The Importance of Couples Therapy During Recovery
Addiction to drugs or alcohol is a serious issue that affects not only the addict but also those around them, particularly their close relationships. Couples addiction is not uncommon due to various factors such as the influence of friends and family, underlying mental health issues, and life stressors. Due to couples having similar interests, they are more likely to experiment with substances together. Addiction is always challenging, but when there are two addicts involved the situation becomes exacerbated.
Dealing with an addiction as a couple can have a huge impact on the relationship. Both partners may feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and helpless as they try to manage their addiction while maintaining the relationship. In many cases, this can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and resentment. The stress of addiction can also lead to a lack of trust, communication problems, and instability in the relationship.
If you and your partner have decided to seek help for your addiction, it is crucial to seek professional help. The likelihood of one or both of you relapsing is extremely high if only one of you receives professional assistance for your addiction through rehab.
Couples therapy can be a powerful tool for couples dealing with addiction, as it can help to strengthen communication between partners, rebuild trust, and heal any emotional damage that may have occurred due to the addiction, as well as develop effective coping strategies to manage cravings.
The Impact of Addiction
Addiction is a complex disorder that goes far beyond simply liking or using drugs or alcohol and can have a devastating impact on couples who are both addicts.
Communication is often one of the first areas to suffer as addiction causes individuals to be less attentive to the needs and emotions of their partner. As communication deteriorates so does the level of trust in the relationship, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment. Decreased intimacy and distance can also be seen, as the person struggling with addiction often finds themselves unable to express affection or connect with their partner on a deeper level.
As the addicted partner is often less likely to express their feelings in a healthy manner, increased conflict can occur, leading to arguments in a hostile manner which can even escalate to forms of domestic violence.
At Newport Beach Recovery Center, we have a team of experienced and compassionate therapists who specialize in treatment for couples that helps them rebuild their relationships and move beyond destructive cycles. Through a series of individual and couples counseling sessions at our rehab center, our therapists can help couples learn better communication and conflict resolution skills so that they can address their issues and work together to create a healthier, more trusting, and intimate relationship.
Benefits of Couples Therapy
Improving Communication Skills
Couples therapy helps couples enhance their relationship by assisting them to better understand and manage their emotions, be more mindful of their communication styles, and practice healthier conflict resolution skills to provide a safe space to explore difficult topics within their relationship.
Rebuilding Trust
Trust is the foundation of any relationship, and rebuilding it after a breach can be challenging. Couples therapy offers couples a space to talk through difficult issues, increase understanding and empathy, identify patterns in communication and behavior that may be detrimental to the relationship, learn how to manage disagreements effectively, express feelings without attacking or blaming each other, and set healthy boundaries and expectations.
Increasing Intimacy
Once trust is rebuilt, couples can use therapy to foster a deeper connection and sense of intimacy in their relationship. They can explore past experiences, emotions, and beliefs that may be hindering them from feeling close to each other and work together to develop a shared vision for the future of their relationship.
Managing Triggers and Stressors
Our couples therapy rehabilitation center at Newport Beach Recovery Center will assist recovering addicts to manage the triggers and stressors that could lead them to relapse. It will provide a safe, nonjudgmental environment for recovering addicts to discuss their experiences and concerns with substance use disorders, and their plan for maintaining sobriety for the long term.
Therapy and Treatment
Individual and Joint Therapy Sessions
There are various treatment programs provided at a couples drug rehab facility. Just because you enter couples therapy together, it does not mean that both parties receive the same treatment. Treatment centers, such as ours at Newport Beach Recovery Center, provide individual counseling and joint therapy sessions.
Individual therapy is often the first line of treatment for a recovering addict. It can be used to address personal issues that might have contributed to the development of substance use disorders. It is beneficial for individuals to meet with their therapists one-on-one in order to openly and honestly discuss any underlying issues that may be affecting their recovery process.
Joint therapy sessions provide an opportunity for the individual to learn from and support one another in their collective efforts to stay on track with their recovery.
Identifying Underlying Issues and Developing a Plan
Through rehab treatment, recovering addicts can identify any underlying issues and discuss the circumstances of their lives that led them to the path of addiction. They can work together with their therapist in a safe and secure environment to develop a plan for maintaining sobriety as well as support their partner’s journey to recovery. During these sessions, a therapist works with the patient to develop an individualized addiction treatment plan that can include behavioral couples therapy (BCT) techniques.
Exercises and Activities to Improve Communication and Understanding
In addition to traditional therapy, exercises, and activities are used at the rehab for couples to improve communication and understanding. Activities such as role-playing, trust-building, and problem-solving can help strengthen a patient’s emotional intelligence. These activities can be used to help people become more self-aware, understand their emotions, and find healthy ways to manage them.
Newport Beach Recovery Center offers a variety of couples therapy rehab treatment programs, including couples living facilities through our partners, as well as couples therapy for both inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Enroll in Our Therapy Programs
Our couples rehab programs are designed to help both individuals in the relationship gain a better understanding of their own behavior and the role they play in the relationship, while also providing strategies to help them become more effective communicators and work toward healthier interactions.
Don’t wait. Start your journey toward a stronger bond, healthier relationship, and better life with Newport Beach Recovery Center today!
