People who have taken the step to detox from a drug or alcohol addiction are to be commended. It requires courage and strength to make the decision to come forward and admit you have a problem, and it takes tremendous dedication and hard work to follow through. However, even after detox is complete, the work of psychotherapy is beginning. It’s during various forms of psychotherapy that clients begin the work of inner healing. You may be wondering—what is psychotherapy? Let’s explore this question deeper.
What is Psychotherapy?
At its most basic level, psychotherapy involves treating mental health conditions by communicating with a therapist. However, various forms of psychotherapy are emerging in addiction treatment with great success. Equine assisted psychotherapy program is a form of psychotherapy that involves using horses as a means to help clients. Coupled with therapeutic benefits, clients experience working closely with an animal. The bonding that occurs between the person and the horse serves as a tool for recovery.
When defining what is psychotherapy, it is a form of therapy that helps people understand their feelings, behavior, and thoughts. People who have struggled with addiction often have deep-rooted mental health issues that led to substance abuse in the first place. Psychotherapy delves into those inner places to discover what led to the addiction.
Why do People Need Psychotherapy?
Once you know —what is psychotherapy, then you’ll understand how it works. As stated above, people with addiction issues usually also have mental health conditions. Psychotherapy involves working with a certified therapist who is experienced in dealing with addiction problems. Some goals of psychotherapy are:
- Get to the root of what drove the person to addiction behavior
- Help the person find healing from past trauma
- Teach the person strategies for dealing with triggering situations in the future
Often times, people who have a substance use disorder come to realize that they’ve buried past issues. Instead of facing problems or trauma, they numb themselves by self-medicating. Self-medicating may make the pain from the trauma go away temporarily, but it creates another problem, namely addiction. This is where the work of psychotherapy comes into play. Uncovering and healing from past issues is essential to staying drug- or alcohol-free.
What to Expect?
You may now know—what is psychotherapy, but wonder how it will work. There are different forms of psychotherapy, but they can be separated into two main categories:
Talk Therapy
This is the more traditional type of therapy. It involves the client and therapist talking about the problems. It is usually therapist-led but is sometimes led by the client.
Experiential Therapy
This type of therapy involves experiencing and action. Some examples of experiential therapy include:
- Equine assisted therapy
- Art therapy program
- Music therapy
- Recreational therapy
When you enter a rehab facility for substance addiction, your therapist will schedule psychotherapy sessions with you based on your needs. You may participate in more that one type of psychotherapy, especially if you are in residential inpatient care.
Benefits of Psychotherapy
When you participate in psychotherapy, you gain a more thorough treatment plan. You don’t just quit doing the substance through the detox program, but you go to the root of any problems. This helps with relapse prevention. You become stronger from the therapy sessions and discover the tools for future success.
Welcome to Promise Behavioral Health
At Promises Behavioral Health, our clinicians are trained in psychotherapy. We use the latest scientific research to inform our therapy, so you know you’re in capable hands. Furthermore, our staff is compassionate and ready to walk along beside you on this journey to healing. We offer a wide range of programs to aid in the recovery process. Some of these programs include:
- 12 step support groups
- Acupuncture therapy program
- Anger management therapy program
- Art therapy program
- Cognitive Processing Therapy program
- Couples Counseling Program
Don’t let addiction problems take charge of your life. Now that you know what is psychotherapy and how it can help with substance abuse, take control by reaching out. You can overcome your addiction by contacting us at 844.875.5609, and we’ll be with you on your journey to a brighter future.