8 Most Common Types of Therapy for Alcoholism: What to Know

Addiction, like alcohol addiction or alcoholism, will often require counseling and therapy

Addiction, like alcohol addiction or alcoholism, will often require counseling and therapy. The stages and types of therapy for alcoholism assist people with an addiction in understanding the reasons behind their addiction. Therapy provides you with the techniques to prevent relapse, and you also learn ways to handle situations that might typically lead you to use substances. By collaborating with addiction therapists, they encourage you and help you acquire abilities that make the recovery process simpler.

Various factors cause addiction to happen. The primary reasons are factors related to genetics and the environment. Your genetic composition can make you more inclined to be compulsive, or some behaviors might be naturally present. Life experiences can lead to the development of disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder. Individuals who have experienced such trauma often resort to alcoholism to alleviate their distress.

When it comes to the types of therapy for alcoholism, there is a wide range of therapies and treatment methods available to aid in recovering from alcohol addiction. This is because addiction varies for each person.

Identifying the Stages of Alcoholism:

Types of Therapy for Alcoholism

It’s typical to classify alcohol dependence based on these stages of drinking alcohol:

  • Stage 0 (zero): Drinking small amounts of alcohol situationally or accidentally without any physical or physiological dependence but with mild psychological dependence. Generally, a person loses or has little interest in consuming alcohol in the future. This stage is risky, as under some conditions, there is a potential loss of control over drinking and a transition to the next stage of alcohol use disorder.
  • Stage 1: Mental reliance on alcohol. The main features include a strong craving to consume alcohol, anticipation and planning for drinking, increasing the amount consumed, and losing the body’s response (nausea) to too much alcohol use.
  • Stage 2: Developing physical and mental reliance on alcohol. Key characteristics include the inability to quit drinking alcohol caused by hormonal issues, hangover symptoms alleviated by more alcohol, binge drinking, and alcohol-induced psychosis.
  • Stage 3: Physiological changes – severe addiction. Notable signs: reduced or no ability to resist alcohol, unselective drinking of alcohol, complete physical addiction, and mental health issues – decline in personality, permanent harm to the central nervous system, brain, digestive system, blood circulation, and other organs, resulting in death.

Alcoholism treatment can be initiated at any of these stages, but achieving results is generally easier in the earlier stages.

Symptoms you should watch out for include increasing and large amounts of alcohol consumption, hangovers, and, consequently, nausea, higher blood pressure, shaking limbs, aggressive behavior, depression, binge drinking, and loss of memory.

When to Seek Help for Alcohol Addiction

There are signs that indicate when it's time to seek help

Many people use alcohol in social settings, making warning signs of alcoholism difficult to detect. The severity of a person’s alcohol addiction may also influence the type of warning signs they exhibit. Mild alcohol use may not present any signs but can progress to something dangerous if not controlled. People with an alcohol problem may also try to conceal their condition by drinking alone or isolating themselves from friends and loved ones.

You know it’s time to seek help for alcohol addiction when you notice one or more of the following signs:

  • You experience intense cravings or a strong desire to use alcohol.
  • You are drinking more alcohol than intended.
  • You spend a great deal of time drinking or dealing with the aftereffects of drinking.
  • You have tried multiple times to stop or cut down on alcohol use without success.
  • You are developing tolerance to alcohol (needing to drink much more to get the same effects)
  • Your drinking affects your productivity at work, school, or home.
  • You continue to use alcohol despite attendant social and interpersonal problems.
  • You give up or cut back on hobbies or activities you once found interesting because of alcohol.
  • You often find yourself in risky situations due to drinking alcohol, like driving, swimming, or using machinery.
  • You continue to drink even when it makes you depressed or anxious or leads to another health problem.
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms when you decide to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption.

What is Alcohol Rehabilitation?

The initial phase in every alcohol recovery program involves detoxification, which typically spans about 3 to 7 days. This procedure assists a patient in clearing out their system of any remaining alcohol and its harmful effects, letting medical professionals address the body in a safe, clinical manner.

Medications are frequently utilized in this process to assist in minimizing the painful impacts of alcohol withdrawal and to address headaches, fevers, and any other health issues that may arise. Once the detoxification phase is complete, the rehabilitation phase will commence. Alcohol rehab includes addiction therapy, mental health counseling, family therapy services, and a broad range of additional treatments.

What are the Types of Therapy for Alcoholism?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment; however, addiction therapy is evidence base and is effective in helping individuals during their recovery journeys. Here are the different types of therapy and other treatments that are used as part of a comprehensive addiction recovery plan.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a behavioral treatment that helps teach practical coping skills that individuals who are dealing with alcohol addiction can use in their daily lives to prevent a relapse. Techniques highlighted in CBT include evaluating behavior’s positive and negative outcomes and examining the impact of actions before taking them. In the recovery field, this concept is commonly called “playing the tape through.” This skill is crucial to develop, as numerous people struggling with addiction have never previously thought about the consequences of their actions.

This behavioral treatment highlights the behavioral elements related to maintaining sobriety, recognizing urges and scenarios that could lead to relapse, and assisting in developing methods to handle those cravings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is commonly utilized to address addictions to alcohol and is also applied in real-world settings to manage depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) focuses on the world’s interrelatedness and how every aspect impacts and influences it. This view is based on the dialectic approach to philosophy.

Talk therapy in individual or group settings helps participants find ways to focus on the present while practicing open, honest communication and emotion management. The desired result of DBT is to find a mental balance and peace, which will then allow the four main strategies to help alleviate daily stress.

The four strategies central to DBT are as follows:

  • Distress tolerance
  • Emotion regulation
  • Core mindfulness
  • Interpersonal effectiveness

The Twelve-Step Approach

A survey showed how effective the Twelve-Step approach is

The twelve-step approach, which includes Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholic Anonymous, and other stems, is a staple of long-term recovery. There have been contradictions between the efficacies of the 12-step program as it’s dependent on every individual.

A 2007 survey said 33% of members stayed sober for over ten years. This seems promising, but 31% of people mentioned they could only remain sober for less than a year. It might be an effective method to sustain sobriety when combined with other approaches and therapies.

One of the main things a person with an addiction will require is support. The twelve-step program does offer that. Your success will involve your willingness to participate. Go to meetings regularly and talk about your feelings and experiences.

Psychotherapy

The main difference between psychotherapy and other therapy options is that it is designed to be long-term and focus on all different aspects of a person’s psyche.

Unlike counseling, which is usually meant to help a person overcome a particular issue using only one type of therapeutic approach, psychotherapy can involve all the different options as needed over several years.

Psychotherapy sessions are standard, with the psychiatrist asking questions to help prompt introspection. Talk therapy can cover day-to-day events, lifetime struggles, and everything.

There are also several formats, including one-on-one, group, and instances where family members are brought in to address dysfunctions or miscommunications if desired.

The primary goal of psychotherapy is to create a sense of fulfillment, contentment, and happiness within the individual while also helping them increase willpower, confidence, and appropriate reactions.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is often used in conjunction with other modes of therapy. This motivational enhancement treatment is meant to provide a place for brief but intense treatment for the following areas:

  • Development of self-efficacy
  • Development of discrepancy
  • Rolling with resistance
  • Expressing empathy

MI is a talk-based therapy usually conducted one-on-one. It is prevalent among rehab facilities because it helps create a sense of empowerment.

For people who are overcoming addiction, self-doubt and self-loathing are often very strong, and MI is an excellent way to work through those feelings to reach a place of confidence.

Spousal and Family Counseling

Family members experience the impacts of alcoholism deeply, and they play a crucial role in your recovery journey. We provide education to spouses and family members on the best ways to support you effectively. Sometimes, family members might unintentionally enable you or hide the signs of abuse.

Our exceptionally skilled staff guides your family in understanding that denial only worsens addiction and that you need to face the real consequences of your abuse.

Individual and Group Therapy

An addiction treatment center allows clients to learn and grow individually and in groups. A therapist directs the sessions and conversation in each environment. In these therapy sessions, clients will develop the effective coping strategies they need to keep their sobriety over the long term.

One-on-one therapy effectively motivates individuals to talk about personal matters they might not be comfortable sharing in a group setting. Likewise, support groups offer chances to assist others while gaining valuable perspectives from those present in the group.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing was first created in the late 1980s to help clients with PTSD. Because trauma and substance use disorders are frequently connected, EMDR is also a useful method for helping people who struggle with alcohol addiction.

EMDR is created to assist clients in processing and dealing with traumatic memories, experiences, and emotions while substituting negative images linked to the trauma with positive beliefs. For instance, if a client endures a terrible accident, they might turn to drug and alcohol abuse to manage the anxiety tied to those memories. Instead, EMDR can aid the individual in linking those memories with positive thoughts like, “I am strong and capable of overcoming such an event.”

Dual Diagnosis for Mental Health Problems and Alcohol Addiction

For individuals dealing with both addiction issues and mental health concerns, alcohol abuse and addiction treatment programs offer dual diagnosis care. With dual diagnosis care, a treatment expert can evaluate both your addiction issues and your mental health condition to create the appropriate treatment plan. Common disorders associated with alcoholism include anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.

Dual diagnosis assists clients in identifying the root causes of addiction, which frequently arise from mental health issues. If the effort is only on stopping addiction without the proper mental health care they need, the client is very likely to experience a relapse. That is why it is crucial to address both mental health problems and addiction thoroughly.

Inpatient and Outpatient Alcohol Addiction Treatment Services

Treatment programs provide various options

Not every person entering an addiction treatment center has to stay at a facility with a care provider around the clock, 24/7. Treatment programs provide various options like partial hospitalization programs, residential treatment, or intensive outpatient programs to suit different levels of addiction. If you find yourself unable to manage your cravings and require continuous, 24-hour care, you might consider residential or partial hospitalization programs that enable you to concentrate on your recovery.

However, if you are able to manage your addiction on your own while still receiving professional help, outpatient treatment options are also available. You can obtain the assistance you need while fulfilling your commitments to your family, work, or personal responsibilities.

How to Get Started with Alcohol Addiction Treatment

The most effective method to begin addressing alcohol addiction is by reaching out to a local alcohol rehab facility or care provider. An addiction treatment expert can sit down with you to talk about your addiction, respond to your queries, and review various treatment choices. The appropriate program offers strategies for lasting recovery and reduced risk of relapse.

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