What is the Best Kind of Psychotherapy for Addicts?
The type of psychotherapy an addict chooses is a pivotal decision that greatly affects the chances of success in recovery. There are several different types of therapy used by various treatment programs.
While any type of therapy might be effective, some have shown more promise and a higher rate of success than others. Let’s look at the best kinds of psychotherapy for addicts.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy has become increasingly popular as a therapy choice for many problems, including addiction. CBT is based on the idea that problems like addiction are the result, at least in part, of harmful thinking patterns in combination with negative learned behaviors and poor coping strategies.
That’s why the goal of CBT is to change those unhelpful thinking patterns. Therapists teach addicts how to recognize those patterns and realistically challenge them.
They also help them learn to use problem-solving skills to deal with life’s ups and downs and build self-confidence. Finally, CBT helps addicts stay grounded in the present moment and better understand the behavior of other people.
Contingency Management
Contingency management is another type of psychotherapy for addicts that rewards behaviors associated with sobriety. For example, an addict might get vouchers or prizes for negative drug tests.
Additionally, addicts are rewarded for their sobriety in natural ways, such as an improved relationship with their spouse. This type of therapy has been shown to increase retention rates for addicts in substance abuse treatment programs and improve their likelihood of maintaining their sobriety after rehab.
Finally, contingency management can be used alone or in conjunction with another type of therapy like CBT. And most insurance companies will cover the cost of this form of psychotherapy because it is low-risk and widely regarded as a successful means of treating addiction.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
This type of psychotherapy for addicts is similar to cognitive behavioral therapy. It helps the addicts to identify negative thought patterns and beliefs that are associated with their addiction.
The biggest difference between REBT and CBT, however, is that REBT focuses more on what the addict believes. Its primary goal is to replace irrational and faulty beliefs with those that are more rational and based on logic.
Finally, REBT helps addicts take responsibility for their own feelings and behaviors, identify and monitor their irrational thoughts, and learn how to experience negative feelings and stress without resorting to their substance of choice to suppress those emotions. It teaches them better coping strategies.
Sober Sidekick is a Great Adjunct to Psychotherapy
Sober Sidekick is an app and social media platform made up of more than 150,000 addicts in all stages of recovery. It offers the addict in psychotherapy another source of non-judgmental, supportive peers available 24/7 for challenges that arise.
The platform also provides addicts with access to virtual AA meetings any time of the day or night and professional counselors they can contact for help between their own psychotherapy sessions. It’s yet another helpful tool geared toward helping the recovering addict succeed.
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