When battling an addiction, the thought of reclaiming your life can seem impossible. Yet everyone deserves the opportunity to live a life that is free of restraints, and this includes the hold that drugs and alcohol place on us. Even though inpatient recovery can be highly effective, research shows us that engaging in detoxification and residential treatment is not enough to stop the cycle of drug and alcohol dependence. Therapy plays an important role in recovery and is needed long after treatment.
Types of Therapy
There are many different types of therapy available to recovering addicts, including individual, family and group therapy. At The River Source, we integrate all three types of therapy into our program. We believe that therapy is the foundation of healthy recovery and allows the patient to come face to face with their inner demons, which are often a precursor to the addiction.
Individual therapy or psychotherapy is between the patient and a therapist. River Source patients spend a great deal of time in the early weeks of treatment discussing their past and how it may have played a role in the addiction. What we hope to achieve is that the patient has insight as to why they turned to drugs and alcohol to mask their feelings. When this enlightenment is reached, the patient can move forward and learn coping mechanisms they can use in the future to stop the patterns of abuse.
Family therapy is also an integral part of the River Source recovery program, and we offer this therapy over the phone or in person with family members. Once the patient has begun to understand themselves, they are ready to communicate with their family in a constructive manner. Having a neutral party in the room helps the family stay on task and work through their struggles without pointing fingers, placing blame or making hurtful comments.
Group therapy is a wonderful opportunity for recovering addicts to meet others just like them. Our counselors find that when a patient opens up, listens to someone else’s story and takes the time to understand their struggles, they experience a type of breakthrough. Addicts are often so wrapped up in their own addiction, they fail to see anyone else. Group therapy allows these individuals to take the focus off themselves and be compassionate to others once again.
The Importance of Therapy
No one therapy is more beneficial than the other; that is why The River Source incorporates a variety of therapies into our program so that our patients experience total recovery. Addiction is a power struggle for the addict and their family. Addiction kills. It kills the body, it kills relationships and it kills the joy in life. No one wants to be addicted; no one chooses to be an addict.
While we still do not fully understand all the reasons for why a person goes down this path, we do understand that the genetic predisposition of the individual, past life experiences and the environment all play a role in the onset of addiction. Therapy is what works on all of these factors to restore a person mentally, physically and spiritually.
Furthermore, it’s important to note that addicts and their families cannot go on this journey alone. Recovery is almost impossible to beat without the help of a professional, and at The River Source, there are naturopathic doctors, detox staff, counselors and life coaches that work together to create the best response. Some staff has even been through addiction themselves and can offer a familiar hand down the road of recovery.
Why Many Recovered Addicts Continue to Need Recovery
Many recovering addicts only attend rehabilitation in Arizona for one month. Unfortunately, this is not enough to fully cure the addiction. In fact, an individual is never really cured of the disease, and relapse is always a concern. That is why it’s essential that recovered addicts still make time for therapy. Therapy continues to keep these individuals on the right path. It allows them to continue working on their inner struggles and to utilize the coping mechanisms they learned in treatment.
It takes time for an addict to peel back the layers and have a deeper understanding of their addiction. Therapy provides continued insight and uncovers the mental and emotional causes for the dependency. Most recovering addicts choose to partake in individual therapy after treatment, but they also benefit from continued peer and family support. As the treatment for any chronic disease, therapy is a lifelong ingredient that is needed to fight the patterns of drug and alcohol abuse.
To learn more about the therapies offered at The River Source, contact us at 866-294-9331.
