Addictions are treatable diseases, but they do require additional support, like psychotherapy, in order for the addict to stay sober. Effective counselors develop an understanding of the addictive behaviors that occur as a result of the patient’s upbringing and the effects of these behaviors on the addict’s ability to function in life. Here are some ways that therapy can help an addict stay sober.
Creating a Plan of Action
In order to maintain sobriety, an addict may work with a therapist to create a plan of action to help the addict deal with the addiction. This treatment plan outlines the steps that the therapist will take to help the addict achieve sustained sobriety. Each step is designed to help patients avoid relapse, manage cravings, increase their capacity to handle stress, and learn coping skills that help them prevent a relapse.
Practicing New Skills
Maintaining sobriety requires the addict to learn new coping skills. The therapist will work with the patient to identify and practice coping skills that allow the addict to manage stress in a healthy way. In many cases the patient may have maladies that may have contributed to the compulsion.
For example, stress may have been caused by an unfulfilling job or life, an absent parent, an insecure home life, or even a victim’s history. In this case, the therapist would help the addict come up with new coping behaviors to deal with stress.
Managing Stress
A therapist can work with this patient to identify the patient’s potential stressors that can cause substance abuse. In many cases the stress and suffering that patients may experience is a result of them not knowing how to stop or quit their addiction. However, a therapist can work with them to create a recovery plan that will help the addict manage stress.
Prescribe Medication
For some patients, the effects of the addiction are severe, and if this is the case, the therapist can prescribe medications. For example, a therapist can prescribe some medication that helps to reduce cravings. This type of treatment can take a while to master, but the long lasting effects are undeniable, and can be effective in curing addictions and preventing relapse.
There are many options for addiction treatment, including counseling. This helps the addict to change his thought process, as well as behavior. Counseling can be considered as an option for all addiction, given the number of benefits the patient gets from therapy.