Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process involving the mind as much as the body. Individual therapy for substance abuse is a critical part of treatment; in many cases, group and family therapy play an important role too. In counseling, people learn how to manage mental health conditions, practice healthy behaviors, identify situations that trigger substance use, and plan to avoid relapse.

Addiction Counseling Unpacks Underlying Issues

Clients in treatment have taken the courageous step of realizing they need help to break their addiction. However, they may not fully understand why they abused substances or why certain experiences trigger their substance use.

Through addiction therapy, clients explore the events, relationships, thought patterns, and other factors that may have contributed to their substance use. For instance, they may be abusing alcohol or drugs to deal with feelings of loneliness and emptiness or turn to substances in certain stressful situations. Individual counseling allows the therapist to focus exclusively on the client’s history, emotions, and needs, so they can better understand themselves.

Once clients can grasp the issues behind their addiction, they’ll be more easily able to address these challenges head-on without substances. They may also recognize situations they need to avoid in the future.

Therapy Treats Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions

Substance use disorders and mental health diagnoses often occur together. Each one can contribute to the other — distress caused by mental health symptoms may lead people to abuse substances, and substance addiction can change the brain and worsen mental health disorders.

Since each condition affects the other, both substance abuse and mental health disorders must be treated simultaneously. This approach is referred to as dual diagnosis treatment.

Addiction therapy can provide medical, emotional, and social support critical to sobriety and mental health. Counseling techniques show clients healthy ways to deal with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) teach clients how to change damaging or ineffective thinking patterns and how to change their behavior as a result.

Addiction Counseling Offers Motivation and Encouragement

Especially in early recovery, people with substance use disorders may face strong temptations to relapse. The accountability provided in therapy can encourage them to stay sober because they know a therapist supports their progress. Therapy addresses how to deal with drug and alcohol cravings when they arise.

Addiction counseling helps clients manage life stresses that contribute to a desire to use substances. Individual therapy can identify specific stressors in a client’s life and help them find constructive ways to handle stress. Therapists in individual and group settings may also:

• Assist clients in developing healthy relationships or repairing fractured relationships with family and friends
• Help clients establish boundaries with others
• Work with clients to improve their communication skills
• Encourage clients to think of the reasons they want to remain sober
• Help clients identify the goals they hope to achieve in recovery

If a client has a positive experience in therapy, this experience often encourages them to remain active in recovery. They’re more likely to stay involved in alumni programs and pursue recovery for the long haul.

Therapy and Treatment at Footprints Beachside Recovery

Our addiction treatment center is family-run, providing a personalized environment where every individual client matters. We only treat 15 clients at a time, so we have the resources to meet your needs. Clients can participate in individual, group, and family therapy. Our trained, compassionate therapists help clients work through past trauma and develop coping skills for a better future.

Whatever your situation, we’ll meet you where you are. If you’re ready for a change or want to help someone you love, call 727-954-3908 to find out what Footprints Beachside Recovery offers.