Therapies for Addiction Recovery

How We Approach Therapy for Addiction Recovery in Georgia

When it comes to effectively treating addiction, we recognize that no two patients are the same. Each individual’s recovery journey is unique and requires a tailored approach for optimal results. We take into account each patient’s personal circumstances when designing a treatment plan. By understanding the patient’s history with addiction, lifestyle, and psychological makeup, we can develop a comprehensive program that accommodates their needs while meaningfully addressing the factors that may have contributed to the development of their addiction. We believe that personalized care is paramount in facilitating long-term recovery from substance abuse disorders.

Our Macon therapies for addiction recovery include three separate clinical tracks:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping patients understand, identify, and modify the underlying thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that contribute to their addictive patterns. By working with one of our compassionate therapists, patients can learn to recognize patterns in their thinking and behavior that trigger substance abuse. This allows them to develop healthier coping strategies to manage their own emotions and triggers. The goal of this approach is to develop a set of coping skills that can be used in place of substance-seeking cues. We may use cognitive restructuring techniques to challenge negative thinking patterns or exposure therapy to reduce cravings for drugs or alcohol. Our team may also explore other tools like relaxation exercises and assertiveness training. By combining these techniques and treatments with individual counseling sessions, group support meetings, and lifestyle changes, our patients obtain an understanding of their addictive behaviors and create lasting changes in their lives.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach used to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including addiction. DBT strives to teach individuals how to regulate their emotions and behavior more effectively to build healthier relationships with substances and with others. It is based on the idea that there are both healthy and unhealthy aspects of behavior and that change must take into account both sides in order to be successful. The primary goal of DBT is to help individuals reduce their risky behaviors and create healthier lifestyles without relying on drug use as a coping mechanism. This approach primarily focuses on teaching skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Mindfulness enables patients to respond rather than react impulsively when faced with difficult situations while distress tolerance helps them accept uncomfortable feelings without reaching for substances as a means of escape. Emotion regulation gives them the tools necessary to manage intense emotions without using drugs or alcohol, while interpersonal effectiveness teaches them how to interact with others in healthier ways. Rather than focusing solely on past events or underlying issues, we concentrate on teaching concrete skills that can be applied in real-life situations. Through this type of therapy, our patients can gain insight into their own addictive behaviors and develop new strategies for dealing with cravings and triggers when they arise.
• The Trauma Track. Because past trauma can be a major factor in fueling addictive behaviors, the trauma track focuses on addressing any underlying trauma that may have contributed to the development of the addiction. As a form of psychotherapy, it seeks to help individuals identify, process, and manage the emotional and psychological impact of past traumatic experiences. We help patients explore their traumatic memories and learn how to effectively cope without relying on substances as a form of escape or relief. Through this approach, our patients can better understand how their past experiences and emotions affect their current behavior and coping mechanisms. It also allows them to recognize patterns in their behavior that could be triggering substance use, as well as understand which coping strategies are most effective in managing cravings and triggers when they do inevitably arise.