Addiction Counselling

Entering addiction recovery presents challenges for both the body and mind. The detoxification process will help you get through physical pains, but what of the psychological turmoil that can make you more likely to relapse?

Addiction counselling programmes are designed to soothe the devastating psychological symptoms and emotional hurdles in recovery. This help guide lays out the different types of counselling available to support you on the journey to lasting sobriety.

What is addiction counselling?

The process of addiction counselling involves learning about the ways a substance addiction has affected your brain. This is because long-term substance abuse and addiction affect your brain’s neuroplasticity and “hard-wire” your mind to continue fueling the addiction. Counselling and therapy then help you take steps to unlearn these negative behaviours and re-learn new, healthy coping mechanisms that support breaking free from addictive behaviours.

Oftentimes, addiction counsellors are people who have been or are currently in recovery themselves. While it may not be a prerequisite that an addiction counsellor must have been through treatment, it can often make them more relatable and better understand the extent of a recovering person’s pain. A recovering addiction counsellor may indeed see helping others as an endeavour that fulfills reinforces their own determination to stay clean.

What’s the difference between addiction counselling and therapy?

Generally speaking, the process of addiction counselling is similar to addiction therapy. However, counselling can differ in the scope of treatment. Counselling usually focuses on more specific, short-term issues faced in the here and now. Therapy is often longer, more in-depth and involved with addressing past experiences and relationships as contributors to addiction.

What are the different types of addiction counselling?

As you search for counselling to help with addiction treatment, many options can present themselves. An addiction counsellor will ask you questions about your life experiences to suggest the best approach, including your childhood, life skills, health conditions, family dynamics and stressors like finances or legal concerns.

Some of the more commonly used counselling methods and therapies include:

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy is frequently used in addiction counselling to focus on reducing problematic thoughts and behaviours that lead to substance abuse. It is one of the most well-researched forms of treatment with an abundance of supporting literature.

CBT can be particularly helpful for treating people with a substance use disorder (SUD), helping people develop operant learning strategies and recognising that their view on life may be hindered by “cognitive distortions.” Some research indicates that 60% of people receiving CBT in addiction counselling were able to maintain recovery for a year afterwards.

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is often used by addiction counsellors to help recovering people develop concrete skills to use when urges feel overwhelming. The root of the word “dialectical” means “concerned with two opposing forces.” DBT promotes this philosophy in the opposites of acceptance and change; acceptance of the client as they are and the need to push for positive change.

DBT was first developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) and to help people with suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm. It has since been found to be effective for treating substance use disorders (SUDs) as well as eating and mood disorders. DBT primarily focuses on four major skills to help with overwhelming stress. These are:

• Mindfulness: The skill of being in the present.
• Distress tolerance: Reducing how intensely you react to distress.
• Interpersonal effectiveness: Improving the way you relate to others.
• Emotional regulation: Recognising and controlling your emotions.

Motivational interviewing (MI)

For people in recovery who deeply struggle with motivation and self-worth, motivational interviewing can be an effective counselling style. MI is rooted in the philosophy that the most important and lasting change comes from within. Emphasis is placed on helping a person find a source of motivation from inside themselves, rather than being an output of the counsellor.

MI focuses on four main processes, which are:

• Engagement: The first step that helps build a trusting and open relationship between client and counsellor.
• Focusing: A deep focus is used to help the client find their own motivations and reasons for change.
• Evoking: The most critical step, MI counsellors use reflections and open questions to evoke “change talk” and explore the client’s motivations and needs.
• Planning: This is sometimes seen as the only step that isn’t pre-requisite in MI. The trust established earlier and the process of evoking changes may mean that the client is ready to make improvements by themselves.

Trauma-informed therapy

Trauma-informed therapy helps a person consider how trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have led to and continue to drive a person’s substance addiction. Trauma-informed therapy takes into account the impact trauma has on the autonomic nervous system. It helps patients focus on managing symptoms of psychological stress as they recover and reduces the likelihood of re-traumatisation as they are treated.

Healing from trauma can take away its power. Trauma often has a dark influence on a person’s attempt at recovery. As a person starts to detox, thinking eventually becomes clearer, and at this point, it may be critical to tackle trauma before it resurfaces.

Holistic and alternative therapies

In addition to traditional counselling practices and “talk therapies,” there are many holistic practices that support a person’s complete recovery. Not everyone will be open to expressing themselves to a therapist and can find it more therapeutic to have a different outlet.

These treatments focus on treating the whole person, including their physical, emotional and even spiritual well-being. Some counselling services include meditation, yoga, acupuncture, music, painting and equine therapy. A holistic approach can directly help a recovering person find and develop activities that are deeply meaningful to them, strengthening their overall recovery journey.

The importance of taking the first step in counselling

If you’re considering which addiction counselling is right for your recovery journey, take time to reflect deeply. The right kind of counselling can help you to develop key coping mechanisms and strategies to prevent a relapse.

Addiction counsellors excel at listening to their clients compassionately and empathetically. It can be easy in recovery to let your negative thoughts run rampant, but denying counselling may be turning your back on the help you need. See the first conversation as a completely safe space where your deepest thoughts and worries can be safely brought to light. The addiction counsellor will be ready to help you and your loved ones stay resilient throughout recovery and beyond.

Where can I find help for my addiction?

If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction, please know that you’re not alone. There are support systems with counselling services available to help you break free from the confines of addiction and return to a healthy life.

Here at Oasis Bradford, we specialise in comprehensive detox programmes for alcohol and drug addiction. Contact us today and see what therapy and counselling options we can offer you.