The term “psychotherapy” is often a misunderstood one, particularly when treating addiction. As a result, it is worth asking the questions, “What is psychotherapy, and how does it help with addiction?” At Atlantic Recovery Center, you’ll learn more about this care option. You’ll also get an insight into its many variations and how they can be used to treat addiction. In this way, you can better understand how drug rehab works for you.
What is Psychotherapy? A Primer
Over the years, a myriad of therapy options has emerged to manage mental health problems. Psychotherapy is often at the root of each of these methods. Therefore, when asking, “What is psychotherapy?” it is essential to examine its roots. The earliest practitioner of this method was likely Dr. Sigmund Freud, though many of his compatriots and peers picked up on the same care method.
The idea behind psychotherapy is to pair a person with a trained therapist and to let them talk. The client tells the psychiatrist whatever they want about their lives. Usually, they focus on their current problems and the issues that may trigger them. The therapist listens to the client and carefully directs their discussion. Then, they can give suggestions and advice to the person’s problems.
This treatment may sound too simple to be effective. However, it has become the general standard for psychological care. Its simplicity is perhaps its greatest strength. Therapists and clients can adapt this care option to utilize other techniques. As a result, it is worth knowing about a few of the most popular offshoots of this type of “talk therapy.” Later on, you’ll learn how inpatient and outpatient drug rehab utilizes psychotherapy.
Variations in Psychotherapy
Those who ask, “What is psychotherapy?” are often surprised to learn about its many diverse uses. Over the years, therapists have tweaked and adjusted this care option to produce many unique benefits. Therefore, it is critical to understand each of these options. This knowledge is particularly crucial if you plan on getting drug addiction treatment:
- Behavior therapy – Adjusts a person’s negative behaviors to make them positive
- Family treatment – Brings a family together to discuss their common issues
- Group therapy – Uses multiple people with similar problems to get support
- Exposure therapy – Places a person in a situation that makes them afraid so that they can talk about it
These variations are just a few that you may experience. Each has sub-treatments that your therapist may use. For example, behavior therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. When addiction treatment specialists use these for drug addiction, they will adjust the methods to meet your needs. Therefore, you must understand how these care methods may help you regain your sobriety.
How Psychotherapy Helps Addiction
People with addictions often have multiple mental health problems. These issues create a deep-rooted influence on drug abuse that can be hard to manage. Some may not even realize that they have these problems. Thankfully, psychotherapy can help to make them less of an issue.
For example, standard psychotherapy may allow a person to see the many emotional troubles plaguing them. Then, they can make the connections between these concerns and their drug abuse. This process takes some time to do correctly, even in inpatient care, but does provide a myriad of benefits.
Those who have behavioral issues – such as borderline personality disorder – can use dialectical behavior therapy to recover. This therapy helps to identify problematic cycles of actions that a person commits that may lead to addiction. It will then help walk a person back from these patterns of abuse. Make sure to talk to your care specialist about each option before you begin.
Don’t Let Addiction Take Over Your Life
If you want an answer to the question, “What is psychotherapy?” please contact us at Atlantic Recovery Center today. Our specialists have years of experience in the field and understand how to help you. In our small and intimate facility, you’ll get access to multiple types of psychotherapy treatments. You can also get aftercare to ensure that you fully recover. So please contact 1-866-824-5193 today. You’ll be glad that you made this investment in your health.