out to Icarus Behavioral Health today to learn more about our programs!