7 Types of Therapy to Treat Addictions

There are many people today who are suffering from one form of addiction. You probably even know someone who is going through with it. Especially if that person is a friend or a family member, we want to do our best to help them overcome it. One way for you to help is by knowing about the different types of therapies or treatments that your loved one can try.

Here are some of the therapies that a person suffering from addiction can consider.

This is presided by an expert, usually a psychologist, wherein patients with similar addiction gather together and talk about their experiences and listen to others as well. They then reflect on what they shared and how their condition has greatly affected their own lives. This group set up is also effective in providing support to people who are going through the same experience as them.

This involves one on one sessions with a psychotherapist where she will help the patient explore the causes and the emotional conflicts brought about by the addiction problem. The therapist will then evaluate and develop strategies to facilitate long lasting change in the person’s life.

To say that a type of therapy is holistic it means that the treatment is approached considering the patient’s mind, body, and spirit. In short, it’s the entire individual. The therapist can help the patient through acupuncture, spiritual counseling, meditation, yoga, proper nutrition, and even exercise. Medical drugs may or may not be prescribed depending on the level of the addiction.

Did you know that horses can help treat an addiction? They say horses have the ability to see and feel our emotions, including the addiction a patient is going through. This approach is done through equine activities that promote physical and emotional growth for the patient. An instructor or therapist will instruct the patient to perform certain tasks with the horse and then together they will evaluate the ideas and the problem solving technique used to complete it.

Therapists may also use art in the treatment but it focuses more on the process rather than the final output. What the therapist is concerned about is how the patient is feeling during the making of the art and what he learns. Art therapy is therapeutic and can also serve as a diagnostic tool.

Yoga is a Hindu spiritual discipline, helping the body relax and achieve good health through breath control, meditation, and certain body postures. Physical yoga postures are practiced to stretch and release tension; releasing all the built-up toxins inside the body. While breathing practices will help the patient relax and concentrate.

The family plays a very important role in helping an addict overcome his problems. An effective recovery program includes the help of family members in providing support for the patient so he can succeed in the recovery process. For this to be effective, a therapist will brief the relatives on what they can do to participate in this treatment.

These are just some of the treatments or therapies available for an addiction patient. To find your best option, consult with a therapist, or better yet, get in touch with a rehabilitation center you can trust.