Healing from Addiction

Overcoming addiction is hard. There’s no sugar coating it. Substance use disorder rewires the brain freely, leaving almost no parts of life unaffected. Addiction affects the brain in profound ways, altering its chemistry and rewiring circuits involved in reward, motivation, and self-control. The changes induced by substance abuse can create powerful cravings and compulsions. This can make it incredibly difficult for individuals to control their impulses. Which can make it hard to stop using the addictive substance. Addiction is a disease. And it is a malignant one. Overcoming it requires an immense amount of individual commitment. But the journey to sobriety doesn’t and shouldn’t be a lonely one. Help from an addiction therapist can supercharge any path to recovery. 

What is an Addiction Therapist

An addiction therapist, also known as a substance abuse counselor or addiction counselor, is a mental health professional. Specifically, one who specializes in helping individuals struggling with substance abuse and addiction. These therapists work with individuals dealing with various addictions, such as alcohol, drugs, prescription medications, gambling, or other compulsive behaviors.

At a treatment facility, after admittance, an addiction therapist creates a treatment plan, and provides counseling and support to help their patients overcome their addiction. They employ various therapeutic techniques and interventions tailored to each individual’s needs, often using approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention strategies. Additionally, addiction therapists may lead group therapy sessions or family therapy to address the impact of addiction on relationships and family dynamics.

How can an addiction therapist help the healing process at ARIA? 

At our Florida rehab facility in West Palm Beach, our resident addiction therapists play a pivotal role in educating our patients about addiction. Specifically, its effects on mental and physical health, and the process of recovery. They assist our patients in developing coping skills, setting achievable goals, and accessing resources that aid in long-term recovery. Here are some specific ways that an addiction therapist can help:

1. Assessment and Individualized Treatment Plans: At our West Palm Beach facility, Addiction therapists conduct comprehensive assessments at the start of each patient’s stay to understand the individual’s history, triggers, co-occurring mental health issues, and specific needs. Based on this assessment, our addiction therapists create personalized treatment plans. Ones that address the unique challenges of each person’s recovery journey.
2. Relapse Prevention Strategies: Addiction therapists help individuals develop strategies to prevent relapse by identifying high-risk situations, creating coping mechanisms, and formulating plans to handle triggers and cravings in the future. Learning effective relapse prevention techniques is crucial for maintaining long-term sobriety. 
3. Education and Psychoeducation: Therapists educate individuals about addiction, its impact on the brain and behavior, and teach coping skills to manage cravings, triggers, and stressors. Psychoeducation helps individuals better understand their condition and equips them with tools to navigate the challenges of recovery.
4. Continued Support and Aftercare Planning: At ARIA, we believe that addiction recovery can’t just end when our patients step outside of our doors. Addiction therapists assist in creating aftercare plans that outline strategies and resources to support individuals after leaving rehab. This may include connecting them with community resources, support groups, or outpatient therapy to maintain sobriety and prevent relapse.

Can an addiction therapist help you?

The short answer is, yes. Of course! Treatment in our detox facility in Florida can help deal with the chemical and physiological aspects of addiction and substance withdrawal. But after withdrawal ends, the long work of staying sober begins. No one wants to go through the hard work of getting sober, only relapse and, in despair, end up right back where they started. Treating addiction means treating behavior: identifying the root causes of substance disorder and finding ways to modify maladaptive coping mechanisms. 

An addiction therapist can be the difference between treating the surface symptoms of addiction and laying the groundwork for lasting changes. Ones that are the difference between addiction and recovery.

How can you begin to recover from addiction? By getting help now!

At the Addiction Recovery Institute of America, our addiction specialists provide expert care for individuals who are struggling with substance use disorders. Our goal is simple: to provide each of our clients with the tools they need to achieve long-term recovery. When you enroll in any one of the programs at ARIA, you are committing to sobriety. We are dedicated to holding up our end of the bargain by designing individualized substance abuse treatment programs. Ones that serve each of our patient’s individual needs. To get in contact, Call us at (844) 973 2611 or head over to our Contact Us page, fill out our information form and our representatives will get back to you as soon as possible.