Therapy

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has been collecting data for the last 40 years on addiction treatment. With this data, they have outlined several principles to help improve the odds of success in addiction treatment. These principles can help end substance use, lower the risk of relapse, and help individuals rebuild their lives.

Some of these principles include notions like:

• Addiction is a multifaceted issue that can be effectively treated.
• Treatment should be based on the individual rather than their drug of choice.
• Treatment can be successful even if a person is forced to go.
• Medication management is an important aspect of addiction treatment.
• Medication should be used to treat mental health issues and to help withdraw from certain substances.
• Addiction and mental health disorders should be treated at the same time through dual diagnosis treatment.
• Counseling and behavioral therapies are highly utilized and the best substance abuse treatment

Many professionals agree that counseling and behavioral therapies are vital to treating substance use. With so many options for therapy, how they differ, and what is best for your individual needs, it can be overwhelming. The NIDA believes that no one treatment works for each individual.

There are three main types of therapy for addiction; individual, group, and family therapy. Each type of therapy has a variety of techniques that are incorporated into addiction treatment. It is important to know about different types of therapies and the techniques used when trying to find the best substance use disorder and mental health treatment.

• The level of treatment can be more intense and comprehensive in individual therapy than in group therapy.
• The pace of therapy can be adjusted to the needs of the client. It can be sped up if the client can handle a more intense session and can be slowed down for those who need more time to work through issues.
• Individual therapy allows clients to develop self-awareness by discussing their issues and receiving feedback from the therapist.
• Depending on the treatment environment, inpatient, or outpatient, the client can schedule individual therapy around their schedule.
• Individual therapy helps clients develop healthy communication skills.
• A few disadvantages of individual therapy include:
• Individual therapy is generally more expensive than group therapy.
• Some clients need to identify with other individuals with similar problems. This need can be addressed in group therapy.
• Clients in individual therapy need to be self-motivated and are at the center of attention. If the client is not committed to their recovery journey, they may struggle to be held accountable for their work toward sobriety.

One of the most significant benefits of individual therapy is the variety of techniques incorporated into therapy sessions.

Behavioral therapy is precisely that, therapy to change behaviors. In behavioral therapy, the focus is on obtaining goals based on the client’s present life. The client and substance abuse counselor work together to examine unhealthy behaviors and identify the situations that trigger these behaviors.

Substance use creates a feeling of euphoria, calming the body, and eliminating pain. These feelings reinforce substance use and the behaviors that accompany addiction. Even though addiction has negative effects on an individual’s life, the benefits of the substance outweigh the risks in their eyes.

Substance abuse counselors use specific interventions to address unhealthy behaviors, including:

• Education and planning: The counselor provides education on the behaviors and consequences of drug addiction and will help develop a plan to change unwanted behaviors.
• Assertiveness training: The client will learn to express themself honestly and respectfully.
• Relaxation training: Clients learn to find calm and peace without the use of harmful substances.
• Functional analysis: Substance abuse counselors help clients understand why they behave the way they do. By understanding what reinforces the behaviors, the client can learn to modify negative thoughts into motivation before relapse occurs.
• Exposure: The client must be able to control themselves if exposed to their substance of choice. Practicing this skill in a controlled environment increases the likelihood that impulses to use will fade away.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) uses behavioral therapies as a base for its views. Still, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy focuses on feelings and thoughts that are equally as important as behaviors. The idea behind CBT is that negative thinking leads to unwanted feelings and behaviors. And vice versa, negative behaviors lead to unwanted thoughts and feelings. Florida Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy sessions at Behavioral Health Centers are done weekly and can be for residential or outpatient treatment programs.

An addiction Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy program can help treat co-occurring disorders such as:

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The main goals of DBT are to teach people to live in the moment, healthily cope with stress, control emotions, and improve relationships. Dialectical behavioral therapy makes three basic assumptions.

• All things are interconnected.
• Change is constant and inevitable
• Opposites can be mixed to form a closer guess of the truth.

Dialectical behavioral therapy is an evidence-based talk therapy approach. Clients can participate in DBT in three different therapeutic settings:

• A group setting where clients are taught behavior skills while role-playing new interactions with people.
• Individual therapy where a therapist helps clients focus on past traumas and present stressors.
• Phone coaching provides treatment intervention between therapy sessions.

Using the above treatment settings, Dialectical behavior therapy leads clients through 4 skill-building modules. These modules are based on the notion that opposing ideas can be brought together to find balance.

• Mindfulness – being aware and engaged in present situations
• Distress tolerance – accepting some level of stress without using extreme measures to resolve the situation
• Interpersonal effectiveness – ability to communicate clearly while building listening skills
• Emotional regulation – identifying issues that trigger unhealthy thoughts and feelings and using healthy coping skills to minimize the issues

Children are the most affected by addiction. When there is an addiction problem within the household, it disrupts the healthy development of children. It can lead to physical, mental, and behavioral issues. Children often have trouble in school and are more likely to develop a learning disability, skip school, or even be expelled. Children with parents who abuse drugs or alcohol are four times more likely to battle addiction.

Family therapy can have a positive impact on rebuilding the family unit. Educating the family on why loved ones behave in their manner is the first step to healing a broken family. When a family is involved in their loved one’s recovery journey, it increases the chances of success.

• Keeping loved ones motivated in their recovery
• Enables family members to express their feelings and ask questions about the addiction
• Offers a high level of support during and after treatment

• Eases feelings of fear, anger, and resentment over the addiction
• The family builds healthy coping skills
• Improves communication

Our specialized drug rehab in Port St. Lucie Florida is trained in the treatment of addiction and mental health disorders.

We offer a range of therapy modalities that include:

• Neuro Behavioral Therapy
• EMDR/Trauma Therapy
• Process Group Therapy
• Gender-Specific Therapies

Holistic therapies for addiction and mental health problems include:

• Chiropractic Therapy
• Nutritional Therapy
• Exercise/Fitness Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Life Skills Therapy

Substance abuse counselors play a very significant role in the recovery process. Their involvement in the treatment process is instrumental and can make or break a client’s success. Substance abuse counselors in Florida are responsible for supporting the client through the entire treatment process. Clients work with their substance abuse counselor to create an individualized treatment plan, a relapse prevention plan, and after-care treatment.

Substance abuse counselors help clients explore the causes behind the addiction, process their negative thought patterns, feelings and behaviors, and identify triggers to create a long term life plan. Clients should feel comfortable with their substance abuse counselor to expose the deep-rooted issues that led to addiction. If the client does not feel comfortable, it could hinder their recovery journey.

An effective substance abuse counselor is a good listener and exudes compassion. The first few sessions will be spent building trust and determining if the client is comfortable enough to expose their inner demons. It is essential to be honest if there is no connection between the client and the substance abuse counselor. The counselor will not be offended and will often refer a client to another counselor to treat drug or alcohol use.

Navigating insurance coverage for substance abuse and behavioral health services can be difficult. Our goal is to ensure that you – or your loved one – receive the highest level of care with the lowest out-of-pocket cost possible. In many cases, our patients are fully covered for behavioral health services through their insurance provider!