Therapy for Alcohol Addiction - Why is it important?
Therapy for alcohol addiction can help you understand the causes of your disorder as well as understanding the actual addiction. Therapy, whether in a group or individual setting, will provide you with support and assistance in your quest to remain sober the important thing is to remain engaged in whatever method you choose.
Treating Alcoholism Requires more than just a Detox
If you have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD), your recovery may have started in a residential detox and rehabilitation treatment facility.
There you would have received care and support 24/7, and your intake assessment may have included medication prescribed by the doctor to help ease your withdrawal symptoms, along with the medical assessment, a trained counselor would have put together a treatment plan that includes:
- Individual Therapy – To gain an understanding of the causes of your addiction
- Group Therapy – So that you can experience the support and understanding that comes with sharing your journey and the knowledge that you are not alone.
- Art, Music & Exercise Therapy – Where you will learn a new hobby, how to remain calm and focused during your recovery, and increase your self-esteem.
If detox is the first step and remaining sober the goal, think of therapy as the safe and supportive bridge between both points.
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How does Therapy Help with Alcohol Addiction?
Often drinking starts as self-medication to help you ‘deal’ with depression, childhood trauma, PTSD, or other underlying or even undiagnosed mental health issues. Therapy in a safe and supportive environment will help you navigate, address, cope and then heal from the causes of your addiction. Talk therapy has proven to be beneficial for people with alcohol use disorders and may include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
– CBT is a broad term for a range of techniques and therapeutic approaches to addressing your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours – the focus of CBT is to change automatic negative thoughts and the resulting emotional response that can have a detrimental effect on your coping skills, and replace them with more objective, realistic and positive thoughts. (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cognitive-behavior-therapy-2795747)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – Incorporates emotional regulation and mindfulness strategies whilst addressing thoughts and behaviours.
- Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) – identifies irrational beliefs, challenges these beliefs, and teaches you to recognize and change these thought patterns. (https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/approaches)
Multimodal Therapy
– Also known as Combination Therapy, where a dual diagnosis is made (mix of mental health issues and substance abuse) just treating the addiction is not enough, your mental health also requires treatment to prevent relapse. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424612/)
How can I Take Part in Therapy Once an Alcohol Detox is Complete?
Private Rehabilitation Centre
– If you have chosen to detox and rehabilitate in a private facility, your individual or one-to-one therapy with a trained counsellor will start whilst in rehab and can be carried on as aftercare once you leave.
Private Home Detox
– We have developed this service to assist you with a safe and supportive detox programme at home, this affordable option has the added benefit of add on Home-Based Therapy services to help you stay sober by helping you identify and cope with triggers like
- Stress,
- Cues in the environment or at home,
- Social interactions, like spending time with friends who continue to drink
(https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/counseling-and-addiction-how-therapy-can-help) - Pre-existing mental health conditions, known as dual diagnoses.
This service offers an At-Home Therapy option to assist you during and after your withdrawal.
There are also free outpatient services offered through the NHS and some charity groups, there may be a waiting list to receive access to these services, so a private therapist may be the option you chose.
If you require any assistance with finding a therapy service that can help you, please contact our helpline.
The Benefits of Private Addiction Counselling with a Therapist
Having a counsellor that is experienced in treating alcohol problems is important during your recovery and at points in your life where you might feel the urge to drink again.
Private therapy is beneficial in boosting your motivation to stop drinking, helping advise you on any further services you may require, marriage counselling, mutual aid (support group) assistance, other benefits of a private therapist include:
- A chance to develop a dr/patient relationship built on trust
- Immediate help and in some cases therapists can fit you in for a session if you are feeling vulnerable outside of your normal appointments
- Regular appointments as needed and as many as you wish
The NHS offers free alcohol addiction services, including therapy, but:
- There could be long waiting lists in your area
- Appointments may not always be as regular as needed
- Due to patient/staff ratios, you may not see the same therapist at each appointment nor receive the individualised care you require
- Sessions are generally restricted to 6 or 12
Choosing the Right Addiction Therapist
When seeking professional help, it is important you feel respected and understood and that you have a feeling of trust that this person:
- Seek recommendations from your GP, rehab centre, or a service like ours
- Review the therapist online and check their certification – Professional Standards Authority (https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/what-we-do/accredited-registers/find-a-register/-in-category/categories/professions/counselling)
- Have a phone conversation with the therapist – see if there is a connection
- Have an appointment with the therapist and see if your initial instinct is correct
If you don’t find a match on the first try don’t lose hope, the right match for you can be found,
The cost of Private Counselling
The cost of private counselling in the UK averages between £10 – £70 (https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/counselling/) for a 50min session. Since addiction treatment may also include the treatment of concurrent mental health issues, your counsellor should be experienced and well trained, so you may need a counsellor that costs a bit more than average.
This average session cost equates to about £ 3,640 over a year (based on a weekly appointment) but when you factor in the cost savings of not drinking it will be more attainable.
Alcohol Addiction Therapy within a Residential Alcohol Rehab (Private Alcohol Rehab)
If you have chosen to attend a private rehab centre then part of your treatment will be inclusive of therapy with a trained counsellor, generally one on one and within a group setting. You will be able to develop a trust relationship with your counsellor who will be able to help treat any other mental health issues you may have (Dual Diagnosis) often times your counselling treatment will continue seamlessly after you leave the centre (this may be offered for up to 1 year after discharge)
Unfortunately, private rehab centres can be costly, you will also be required to stay in as a resident for at least 28 days and you won’t have the flexibility of being able to watch TV as you wish, you will be sharing accommodation in some instances.
How Long Should I seek Therapy for Alcohol Addiction?
Although the NHS typically only allocates 6 to 12 sessions for addiction treatment, you may find it beneficial to continue treatment for months or even years.
Having the support and safe space available, that therapy offers is beneficial to ongoing sobriety. Recovery from any addiction including alcohol is a lifelong commitment and you may feel fine for years until stress in your life makes you feel vulnerable and then you may need some maintenance counselling.
Addiction Therapy for the Family
Families of alcohol abusers have often been left out of the recovery process, but the repair of these relationships is now being seen as an important part of your recovery and provides a healthier environment for you to abstain from alcohol.
Most treatment centres include the families of alcohol abusers in the recovery process during and after rehab. In addition, there is support offered through:
- Adfam (https://adfam.org.uk/help-for-families/useful-organisations)
- Families Anonymous (http://famanon.org.uk/)
- Marriage counselling
- Child counselling (National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA))
The Benefits of Mutual Aid for Long Term Recovery from Alcoholism
Mutual Aid (support groups) are beneficial as a part of your long-term treatment and relapse prevention plan:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
This programme is probably the most well-known and popular support group worldwide. Their 12 step programme is mostly spiritual in nature (https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/About-AA/The-12-Steps-of-AA)
- acceptance,
- hope,
- faith,
- courage,
- honesty,
- patience,
- humility,
- willingness,
- brotherly-love,
- integrity,
- self-discipline,
- service.
SMART Recovery Programme – (https://smartrecovery.org.uk/)
The SMART Recovery helps you to decide whether you have an alcohol use problem, then offers help to build up your motivation to change and offers a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.
- Building and maintaining motivation – you have power over the choices you make, how you behave and the goals you set.
- Coping with urges – understanding why urges happen and how to recognise them will help prevent you from acting on them.
- Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours – tools and techniques that look into how we think, feel, and act can help stop you from ‘using to feel better’
- Living a balanced life – regain your health and create a lifestyle that brings you long- and short-term satisfaction.
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Author / Jason Shiers / Dip.Psych
Jason Shiers is a Certified Transformative Coach & Certified Psychotherapist who is a specialist in addiction, trauma and eating disorders. He has been working in the field of addiction for 25 years now.