Recovering from addiction is more than stopping using drugs or alcohol. It involves healing of the body, mind, and spirit. Simply taking away the substance does not mean you are cured, and if you go back to your normal life right after detox, you will probably relapse. To achieve sustained sobriety, you must go through rehab and behavioral therapy.
Behavioral Rehabilitation for Long Term Recovery
You might want to stop using drugs or alcohol but when faced with temptations or stress in life, you just aren’t strong enough to stay clean. This is normal, and it is because of the psychological impact of addiction, and the way your mind begins to rely on substances to get through the day. Behavioral therapy is a good way to retrain your mind, and in doing so, take control of your actions so you can stay sober.
There are many forms of behavioral therapy, each with its own benefits – certain ones will be used for certain circumstances, and a combination of methods will produce the best results. Before enrolling in a rehab program, check with the facility to see what therapies they offer and to make sure they will tailor your therapy for your own unique needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is the most common form of behavior therapy used in the addiction treatment field today. This therapy is based on the theory that the addict has problematic behaviors because of flawed thought patterns, and when these are managed and corrected, the person can achieve different behaviors. In this type of therapy, the person will explore their thoughts that contribute to addiction, identify their misconceptions, and retrain the thoughts to cope with triggers and avoid relapse.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
This offshoot of CBT is also focused on modifying flawed thought patterns, through psychotherapy, group therapy, and skill building. During Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) the person spends time not only correcting flawed thinking, but working on interpersonal communication skills and addressing how they react to and interact with other people and how this impacts addiction.
Motivational Interviewing makes use of the individual’s own goals to help them achieve sobriety. This type of therapy encourages the individual to identify attainable goals and then lay out steps to achieve the goals. By incorporating a goal-oriented form of therapy, individuals can focus on the future and elicit positive behavioral change.
There is much more to addiction than a single person’s struggle. Family dynamics contribute to addiction and are important to address during therapy. Family therapy helps individuals and loved ones deal with underlying issues and establish guidelines for positive behaviors among everyone involved. This is an especially important type of therapy to prepare families for their loved one’s return home and to make the transition a smooth one.
The 12 steps for recovery have been used and sometimes overused for addiction treatment for years, but this method still holds much value for behavioral modification. A person who works through the 12 steps begins by admitting they have a problem and are powerless to control it. Then, with the support of God and others in recovery, the person goes on to change their behavior and develop the skills to live a sober life.
One of the oldest methods for behavioral modification is incentive-based. There are some programs that incorporate incentives into therapy sessions to help motivate those in recovery. These programs give patients tangible rewards in the form of vouchers, money, or fun activities when they remain substance-free or complete certain steps in the recovery process.
It is important to keep in mind that not every type of therapy will work for every patient, and for the best results, a combination of methods should be used. It is also important to find a program that is staffed by licensed therapists that are experienced in the types of therapy they offer.
If you are looking for a solid rehab program, we can help. Contact Sober Helpline at (888) 907-8039 today and our advisers will help you find the right program for your needs.