Many treatment programs consider psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, a cornerstone of addiction treatment due to its inherent versatility. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Psychotherapy can be an alternative to medication or can be used with other treatment options, such as medications” to help clients manage the symptoms and side effects of substance use disorder (SUD). Newport Beach Recovery Center uses individual and group therapy alongside other evidence-based treatment methodologies.
Understanding Talk Therapy
Talk therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses guided discussions and other therapeutic techniques to provide you with emotional relief. Additionally, the modality helps you develop essential skills for achieving and maintaining positive mental health. Talk therapy can take many forms, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
- Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
Psychotherapy requires a collaborative relationship between the care team and the client — you. At Newport Beach Recovery Center, we assess every client to ensure you have a truly personalized treatment plan and periodically monitor your progress to ensure you feel comfortable with the direction of treatment.
Benefits of Talk Therapy
Your mental health will directly affect your treatment outcome. We personalize all individual and group therapy sessions at Newport Beach Recovery Center to ensure you have the best possible outcomes. Peer support is an essential part of our treatment. Group talk therapy provides a stabilizing influence and allows peers to interact with one another in a safe and controlled environment, discover shared goals, and heal together.
Talk therapy benefits you in the following ways:
- Allows you to better connect with your emotions
- Provides a safe space for processing trauma
- Increases self-awareness and self-efficacy
- Lowers stress and encourages positivity
- Helps identify and address issues related to your recovery
All of these benefits can help your recovery from SUD. They can also assist you if you have a dual diagnosis. Moreover, therapy offers you neurochemical and neural benefits.
Physical and Mental Health Rewards of Talk Therapy
Psychotherapy can cause noticeable changes in how various regions of the brain function. According to Frontiers in Psychology, CBT and other forms of psychotherapy can lead to “long lasting, reproducible changes in emotion, cognition, behavior, and somatic symptoms across a range of mood and other psychological disorders.” Talk therapy can lower the risk of relapse by decreasing stress and limiting the adverse effect of chemical changes in the brain associated with SUD.
Activities and Exercises Used in Talk Therapy
Everyone responds differently to treatment, and we use comprehensive assessments to determine what therapeutic modality will work best for each client. For the best results, we implement a collaborative, person-focused approach to treatment. We want to ensure all clients feel accepted, validated, safe, and supported during rehabilitation. Additionally, we may combine multiple methodologies during therapy sessions to achieve a specific goal.
Some standard exercises and activities you may encounter during talk therapy include:
- Identifying, analyzing, and challenging your irrational thoughts or behaviors
- Practicing mindfulness and meditation to restore and strengthen your mind-body connection
- Exposing yourself to uncomfortable thoughts or feelings to allow for reprocessing of traumatic events
- Learning breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques that reduce your stress, anxiety, and depression
- Avoiding confrontation or re-traumatization through alternative talk therapy methods like EMDR
Therapists and counselors use the tools at their disposal to tailor treatment plans and therapy sessions to the unique needs of each client. Everyone has different motivations and goals for their recovery. We will use whatever talk therapy method aligns best with your desired outcome.
Why Talk Therapy Works
The techniques used in talk therapy are effective because they open up a dialogue and challenge irrational or maladaptive beliefs. Recovering from SUD requires healthy lifestyle changes and the ability to maintain positive mental health. Your emotional and physical well-being depends on your ability to cope with stressors and establish coping skills. Talk therapy can improve those essential skills. Mental health professionals will provide you with an emotional tool kit that helps you overcome challenges. Psychotherapy can also improve objectivity and problem-solving skills, allowing you to work through issues you encounter more quickly during treatment and aftercare.
Continuing Talk Therapy During Aftercare
Many people find talk therapy incredibly helpful and continue to attend individual or group sessions during aftercare. Psychotherapy can reduce the risk of relapse in your early recovery and assist with the transition from structured treatment to independent sobriety. You may want to consider making it a central part of your aftercare. This is especially true if you want to acclimate smoothly and maintain abstinence after completing rehabilitation. Therapists can play a significant role in the support system you build to support your ongoing recovery.
Talk therapy is an important tool for overcoming issues related to substance use disorder. Research has shown that psychotherapy can effectively treat SUD and related mental health disorders when used alongside medication and other supportive treatments. Talk therapy provides a safe and judgment-free space where you can talk about your thoughts, feelings, and goals for treatment and recovery. The wide range of methodologies ensures that there is a form of talk therapy to address trauma and other issues that you may struggle with during treatment and recovery. Our team uses talk therapy alongside a range of other treatments to ensure you have the best outcome possible. We believe that everyone who attends treatment can benefit from attending some form of talk therapy. To learn more about Newport Beach Recovery Center and the various therapies we have to offer, call our office today at (855) 316-8740.
