Last Updated:
December 1st, 2023
Therapies
Recovery is a process of moving into new and uncharted territory, leaving what we know behind and embarking on a journey towards wellness. This process can induce a lot of anxiety in people, as making the decision to abandon our familiarity is not an easy task.
“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful parts of us.” – David Richo
There are a wide variety of approaches to recovery, with therapy remaining one of the most common methods for treating addiction. But why is it so popular? On this page, we will provide an overview of rehab therapy, explaining what it is and why it is such a valuable tool on the road to life-long recovery.
What is therapy?
Therapy is a form of treatment which aims to help people work through and overcome their issues in a safe and controlled environment. Typically, you would meet with a therapist to address problematic behaviours, beliefs or feelings that may be causing you harm or distress. While each person’s experience with rehab therapy is going to be different, there is a great deal of discussion involved, and the client will have an opportunity to talk through any goals or expectations that they might have for treatment over the course of their sessions.
The purpose of therapy for addiction
We firmly believe that therapy is a crucial step to recovery, as it allows you – and loved ones in family therapy – to get support from professionals trained to deal with the more psychological aspects of their addiction. It is important to remember that addiction is a chronic medical condition, one which leads to compulsive and self-destructive behaviours, despite the risk of damage to our health. Recovery is not as simple as quitting the behaviour; it is a process that requires a great deal of effort and understanding to maintain.
Addiction therapy – also knows as addiction counselling – helps to facilitate life-long sobriety as it tackles the root causes of addiction so that you can better understand your condition. There is a wide range of rehab therapies available to those suffering from addiction, with some aimed to directly address the more practical elements of sobriety, such as coping mechanisms to prevent relapse, and others more centred on reflection, with the client working to recognise the unhealthy thought patterns that may have led their addiction to develop.
How does therapy blend into our programme?
Therapy provides an outlet to truly face up to addiction, addressing the fundamental reasons why these behaviours began in the first place, which is essential to the recovery process. This is because addiction is not caused by alcohol or drugs – it is a coping mechanism for deeper issues for which drugs and alcohol provide temporary relief.
Here at Primrose Lodge, we believe that rehab therapy has a huge potential for healing, and addressing the cause of your behaviour is not simply a short-term fix but a long-term solution. Using the most effective therapeutic models, we see addiction counselling as essential to our treatment programme.
Therapy comes in many forms
There are many different types of rehab therapies, and it is not simply contained to one specific approach. At our facility, we believe that everyone’s relationship with addiction is unique and specific to them, which is why we incorporate a range of therapeutic models for them to work through, customising our programmes to suit each of our clients’ individual needs. For example:
12-Step therapy
The 12-step therapy method allows you to join other addicts on the journey to self-acceptance and fulfilment.
Art therapy
Art therapy serves as a channel for the client to express themselves openly without the need to do so verbally
CBT
Cognitive behavioural therapy identifies and challenges the negative thought patterns which led the addiction to develop
DBT
Dialectical behavioural therapy is for identifying disruptive and unhelpful thinking and helping clients to shift their perspectives.
Group therapy
Group therapy works to foster friendships and connections in those who may feel isolated as a result of their addiction.
Gong bath therapy
Gong bath therapy is a therapy that focusses on the effectiveness of sound in enhancing physical and mental wellbeing.
Holistic therapy
Holistic therapy focuses on the individual in their entirety, incorporating methods to recognise all aspects of their wellbeing.
Individual therapy
Individual therapy helps our clients to build close relationships with a counsellor and address any problems in a safe space.
Meditation
Therapeutic meditation is used to find comfort and peace within ourselves, rather than from external influences.
Mindfulness therapy
One of the most effective ways to release ourselves from stifled emotions is to practise mindfulness therapy.
Trauma therapy
For those who have experienced distressing incidents which require more specific and immediate attention.
Benefits of therapy
Therapy has plenty of benefits, which include:
Gaining a new perspective…
By looking inward and challenging some negative thinking that may have led the addiction to develop, we can then adopt new approaches and new attitudes to life that can make all the difference on our recovery journey.
Finding solutions not just in ourselves but through others…
Addiction can be a very lonely and hopeless affliction, and without the right support, it can seem impossible to navigate alone. We believe that community is not just beneficial but essential to recovery, as it offers hope and comfort to others during trying times.
Reducing the risk of relapse…
Therapy does not just target the negative attitudes that contributed to the addiction but also works in finding practical ways to approach recovery after having left our facility.
It helps us to understand more about ourselves…
Therapy helps us to understand how our minds work. It teaches us about the inner strength which we never knew we had, building self-esteem and confidence to truly reach our full potential.
Agreeing to seek help might at first seem daunting, but our dedicated team of skilled professionals has every tool necessary to make this journey as comfortable and natural as possible. From one of our therapists at Primrose Lodge:
“Addiction affects everything. It is like a darkness, a cloud which hangs over all aspects of our day-to-day lives. We may not recognise it, but addiction compromises our very existence. While it is possible to overcome, addiction requires a huge shift to truly see the other side. This is where therapy can really give you the resources to come out of that darkness, into the light.”
If you are interested in treatment for your addiction but unsure of the next steps to take moving forward, contact us today and talk to one of our well-trained advisors.
Frequently asked questions
