One of the most important factors in addiction recovery is the help of counselors and therapists. Although the words are used interchangeably, counseling and therapy do have differences. Counseling focuses on solving or coping with a specific issue, such as addiction, while therapy is more long-term and looks at changing a person’s behavior or way of thinking. Counselors also do not require an advanced degree of training, although some are licensed, while therapists can include social workers and psychologists.
Counselors can provide a support system for those struggling with substance abuse. They provide a safe environment and a relationship built on trust while helping pave the road toward recovery. Counselors may also meet with the addict’s family and facilitate therapy sessions or educate the family on how to support their loved one.
Psychotherapy helps a drug or alcohol user understand the roots of his addiction. A therapist can help you understand your triggers and how to overcome them. For example, a trigger such as a certain person or place can be avoided, while sensory triggers like a sound or smell will need to be addressed and managed. Therapy can also teach you how to deal with traumatic or stressful events. One way to do this is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is founded on the idea that psychological problems or addiction are based in unhelpful ways of thinking. CBT can help you to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them. Another method is contingency management therapy, which uses voucher-based reinforcement. As an example, a patient receives a voucher for every drug-free test, which can be exchanged for things like food or entertainment.
Therapists can also help you understand what might have led to your addiction or is standing in the way of recovery. Sometimes it might be things you aren’t even consciously aware of, like past trauma, abuse, or grief.
Group therapy is often preferred over individual, because it provides the support of a peer group and challenges a person to talk honestly about their problems. Some people, however, do not respond well to groups because of anxiety or other issues. Individual therapy can be more helpful when someone has a dual diagnosis – for instance, substance abuse disorder and depression – because this requires more specialized care. Therapy can also be either residential or outpatient. Residential programs can remove a person from an unhealthy environment and allow them to recover while learning ways to cope upon returning. Outpatient therapy works best with support at home.
At Asana Recovery, we offer residential and outpatient care, along with both group and individual therapy, including CBT. We also provide some alternatives to the more traditional approach, like art therapy and psychodrama, which allows clients to act out and reexamine events from their past. Our staff includes consulting physicians and trained clinicians who are licensed or certified in addiction treatment. Asana Recovery’s residential treatment is CARF-accredited, meaning it meets national standards set by the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to learn more.
