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10 Therapy Types of Addiction Treatment Used in Recovery

Addiction recovery is about physical abstinence from the substance that was being abused along with making positive mental and behavioral changes. For both components, therapy is a very detrimental aspect of many types of addiction treatment for a stable recovery.

There are several kinds of therapies used in addiction treatment programs. Each therapy can vary on effectiveness level depending on the client. 

If you or someone you know is about to begin any one of the types of addiction treatment program, here are some of the types of therapy that may be used in treatment.

types of addiction treatment

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) when used in any one of the various types of addiction treatment? 

  • Founded on core principles of negative thought patterns, negative behaviors learned, along with unhelpful coping methods

How is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Used to Treat Addiction?

  • Change negative and harmful thinking patterns by relearning how to recognize and evaluate thoughts.
  • Problems solve thoughts to deal with difficult situations more positively and effectively.
  • Develop and regain self-efficacy and self-confidence. Along with gaining a better understanding of the behaviors of others.

Often addicted people are consumed with negative thinking and being stuck in the past. The combination can make it extremely difficult to quit drinking and/or using alcohol. Co-occurring disorders often develop like anxiety and depression in addition. 

Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction:

  • Focused on the present and goal-oriented.
  • Helpful in developing strategies in dealing with stressful situations that involve triggers that can lead to cravings.
  • This therapy can be used in group or individual therapy.
  • Allows client and therapist to work together to replace negative thinking patterns with healthier ones.
  • It’s a practical therapy that can easily be incorporated into daily life.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

What is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy when used in one of the types of addiction treatment?

  • Introduced by Albert Ellis in the 1950’s.
  • Similar to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Identifies negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to negative behaviors. Focuses on the person’s belief system. Tries to replace weak and irrational beliefs with those that are more logically based.

Benefits of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy for Addiction:

  • Own responsibility for how they behave and feel in response to a circumstance or situation.
  • Learn to identify and evaluate irrational thoughts that can lead to negative behaviors.
  • Acknowledge negative feelings including stress. Accept the discomfort without suppressing feelings with substances.
  • Adopt healthier and realistic expectations of themselves, including the world, and those around them. 
  • Having self-acceptance and practicing it.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when used during one of the types of addiction treatment options?

  • Developed by Dr. Marsha M. Linehan for treating those who struggle with severe suicidal ideation.

How is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Used to Treat Addiction?

  • Teaches mindfulness which is a skill of living in the moment and being attuned to the mental, emotional, and physical sensations of your body within and those around you.
  • Finding healthy ways to regulate emotions and feelings, cope with stress, and improve your relationships with the people in your life
  • DBT therapy utilizes group and individualized therapy along with treatment intervention between sessions. This ensures the client has lasting results towards sobriety. 

Benefits of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Addiction:

  • Reducing suicide attempts and self-harming behaviors, helps regulates emotions, reducing inpatient treatment stays.
  • Confronts harmful behaviors that can block recovery and also reduces the quality of life.
  • Established to help develop functional behaviors in order to apply them daily.
  • Motivates clients to change parts of their lives that they can change. It also helps them develop radical acceptance of parts or circumstances of which they cannot.

Contingency Management

What is Contingency Management when offered in one of the types of addiction treatment?

  • Every time there is a positive change there is a reward.
  • How is Contingency Management Used to Treat Addiction?
  • Positive reinforcement increases the chances and frequency of certain behavior.

Benefits of Contingency Management When Used in One of the Types of Addiction Treatment:

  • More people in recovery tend to stick with this type of treatment therapy overall.
  • It can possibly improve a person’s possibility of staying clean after rehab.
  • Helpful for a wide age group, overall. 
  • Used as a stand-alone treatment option or also used in conjunction with other treatment methods.
  • Insurance providers typically cover this treatment option being it’s low-risk and vastly considered beneficial for addiction treatment.

Motivational Interviewing

What is Motivational interviewing when used in one of the types of addiction treatment?

  • A therapy method where a therapist or counselor motivates a client to help continue to maintain their client’s sobriety. They identify their values and intrinsic motivations and focus on a treatment plan around that.

Motivational Interviewing Used to Treat Addiction:

  • Using a client’s own desire to get motivated versus being forced or facing negative or legal consequences. 

Benefits of Motivational Interviewing for Addiction?

  • Retention rates are organically improved for substance abuse treatment programs.
  • More motivation from clients to make changes that will increase their chances of sobriety.
  • Client participation increases in treatment.
  • Self-actualization goals are encouraged to be made. 

Family Therapy for Addiction

What is Family and/or Couples Therapy when used in any of the types of addiction treatment?

  • Therapy is designed to address substance abuse disorder and co-occurring disorders along with issues related to the interconnected relationship involving a family unit. 

Family Therapy or Couples Therapy Used to Treat Addiction:

  • The addicted person’s behavior influences the familial relationship and vice versa. This therapy involves all family members immediate and extended. Addresses topics like stress, enablement, communication, and improving the home environment. 

Benefits of Family and/or Couples Therapy for Addiction?

  • Keeps everyone motivated and active during treatment.
  • Continues to provide educational information about addiction and recovery.
  • Allows for a safe space to express concerns, and feelings, and ask questions.
  • Helps reduce anger, fear, stress, and confusion in the family.
  • A great way for everyone in the family to develop skills and strategies to cope.
  • Gives opportunities to address any mental health situations that arise in the family

12-Step Facilitation Therapy for Addiction

What is 12-Step Facilitation Therapy?

  • The structured approach holds the concept that addiction is a spiritual and medical disease. 
  • Manual-driven therapy consists of, acceptance, surrender, active participation in the recovery community, and continuous sobriety. 

12-Step Facilitation Therapy Used to Treat Addiction?

Staying involved in the sober community and being active in a 12-step self-help group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Benefits of 12-Step Facilitation Therapy When Used in One of the Types of Addiction Treatment:

  • Gives client’s an opportunity to have a positive relationship with a sponsor.
  • Shows where there might be psychological resistance issues if one is unable to attend meetings to participate. Could be helpful in counseling to further explore those issues.
  • Helps propel one to get socially active and engage in the community in a positive way.
  • Oftentimes promote deep introspection which helps many clients get the most out of their meeting times.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

What Is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) When Used in One of the Types of Addiction Treatment?

  • Originally developed in the 1980s to treat those with PTSD.
  • An effective approach in treating those also with substance abuse disorders intertwined with trauma.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Used to Treat Addiction?

  • Helps process and overcome traumatic memories, emotions, and experiences. It also replaces negative images associated with the trauma with positive beliefs. 

Benefits of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Addiction:

  • Reduces physical and emotional trauma symptoms, including PTSD symptoms.
  • Decreases the traumatic memories and in return reduces the distress.
  • The client’s self-efficacy and self-esteem begin to improve.
  • Could help resolve some anticipated cues and triggers.

Matrix Model for Addiction

What is the Matrix Model When Used in Any One of the Types of Addiction Treatment?

Helps those overcome addictions to substances from drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants.

Matrix Model Used to Treat Addiction?

It uses a broader scope of contributing therapies for addiction, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Therapy. However, there are other evidence-based therapies used as well in addition to. Its focus is on positive behavioral changes and relapse management. It is also an expectation to participate in self-help groups in order to achieve long-lasting sobriety.

Benefits of the Matrix Model for Addiction?

  • Drug testing to ensure transparency.
  • Positive reinforcement to reward efforts.
  • Helps clients bounce back from temporary setbacks and negative behaviors.
  • Gives structure and balance to a lifestyle of recovery.
  • Teaches educational information about recovery, addiction, and life skills, including cognitive behavior.
  • Values and encourages participation among family members.

Person-Centered Therapy

What is Person-Centered Therapy or Individual Therapy When Used in One of the Types of Addiction Treatment?

  • Focuses on treating the person rather than other things, including just the addiction. Shame and rejection can imprison us from healing. Self-acceptance alternatively leads to positive changes.

Person-Centered Therapy Used to Treat Addiction:

  • The therapist meets with clients regularly.
  • Empathy, unconditional love, and acceptance are provided to the client by the therapist.
  • Clients learn to see themself through another person’s perspective in a positive way.
  • Begins to practice self-acceptance and self-love along with positive reflection.

Addiction Treatment at Harmony Oaks

At Harmony Oaks, located in Chattanooga, TN, we have trained professionals who understand the journey of recovery in all the types of addiction treatment. This is why we have many treatment options and programs available to you to fit your needs. We are strong believers in evidence-based treatment and therapy approaches when dealing with addiction and co-occurring disorders. We are dedicated to excellence in healthcare! 

We are available to answer any questions you may have 24/7, call us today at, (865) 217-2883. Get yourself enrolled in any one of the types of addiction treatment right away.