When you or a family member struggles with substance abuse, life can seem unbearable at times, but there are many options to help you or your loved one get through the difficult transition from drug addiction to a sober life. Individual counseling can be a key part of the therapy you will need to truly make a change in your life. Denver Recovery Center offers this type of therapy, alongside many others to help you on your journey to sobriety.
According to the American Psychological Association, at least one member in nearly half of all American households sought out mental health services this year alone. If you or a loved one are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction and you feel individual therapy may benefit your situation, you are not alone.
Oftentimes, simply admitting that you have a problem is the first step in a journey towards recovery. Once you have made that initial effort, recovery is best achieved by combining multiple types of therapy. Individual counseling can be an important part of drug rehab treatment.
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Table of Contents
What is Individual Counseling?
Individual professional counseling is a term used to identify any type of therapy that is conducted one-on-one between a counselor and the patient. This type of private format allows the patient to open up to their counselor and makes the patient the sole focus of the session.
A common misbelief about substance abuse is that a person with an addiction chooses to use drugs or alcohol and simply lacks the willpower to quit and get sober. The truth is that for many people the addiction is a secondary issue. Many people start out with a primary issue (such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or others) that they don’t know how to deal with, so they may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope. This is done in an effort to self-medicate and free themselves from their burden, even if it offers only temporary relief.
The primary goal of individual counseling is to identify the core issues that led the person to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place. This is accomplished by establishing a relationship with the therapist in which the person feels comfortable enough to really open up and dive into some potentially painful issues.
Once the core issues have been discovered, the therapy sessions will begin to work on goals to address them. As the individual patient begins to make progress by moving forward through this process, they will find new feelings and emotions begin to develop. Over time, the desire to continue abusing drugs or alcohol may diminish as more of these deep issues are addressed and healthy coping skills are introduced in place of drug or alcohol use.
Who Can Benefit From Individual Counseling?
Just about anyone who is dealing with virtually any kind of issue could potentially benefit from individual counseling. Oftentimes, it can greatly help conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health concerns which can all be connected to a substance use disorder.
Mental health issues are not “cured” by attending counseling, but the problematic and oftentimes burdensome side effects can be addressed so that they no longer interfere in that person’s daily life.
Individual therapy is especially helpful for people who are struggling with alcohol or drug dependence because it gets into the underlying causes. After working through the root causes with a therapist, you can really start to heal. That is where you begin your journey towards a healthier, sober lifestyle.
If you are dependent on drugs or alcohol, you may experience significant benefits from therapy. If you enroll in a treatment facility like Denver Recovery Center for help with your issues, this type of therapy will likely be a major part of your treatment plan.
How Does Individual Counseling Help With Substance Use Disorders?
Although individual counseling is often considered an imperative part of any addiction recovery process, it actually goes much further than just helping a person get sober. In fact, with continued sessions, an individual who suffers from a substance use disorder will have a better chance of staying sober and not relapsing later in life.
This is because many of the techniques used in individual counseling work to address the core issues that cause people to make poor decisions that facilitate negative patterns of behavior. Some of the changes that can be made in your life are life-long. You will learn to develop new ways of coping with certain issues or situations that used to cause you to turn to alcohol or drugs.
Whether you choose an inpatient (residential) facility or an outpatient program to help you quit abusing alcohol or drugs, this type of therapy will likely be a cornerstone of your treatment plan.
Types of Therapy Used in Individual Counseling
When you begin attending individual sessions with your therapist, you will soon find that there are a variety of techniques that are often used during the sessions. Some of these may include the following:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This type of therapy is based on the principle that your thoughts impact your feelings and behavior. Therefore, if you change your thinking, you can also change some of the choices you make in life, including patterns of substance abuse. This is one of the most individualized types of therapy you can receive. It is based on your existing feelings and thoughts about certain things in your life and aims to slowly shift the way you perceive them.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT is very similar to CBT in that it focuses on the individual and their thoughts and feelings. The biggest difference between the two is that DBT focuses more on how the person interacts with others. DBT was originally designed to help people with borderline personality disorder but it has since been used to treat a wide variety of mental health concerns as well as substance use disorders.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a form of therapy that uses stimulation on both sides of the body to help the patient process certain beliefs or emotions that they find distressing or troublesome. This type of therapy is most commonly used to address patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but is also used to treat issues pertaining to drug and alcohol use. During the session, the therapist will use lights or sensations to direct your attention to alternating sides of your body while asking a series of questions about a particularly disturbing or troubling memory. The therapist will then guide you through forming new thoughts about the experience that are more pleasant and positive.
Dual Diagnosis Therapy: Approximately half of all Americans who suffer from a substance use disorder also suffer from a mental health condition. This is known as a dual-diagnosis. Treatment for dual-diagnosis patients is specialized to address both issues, realizing the necessity to deal with each simultaneously since there is often a correlation between the two. Since no two dual-diagnoses are quite the same, the treatment needs to be designed around the patient’s specific needs and concerns. This is true whether the mental health issue caused the addiction or vice versa.
Holistic Therapy: Holistic therapy is unique in the sense that it addresses the individual as a whole. It does this by treating the mind, the physical body, and the spirit or soul. The mind is treated using traditional therapeutic techniques, such as CBT or DBT. The physical body is treated by introducing exercise and teaching the patient healthy eating habits. To help the spirit heal, the patient is encouraged to either re-connect with or establish a relationship with a higher power, as well as learning meditation and relaxation techniques.
Experiential Therapy: Designed behind the belief that people may have underlying issues that could present themselves during certain experiences, therapists use experiential therapy to help patients tackle these unconscious conflicts or feelings. Other issues that are hard to identify during traditional therapy options, such as poor problem-solving skills, repressed emotions, and other negative patterns of behavior can also be discovered and addressed during experiential therapy sessions.
Types of Issues That Are Treated With Individual Counseling
Individual counseling can be used to treat a variety of different issues, from drug and alcohol abuse and dependence to a wide variety of mental health issues. Some specific issues that can be addressed with this type of therapy include:
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug addiction
- Anger management
- Anxiety or stress
- Behavioral or mood changes
- Depression
- Self-esteem or body image issues
- Eating disorders
- Grief and loss
- Gender identity
- Relationship conflicts
- Sexual concerns
- Spirituality
- Thoughts or desires to commit suicide
Through personal therapy, the therapist and the patient are able to not only identify core issues, but address them in a therapeutic, healthy and positive environment where the patient feels safe. By learning strategies to deal with potentially painful issues or difficult situations, the individual is able to make positive changes in their life. This type of therapy also helps people learn to make good, healthy choices for themselves, and to look at certain experiences in a different way.
Are There Individual Counseling Services For Drug and Alcohol Addiction Available Near Me?
Many people who are struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction or who have a loved one that is an addict wonder what their options are for proper treatment. Fortunately, if you are ready to seek help there are options for you. If you are looking for drug and alcohol rehab with individual counseling in the Denver Colorado area, give Denver Recovery Center a call right away.
Our program offers a wide range of options for people struggling to break free from the painful grip of addiction. We have both residential and outpatient options available, as well as a variety of evidence-based treatment methods to build a custom treatment plan for you and your particular needs. Let us help you begin your journey to a new life.
Learn More by Contacting Denver Recovery Center Today
Your struggle to break free from addiction doesn’t have to be fought alone. By calling today, you can start your journey towards a new healthier and happier life. When you call our hotline, you will be connected with an admissions staff member who will listen to your needs and help you make a plan to get on the right path. To learn more about how our program can help you make a positive and lasting change in your life, call us now.
Our staff is made up of licensed and trained professionals who care about your success. We understand that the cycle of addiction can be devastating to an individual as well as their family and friends. We understand the struggles and challenges associated with fighting addiction, and we are here to help you succeed.
Don’t wait another day. Call (844) 602-3175 now to begin your journey to sobriety.
