Types of Therapy for Addiction and Alcoholism

If you’re suffering from addiction or alcoholism, you should know that there are many effective therapies available to help you achieve a lifetime of sobriety, one day at a time. Therapy is really just a tool to combat addiction, and one of the best ways to use these tools is through the experience of a residential inpatient program, an intensive outpatient program, or another professional addiction treatment center. And while types of therapies might differ from place to place, the most comprehensive drug rehab centers offer 5 primary therapy types:

1.)PAWS/Relapse Prevention Therapy

2.)Group Therapy

3.)Family Therapy

4.)Individual Therapy

5.)Biofeedback Therapy

Of these types, PAWS and Relapse prevention therapies are absolutely critical to achieve lasting success. PAWS stands for Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and refers to the set of symptoms and effects a person feels immediately after they have detoxed from a drug or from alcohol. PAWS is the largest contributing factor in most relapses, which means a focus on recognizing and treating these symptoms is essential. Treatment of PAWS and relapse prevention therapies seek to empower a person by providing education, recognition and other coping skills that can be used on a daily basis.

Group therapy allows a person to experience the fellowship of a group of fellow addicts and alcoholics sharing their experiences, inspirations and success (and sometimes failure) stories. This provides the fundamental building blocks of a support network that can be developed to not only help a person stay clean, but to help them help others stay clean. As Jim Davis, the CEO of Recovery First, a Florida drug rehab center, once said in regard to addiction treatment:

“It’s a lifeboat. We are in this together.” And Jim would know- he has more than 30 years in recovery himself.

Family therapy is important because addiction and alcoholism is often tied deeply to family issues. Additionally, many people hurt members of their family while they are actively using, and family therapy can help to heal these wounds. Finally, it always helps to have the perspective and thoughts of someone who knows you well, because self-evaluation is difficult at best.

Individual therapy begins at the time of detox and often continues for a lifetime. This type of therapy seeks to guide a person on a journey of self-exploration and reflection with the goal of developing new ways of thinking and dealing with stress and boredom. Denial management plays a prominent role in this type of therapy.

Biofeedback therapy teaches people who have suffered from addiction or alcoholism to understand and recognize the physiological, emotional and mental warning signs that could indicate a relapse is imminent without some type of action. By utilizing meditation and relaxation methods, a person undergoing biofeedback therapy will learn how to channel negative stress away and find peace in the occurrences of daily life- not in drugs.

All of these therapies should be client-driven and never from some cookie-cutter drug addiction treatment textbook. People who are given the ability to empower themselves are the ones who are the most successful, and that’s what all of these types of therapy are really all about. In order to find out for yourself, you have to take the first step and reach out for help.

Your best chance for success could be a residential inpatient treatment center. Find out here:

http://recoveryfirst.org/inpatient-treatment.html

For one of the most comprehensive drug addiciton and alcoholism resources on the web, click here:

http://recoveryfirst.org/