How Can Therapy Help With Addiction?

Therapy isn’t just for mental illness. Therapy can play a critical role in helping recovering addicts overcome addiction and maintain sobriety. There are a variety of therapy approaches from alternative therapies like art therapy to traditional therapy options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that offer a range of benefits to help recovering addicts understand their triggers, gain motivation to maintain sobriety, and so much more. In this article, you’ll learn more about how can therapy help with addiction, and common therapy options used during addiction recovery.

Pathways Recovery are addiction treatment centers for men and women that help patients detox and effectively recover so they can maintain life-long sobriety and lead a happier, healthier quality of life. Gone are the days of letting your addiction rule your life. Although millions of US adults are struggling with drug addiction, we understand that no two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a range of treatment programs so patients can break free of addiction once and for all. Contact us today to start your road to recovery. 

Why Therapy Is Important in Addiction Recovery?

Therapy is an essential component of the addiction recovery process. Therapy not only helps address any underlying mental health issues that may be impacting an individual’s substance abuse, but therapy allows a patient to recognize their unique triggers, develop motivation to overcome addiction, and ultimately supports a patient on their journey to life-long sobriety. 

There are several therapy for substance abuse options that can help a recovering addict. Depending on their unique experiences and condition(s), an addict may benefit from one or multiple different therapy options. For example, many addicts benefit from psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which can help recovering addicts identify triggers and develop effective coping strategies to maintain life-long sobriety. 

Some patients may also benefit from more alternative therapy for substance abuse like equine therapy, music therapy, and art therapy. These more creative, nontraditional therapies can be especially beneficial for recovering addicts who don’t necessarily thrive from talking one-on-one to a therapist. 

Different Therapy Options Available

As explained above, a wide range of addiction therapy options is available to help as many patients as possible effectively overcome addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. Whether you are struggling with a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder, therapy plays a major role in addressing a recovering addict’s triggers and learning healthy coping strategies to progress along their recovery journey.

The different types of therapy options will depend on the exact addiction recovery center you go to. Below are some of the most common therapy options for how can therapy help with addiction.

Traditional Therapy Options

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a popular therapy for addiction that targets problems and negative behaviors linked to your addiction and helps addicts learn healthy coping strategies to overcome their addiction.

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT is another common traditional form of talk therapy which, like CBT, helps patients understand and accept negative emotions of the past and work toward positive goals, like achieving long-term sobriety. 

• Group Therapy

One-on-one therapy isn’t the only form of therapy that can help with addiction. Group therapy is another common traditional therapy option that brings together a group of recovering addicts, oftentimes led by an addiction specialist or counselor to share what they are going through and build a greater understanding that they are not alone in their struggles/ fight against addiction. 

• Family Therapy

Addiction can significantly damage relationships with friends and family. Family therapy, as the name suggests, helps rebuild these relationships between the patient and their loved ones. 

Alternative Therapy Options 

• Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT)

This includes engaging in mindfulness-based activities like deep breathing exercises or yoga that help center the patient and become aware of their present thoughts and emotions. 

• Equine Therapy

Another alternative therapy for addiction option that helps patients connect with horses to improve their overall health and well-being.

• Art Therapy

Art therapy uses the creative arts to help patients work through their thoughts, emotions, and feelings through creating art.

• Music Therapy

Similar to art therapy, music therapy helps patients improve their overall health and well-being through listening to and playing music. 

Start Your Road to Recovery 

As you can see, there is a wide variety of ways that show how can therapy help with addiction. Whether a patient benefits from traditional therapy, alternative therapy, or a combination of each, there is no question that therapy plays a critical role in helping patients address past triggers and learn new healthy coping strategies to overcome addiction for good.
If you are struggling with addiction, it’s critical you seek professional treatment to effectively overcome your addiction. At Pathways Recovery, we don’t just treat your disease, we focus on treating the whole person so you can live a happier, healthier quality of life. Gone are the days of letting your addiction control your life. Contact us today to get started on your path to sobriety.