What Techniques Do Addiction Recovery Centers Use?

Posted on: 18 March 2020

If you are considering addiction recovery, you might wonder what kind of techniques will be used at your treatment center. The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all method for treating addiction. These are just a few of the techniques you may find at an addiction recovery center.

1. Motivational Interviewing

This technique relies on helping people commit to the changes they want to make in their life. They need to see why they should make changes, and they need to understand that it is totally normal to feel insecure right now. Motivational interviewing involves the therapist being empathetic to your needs, helping you identify places where change is possible, understand resistance, and then promote confidence to overcome. It is often just one step in the move forward.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This form of therapy is widely used in the world of addiction treatment. The goal is to reframe your perspective on a situation by changing your thoughts. This helps you change your behaviors as well. In terms of addiction treatment, CBT will target issues like polarized thoughts, like "I will always feel this way." It also targets generalizing with thoughts like, "That meeting made me feel terrible, so all meetings will make me feel terrible. I won't go to another meeting."

3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a treatment method used to reach individuals who struggle with addiction and other self-destructive behaviors. This form of therapy focuses on building strength in mindfulness, interpersonal communication, tolerating distress, and regulating emotions. This form of therapy may be part of both individual and group sessions.

4. Family Therapy

Often, addiction has a relationship with one's interpersonal communication. It may include family trauma, unhealthy communication, codependency, and even simply lack of awareness. Addiction is a serious issue that impacts many people in different ways, and it can also impact entire families.

5. 12-Step Programs

12-step programs, which include Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholic Anonymous, are found all over the country. You will find many meetings across the United States, and many are held at addiction recovery centers. These are group sessions that encourage people to speak about their experiences with addiction as a way to build skills necessary to move forward.

When you come to addiction treatment, your practitioners will put together a plan that is designed with your needs in mind. If one type of therapy speaks to you, contact an addiction recovery center to learn more.

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