Drug and alcohol addiction therapy is a helpful tool for those who are newly in recovery and for those who have sustained recovery for years. Behavior therapy is one approach to therapy that can be useful for those who struggle with addiction. It specifically addresses the behaviors people can learn to prevent the recurrence of addiction. At Clearhaven Recovery, we offer several forms of addiction therapy, including behavioral therapies.
What Is the Goal of Behavior Therapy?
Behavior therapies help those in recovery in a number of ways:
- They work as an incentive to remain sober or abstinent from drug use.
- These therapies help increase a person’s ability to handle stress.
- They teach those in recovery what their triggers are and how to manage them.
- A key component is teaching a person to modify their attitude or behavior about drug use.
- They teach people they can control their drug or alcohol addiction and how to do that.
Unlike some forms of talk therapy, behavior therapy is meant to be actionable. That means a person learns about their addiction and the causes of it, but they also learn real-world strategies to use to overcome those negative thoughts and actions. This helps to prevent the desire to use.
Common Types of Behavior Therapy
Many types of behavior therapy exist. Working with our master-level clinicians, we’ll determine which forms are best for your situation. Some of the most common types include the following cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
This type of therapy is often helpful in those with alcohol, cocaine, meth, and marijuana addiction. It focuses on recognizing negative thought patterns that often contribute to negative actions. A person learns to recognize when those negative thoughts are occurring. In doing so, they can ask themselves questions about how accurate those thoughts are and, if they are not realistic, they can try to change them.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Another form of behavior therapy is a sub-set of cognitive-behavioral therapy. In dialectical behavior therapy, the goal is to teach a person to live in the moment. Often, those with addiction struggle to recognize the reality of what’s happening and think the worst. They have trouble managing emotions or dealing with stress in an effective manner. This type of therapy teaches strategies for managing what’s really happening. It can be used in men and women who also have underlying mental health issues.
What Happens in Behavior Therapy Sessions?
Each session is designed to address the needs of the client. Sometimes, this includes role-playing, where a person talks about something that bothers them and then acts out several ways to deal with that emotion or situation. In other cases, a therapist leads a person through a series of questions in order to help them come to an understanding of why their thought processes are inaccurate.
Group and individual therapy sessions are both utilized during behavior therapy. In group therapy, a person can develop skills for dealing with stress and difficult situations that are typical after addiction therapy. Individual therapy provides support for underlying mental health disorders but also past trauma and specific areas of concern that a person may wish to keep private. Family therapy can also be a component of treatment plans.
Find the Support You Need at Clearhaven Recovery
Clearhaven Recovery helps those in treatment by offering a high level of support and individualized care. Learn more about each of the types of therapy available through our program, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy programs
- Individual therapy programs
- Family therapy programs
Behavior therapy can provide important strategies to help you avoid relapse. At Clearhaven Recovery, we provide these therapies as a tool to help you build a strong future without drug or alcohol use. Learn more from our master clinicians when you call 833.970.2054 or connect with us online today.
