Substance abuse refers to the excessive use of drugs that has addictive potential and alcohol that leads to negative consequences in a person’s overall health and well-being. It is a growing concern among people of all ages and backgrounds in the US.
Behavioral therapies or behavior therapy plays a significant role in the treatment of substance abuse. In this article, we will talk about common behavioral therapies for substance abuse and how these therapies work to help people with substance abuse.
Common Behavioral Therapies for Substance Abuse
Some common behavior therapies that have made a world of difference in the treatment of substance abuse include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
As the most commonly employed therapy for substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify their negative and unhealthy thought patterns and behavior that lead to substance abuse.
It is also focused on strategies to manage cravings and develop effective coping skills.
Contingency Management (CM)
This therapy involves rewarding individuals for meeting specific goals, such as abstaining from substance abuse. The aim is to motivate them to maintain abstinence from substance abuse by providing rewards.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational interviewing involves empathic conversation of the individual with the therapist to enhance the individual’s motivation and commitment to change.
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
This therapy combines CBT with mindfulness practices to help individuals who abuse substances and, at the same time, face difficulty managing their emotions.
A couple and Family Treatment
This treatment involves treating individuals in the context of their family and social systems where substance use can happen or continue. Couple and family treatment aims to improve relationship dynamics, enhance communication in families and create a supportive environment for substance abuse recovery.
How Do Behavioral Therapies Help People with Substance Abuse?
Behavioral therapies help focus on changing patterns of behaviors that contribute to substance abuse and promote healthy behaviors.
Therapists work with individuals to identify the triggers that contribute to or reinforce substance abuse. They collaborate with individuals to develop a treatment plan that consists of specific, achievable steps and goals focused on reducing or eliminating substance abuse. The therapies also enable individuals to unlearn maladaptive behaviors and learn better coping skills (e.g., practical skills to cope with stress, craving, and other triggers for substance use) and problem-solving skills.
What’s more? Behavioral therapies also help individuals learn and develop strategies to prevent relapse and maintain long-term recovery.
Addiction Treatment in Richmond, VA and Surrounding Area
Behavioral therapies are highly effective in the treatment of substance abuse, especially when offered along with other treatments like medications.
At EPIC Health Partners, our highly skilled and compassionate therapists offer Addiction Recovery and Treatment Services (ARTS) program to help people with moderate to severe substance abuse disorders. Our therapists offer the ARTS program as an outpatient program during which they may combine behavioral therapies with suboxone treatment and other therapies to help achieve the best possible treatment outcomes.
If you would like to make an appointment with one of our therapists, call us today at (434) 835-4601, or use our convenient online Request an Appointment form.
