How Psychotherapy Works

Psychotherapy is used to treat addiction because it is often successful. It works by helping patients work through their feelings, which influence their addiction. The person also talks to a therapist about what might be triggering them and how they can stop it in the future.

Although psychotherapy is a leading addiction treatment method, many people do not understand how it works. In this article, we answer the question, “how does psychotherapy work?”

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy focuses on the feelings, thoughts, and problems that trigger addiction. Everyone has triggers that influence their actions. In this case, a simple trigger can push someone struggling with addiction to use drugs, for example.

When a person talks to their therapist about their feelings, they are in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can help with:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Addiction

When a person has an addiction, they may enter psychotherapy to talk about the causes of their addiction and how to stop.

Psychotherapy can take place in several types of sessions. A therapist might meet with a person for individual therapy, once a week in which they talk about the addiction. They usually meet with two or three other people, who also attend therapy sessions. Individual psychotherapy can be done through phone calls or an in-person visit. Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which several people discuss their lives and how they deal with issues in their lives.

How Does Psychotherapy Work For Addiction

Psychotherapy works by helping people identify what triggers their addictive behavior, and then helping them to create a plan to avoid those situations. When they develop an addiction, it affects how they behave in certain situations. They have strong urges that can cause them to act out in a negative way. The truth is if you want to know how does psychotherapy work, the best way to find out is to experience it.

If a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they may want to completely stop. After they complete a treatment program, they will be able to avoid situations that cause them to act out in a negative way. The first step of psychotherapy for addiction is figuring out what triggers their behavior. The therapist can help them figure out what situations are risky for their addiction. This often involves writing down situations in which they might abuse drugs or alcohol.

Long Term Outcomes

The main goal of psychotherapy is to prevent the person from relapsing. If they do relapse, they can use their plan to avoid triggers in the future and get back to a healthier place. The person may not be able to completely avoid triggers, but they will be better prepared for when this happens.

There are several long-term benefits to psychotherapy for addiction:

• Reduced anxiety
• Increased ability to work
• Better overall health improvements

When looking at long-term outcomes, there are general questions that people seeking treatment have. Here are a few of the important questions.

Can Someone Stop Psychotherapy?

It is not recommended that someone stop psychotherapy entirely. Stopping therapy increases the chances of relapsing. Over time, a patient can reduce the number of sessions per week needed to maintain their positive health gains.

Is Psychotherapy Affordable?

Psychotherapy can be affordable and is recommended for long-term care. There are many ways to access psychotherapy at affordable rates. There are programs that can help patients get into psychotherapy no matter what their financial situations.

Should I Try Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is one of the most effective methods for treating addiction, so it is a good idea to try psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can help you find out what triggers your negative behavior and how to avoid them in the future. You will also learn how to recognize when your behavior becomes dangerous and find ways to cope with this before it leads to an addiction relapse. It is usually best to talk with a therapist once per week for several weeks, or up to two years total, depending on your needs.

For many people struggling with addiction, psychotherapy is an effective way to address it. Addiction cannot be cured, but psychotherapy helps people learn to manage it. With continued treatment, they can return to a healthier lifestyle. If you need help with addiction and want to try psychotherapy, contact Southeast Addiction Centers in Tennessee for confidential help.