Sustaining sobriety is a lifelong effort; therefore, having the right tools is necessary to put yourself in a position to succeed. Now that you have completed treatment and you are on the road to maintaining your sobriety for the long term, staying in therapy can help.
Long-term therapy is vital to long-term sobriety; having the non-judgmental support of a good therapist can help you identify new troubles as you progress, and you can find new healthy ways to find helpful and positive answers. Group therapy is essential in order to have peer support and input. However, individual therapy can also address co-occurring disorders which may have led to substance abuse in the first place.
The best long-term treatment plan will be tailored to you and your unique needs, which will provide therapy, sometimes more than one type: individual therapy, which focuses on you; group therapy, which creates a strong peer environment; and family therapy to help heal family bonds.
Substance Abuse Is More Than Physical Dependence
Once you have moved on with your life after detox and treatment, you must be aware of triggers that can derail your long-term success. Relapse can happen if you don’t continue with a long-term plan and investigate all the factors that contributed to your substance use disorder (SUD).
Without continuing to learn new tools in your recovery journey, relapse is a very real possibility. Having a therapist on your long-term team can help you identify potential new triggers that can cause relapse that you may miss on your own.
Some events and situations which are potential triggers for many people include:
- Stress
- Environment
- Peers who are still actively using
- Lack of boundaries
- Lack of routine
- Being hungry or tired
- Isolation
Continuing to see a therapist after completing treatment can help you learn to manage these triggers if and when they arise.
Aspects of Individual Therapy
There are two aspects to individual therapy: talk therapy and trauma processing. However, there are many different forms of individual therapy to help facilitate the two aspects, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Contingency management therapy (CM)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
How Individual Therapy Promotes Long-Term Recovery
These are several ways that individual therapy can help in long-term recovery, including:
- Learning to modify behavior and thoughts in a healthy way
- Having a supportive therapist can help prevent relapse
- Help to identify co-occurring disorders
- A way to deal with your own unique needs
- Managing co-occurring disorders at the same time as SUD recovery
- Improving quality of life by raising self-esteem and self-confidence
- Providing additional coping mechanisms
Using Different Therapeutic Modalities
Combining several different therapies long-term and using more than one type of therapy is beneficial because there is not one single standard approach to recovery. Every person is unique, with different issues, needs, personalities, and emotions. The most effective long-term treatment plans combine several options and allow lots of input from the person in recovery.
An integrated approach to recovery doesn’t isolate any part of a person; rather, it treats the whole person. Evidence-based treatment therapies are frequently at the heart of individual therapy. In addition to treating SUD, they are effective for co-occurring disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
The tools and positive behaviors learned during some of these treatments are lifelong. Evidence-based therapies have been proven through science and research to work. However, other forms of therapy used alongside evidence-based therapies can enhance recovery. Common alternative therapy options include:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Dance therapy
- Yoga
- Mindfulness training
- Acupuncture
- Meditation and massage
Benefits of Individual Therapy
Individual therapy creates a foundation for life-long health and sobriety. Several benefits of individual therapy include:
- Improved relationships
- Eliminates isolation
- Replaces poor behaviors with healthier ones
- Increases emotional awareness
- Boundaries can be identified and applied
- Improvement in communication
- Cognitive function heals and improves
- Improved self-esteem
- A safe space to explore trauma and speak of emotions
- Coping skills improved
- Confidence
Individual therapy is focused on one person and their needs and goals. It focuses solely on the emotional and mental health of the individual in a safe and caring environment. Because the environment is safe, it allows you to relax and explore past trauma, past life experiences, old habits, and emotions that can be worked through and released.
Individual therapy gives you all the tools you need to grow and stay healthy and sober. A comprehensive long-term treatment plan should be individualized, and you must actively be involved in the creation and continued implementation of that plan for it to be successful. Your unique needs and goals are the most important part of the equation for lifelong success in recovery.
Sustaining sobriety is essential to your health. Individual therapy is one of the best tools to meet your mental health and sobriety goals. Since your therapy session is individual, it will be tailored to your unique needs. One benefit of therapy is the ability to create new ways of managing emotions and learning coping skills that are healthy and positive. An additional benefit is staying on track and creating new goals with the support of your therapist. Your therapist can help you identify past trauma in a safe, trauma-specific environment and help you work through it. The Guest House has an integrated approach and professionals waiting to help you reach your unique goals and create a long-term treatment plan specifically for you. Call The Guest House today to learn more about how we can help you in your recovery journey at (855) 483-7800.