Whether you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol abuse, finding the right treatment program is essential. These programs offer many options, including individual and group therapy, support groups and 12-step programs.
Inpatient alcohol rehab is the most intensive option, where clients live at a facility full time while attending recovery services. This type of program generally begins with detoxification and includes cognitive behavioral therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral treatment models see alcohol use as a learned behavior that can be changed through the same behavioral change techniques employed to alter other behaviors. Therapists help clients develop skills to confront and avoid situations that could trigger a drink.
Therapists identify external events that might prompt drinking, such as anger or boredom, and teach clients to use coping strategies that do not involve alcohol. They also teach clients to recognize their own internal events, such as thoughts about drinking, and learn to challenge those thoughts.
One aspect of a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy program involves establishing an emergency plan to address any unforeseen high-risk situations that may occur. Clients are taught to rehearse the plan, including a list of activities that they can engage in to prevent themselves from drinking.
Individual Counseling
Having more one-on-one time with a therapist in an individual counseling session can help you identify and change unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviors that lead to heavy drinking. You can also learn healthier ways to cope with stress and develop the skills you’ll need to prevent relapse.
Individual counseling sessions can be a part of an alcoholism treatment program that includes partial hospitalization, where you stay at a clinic or rehab facility during the day but return home at night, or outpatient treatment, which involves attending therapy sessions several days a week. You may also want to look for a program that incorporates holistic recovery, which uses healing techniques like yoga, meditation and massage. Many therapists are licensed and have extensive training in treating addiction and mental health disorders.
Group Counseling
Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction are able to overcome it through the help of therapy. The most common methods of therapy used by rehab facilities include psychotherapy and group counseling.
In psychotherapy sessions, patients have one-on-one conversations with a psychologist about their daily challenges and long-standing issues. The psychologist then uses these conversations to formulate a mental health diagnosis and may prescribe medication.
Group counseling, on the other hand, involves sharing experiences with others in a safe and supportive environment. In these groups, participants learn to identify the emotions that trigger substance abuse and discuss ways they can repair relationships. Groups often use cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches participants new thinking and behavior patterns to prevent relapse. Some groups also incorporate marital and family counseling, as addiction often affects the close relationships of those suffering from it.
Detoxification
Detoxification is the removal of chemicals and toxins from the body that are caused by substance abuse. It can be dangerous to attempt this on your own, so detox should always be done under medical supervision.
In addition to helping people safely and comfortably go through withdrawal symptoms, detox programs can help them figure out what triggered a relapse and how to break the cycle of addiction in the future. These programs also help them find treatment, which can include residential rehab, outpatient care, or group therapy.
This TIP encourages payers to recognize the important role that detox plays in fostering a patient’s entrance into treatment. It also addresses issues related to reimbursement for detox services and provides information on best practices. This includes considerations for individuals with co-occurring health problems.
Aftercare
Aftercare is an important part of the recovery process. It helps individuals stay motivated to continue working toward recovery and avoid relapse. In addition, it can help address any co-occurring conditions that may be contributing to alcohol addiction.
Often, aftercare includes outpatient treatment services. This is less intensive than residential or inpatient rehab programs, but it still offers a range of services such as life skills training and support groups.
Some outpatient alcoholism programs include day hospital and partial hospitalization programs, where the patient lives at transitional housing or their home while attending classes and sessions with a health care professional during the day. Other outpatient alcoholism treatment programs provide individual and group therapy, educational sessions on relapse prevention and other topics, and access to resources such as hotlines and online resources.