How Psychotherapy Can Help With Substance Abuse

Drugs and alcohol can seize your life and turn it upside down. They can rob you of control, joy, and even hope. They affect the lives of nearly 20 million Americans, and countless more who love and care for them. And it’s not only physical — psychological, emotional, and social health can all be impacted by substance abuse.

To help you manage and overcome your addictions, psychotherapy can give you coping and life skills specifically aimed at the pressures related to substance abuse. Here at Alpha Care Medical, our team of experienced substance abuse experts understand the unique challenges you face. 

We bring a multidisciplinary approach to our patients and will customize your treatment to fit your needs. In addition to medication-assisted treatment when warranted, we also rely on the proven success of psychotherapy. Here's why.

Psychotherapy engages you in your own treatment

Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy makes you an active participant in your treatment. Whether you’re in a group or talking one on one with one of our highly trained counselors, you’ll find yourself in a supportive environment unlike any other. 

When you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, you may feel that no one really understands. But in psychotherapy sessions, particularly group therapy, everyone in the room gets it — and gets you.

In addition to genuine support, you’ll also get challenged. In order to overcome and heal, you need honesty, not platitudes, and you need practical ways to fight triggers and temptations. Psychotherapy can help you work out your addiction mentally and emotionally while you’re healing physically. 

Psychotherapy motivates you to abstain

No two addicts are alike. What got you to this point won’t be the same as what led someone else to this place. That’s why we never treat you with a single approach or method.

But as unique as you are, you share the same goal as all those seeking treatment for substance abuse — abstinence. 

Psychotherapy will help you — and us — discover exactly what you value most and what will motivate you to stay clean and sober. Once you identify these, they can become a focal point in your treatment to help you push through and succeed.

Psychotherapy changes your behaviors and attitudes

Part of psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy specifically seeks to identify attitudes and behaviors that are detrimental to your recovery. 

Negative thought patterns are destructive, and whether they’re the culprit that caused you to abuse drugs or alcohol in the first places or the reasons you feel stuck in a downward spiral of dependence, the first step is to recognize them.

Once we identify these negative patterns, we can give you the tools to counteract them in your daily life. Cognitive behavioral therapy will help you see the connection between your thoughts and your behaviors, so you can take action to break the cycle. This is an important aspect of breaking your addiction.

Psychotherapy helps you avoid triggers

As the term suggests, psychotherapy addresses your mind and the role it plays in your physical condition. 

Whether you’re in the throes of addiction, in treatment, or have been in recovery for many years, you’ll always have to face the triggers that potentially lead to relapse. 

For some, it’s stress and anxiety. For others, it may be certain people or relationships. And like 8.5 million other adults in this country, you may be dealing with mental health issues as well, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder in addition to substance abuse. We’ll help you find practical ways to cope with these factors throughout your rehab and recovery.

If you or a loved one is suffering from the ravages of substance abuse, help is nearby. We have four locations in Seaford, Millsboro, Harrington, and Dover, Delaware, and our team is ready to help you recover with a multifaceted approach that includes psychotherapy. To learn more, book an appointment over the phone with Alpha Care Medical today.