Addiction Counseling at Origins Recovery

Individual therapy, also known as psychotherapy or counseling, is a form of treatment where a person works one-on-one with a trained therapist to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The goal is to help the individual understand and resolve personal issues, improve emotional well-being, and develop coping strategies for life’s challenges.

Individual counseling is a versatile and effective treatment option for a wide range of issues, from mental health disorders to personal development and life transitions. Individual counseling can be used in both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where one or more therapists work with several individuals simultaneously. It is designed to provide a supportive environment where participants can share experiences, gain insights, and develop coping strategies with the help of both the therapist and fellow group members.

Group therapy is effective for a wide range of issues, including mental health disorders, addiction recovery, and personal development. It complements individual counseling by providing additional support and opportunities for growth in a communal setting. Group therapy can be included in dual diagnosis treatment, outpatient treatment, and inpatient programs.

Family therapy is a type of psychological counseling that helps family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. It is designed to address specific issues affecting the health and functioning of a family, such as major life transitions, mental health conditions, or relationship problems.

Family counseling involves multiple family members, although participants can vary. The focus is typically on the interactions and relationships between family members and substance abuse may have affected the family dynamics. There are a variety of approaches available and your therapist will determine what works best for each family.

Family therapy can be beneficial for families dealing with a wide range of issues, including marital problems, parent-child conflicts, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. It aims to create a healthier, more harmonious family dynamic. Family therapy is a staple of most treatment programs because building a support system is paramount to overall treatment success.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorders, particularly opioid addiction, that combines the use of FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies. The goal of MAT is to provide a “whole-patient” approach to treatment, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

Key Components of MAT:

• Medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone help with withdrawal symptoms.
• Counseling and behavioral therapies Individual therapy is a versatile and effective treatment option for a wide range of issues, from mental health disorders to personal development and life transitions.
• Comprehensive care includes additional support services such as case management, mental health services, and social support.

MAT is recognized as an effective treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders and is supported by numerous health organizations, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Typically you need to be enrolled in a more structured form of care, like inpatient treatment, to qualify for MAT. MAT is also typically offered as part of dual diagnosis treatment as well.

CBT helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. You’ll learn to spot negative thinking patterns that fuel addiction. CBT is based on the concept that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and that changing negative thought patterns can lead to changes in feelings and behaviors. Your therapist will teach you coping skills to deal with cravings and triggers. CBT sessions often involve:

• Exploring the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions
• Practicing new ways to respond to stress
• Setting goals and solving problems

CBT involves a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client, where they work together to identify distorted thinking patterns and develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving. This therapy can help with both substance abuse and mental health issues. Many people find CBT useful for managing anxiety, depression, and trauma alongside addiction.

DBT was created to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder but has since then been adapted to treat other mental health disorders and even in dual diagnosis treatment. DBT blends acceptance and change to help you cope with intense emotions. The therapy aims to help individuals build a life worth living by balancing acceptance and change, teaching clients to accept their experiences and emotions while also working towards positive behavioral changes. You’ll learn four key skills:

1. Mindfulness
2. Distress tolerance
3. Emotion regulation
4. Interpersonal effectiveness

DBT is typically delivered through a combination of individual counseling sessions, group skills training, and phone coaching, providing clients with comprehensive support. These tools can help you stay calm in tough situations and avoid using substances to cope. DBT works well for people who struggle with mood swings or self-harm. It can also improve your relationships and communication skills.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered counseling approach designed to enhance an individual’s motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. MI is particularly effective in addressing behaviors related to addiction, health management, and lifestyle changes. The technique is grounded in empathy and collaboration, focusing on the client’s reasons for change rather than imposing external motivations. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations, therapists help clients articulate their goals and the discrepancies between their current behaviors and desired outcomes.

The core principles of Motivational Interviewing include expressing empathy, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy. By expressing empathy, therapists create a safe and non-judgmental environment where clients feel understood and respected. Developing discrepancy involves helping clients recognize the gap between their current behaviors and their broader life goals, which can motivate change. Rolling with resistance means accepting client reluctance as a natural part of the change process, rather than confronting it directly. Finally, supporting self-efficacy involves reinforcing the client’s belief in their ability to change. This approach is effective in various settings, including healthcare, addiction treatment, and mental health counseling, by promoting lasting behavioral change through intrinsic motivation.

Trauma therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. It focuses on understanding the impact of trauma on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Trauma therapy employs various therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and somatic experiencing, to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional distress.

This form of counseling empowers individuals by helping them regain control over their lives and emotions, reducing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By addressing the root causes of trauma, therapy can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being and quality of life. Additionally, trauma therapy often involves building a strong therapeutic relationship, which can provide a sense of safety and support, further facilitating the healing process.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured approach designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic memories. Developed by Francine Shapiro, EMDR is based on the idea that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the brain, leading to ongoing psychological distress. The therapy involves several phases, starting with history taking and treatment planning, where the therapist gathers a comprehensive history of the client’s trauma and identifies specific memories to target. Preparation follows, where the therapist explains the EMDR process and teaches coping strategies to manage distress.

The benefits of EMDR therapy are significant, particularly for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions. It can lead to rapid and substantial reductions in distressing symptoms, allowing individuals to process traumatic memories without extensively discussing them. By reprocessing these memories, clients often experience improved emotional regulation, reduced anxiety and depression, and enhanced overall well-being.