Aversion therapy, also known as conversion therapy or reparative therapy, is a form of behavioral therapy that relies on the foundational principles of behavioral psychology and cognitive condition to create an association between an unwanted behavior and feelings of discomfort or unpleasantness. Aversion therapy works by repeatedly pairing unwanted behavior, or thoughts of unwanted behaviors, with negative stimuli, like electric shocks or medically-induced nausea, with the goal that this repetition will cause the patient to develop a distaste for, or “aversion” to, the unwanted behavior.
Aversion therapy is most commonly used in rehabilitation programs for sex offenders and in treatment programs for substance use disorders, but it is still quite controversial and it is not a reliably effective method of treatment. In particular, the use of aversion therapy as a “treatment” for homosexuality is not considered medically sound and has been harshly criticized. Where aversion therapy is considered appropriate, it still should only be used in connection with other medically sound and evidence-based treatment techniques.
Substance addiction can be very difficult to treat, and for the best chance of recovery, it is important to find the treatment program that can best satisfy your unique and specific needs.
At the Asana Recovery Center, we offer a supervised detoxification and residential treatment program that includes a variety of different therapy options designed to help those struggling at any stage of addiction. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our motivational facilities and find out whether our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program is right for you.
