Individual therapy, or talk therapy, is a form of recovery treatment that focuses on the patient’s feelings, beliefs, memories and behavior. There are two main types of individual therapy — cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychoanalysis. Individual therapy is often a part of a more extensive recovery plan, focusing on the mental health side of recovery, dealing with complex emotions, lifestyle issues and other possibly troubling aspects of the patient’s life.
Why Is Individual Therapy Important For Recovery?
The Benefits Of Individual Therapy For RecoveryIndividual therapy offers additional support from a licensed mental health professional with each patient receiving personalized sessions. It focuses on developing coping strategies to avoid remission, dealing with complex emotions and adapting to lifestyle changes that may be a part of the recovery process. There are other potential goals of individual therapy that are a part of recovery as well.
Provides A Support Network
It is very difficult to go through the recovery process alone; recovery is made much easier when you have a support system around to assist you. Individual therapy provides additional support from a licensed mental health professional. The therapist helps the patient realize the support they have around them with friends and family, supporting the patient to find ways to strengthen those bonds and further grow their support system.
Offers Coping Strategies
Anyone who is recovering from drug or alcohol addiction is bound to have urges to relapse. It is important to recognize the existence of these urges and develop coping strategies for when they arise. Individual therapy often involves finding ways to prevent, reduce and resist urges to relapse. Of course, recovery can apply to other situations as well, such as recovery from a traumatic event or depression. Regardless of the underlying concern, individual therapy can help the patient cope with and overcome their struggles.
Teaches How To Handle Emotions
Emotions are powerful. Remaining sober or in good spirits when things are going well and emotions are positive is much easier. However, when emotions are low and you are in a sad state, it becomes far more challenging to overcome and stay on a clear path to recovery. Individual therapy can teach how to handle complex emotions during recovery from drug addiction, alcohol addiction, depression, PTSD and more.
Helps Gain Self-Awareness
Overcoming mental health complications involves gaining a better understanding of who you are. Self-awareness, and more importantly the accepting and embracing who you are, is often a key aspect of individual therapy. Some therapy sessions may be devoted to learning your likes, dislikes, tendencies, personality and more. Everyone is unique and remarkable, and realizing how great you are can be very beneficial during recovery.
Assists With Lifestyle Changes
Recovery almost always requires significant lifestyle changes. Whether it is giving up a group of friends or changing certain behavioral patterns, being willing and able to accept the changes in your life is crucial to recovery. During therapy, the therapist can help you accept, or even embrace, the changes that have taken place and that are still to come in your journey to a full recovery.
Reasons Individual Therapy Might Be Right for You
There are many types of recovery; most notably, people often seek therapy to assist in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. Recovery is also necessary for patients who struggle with depression, post-traumatic stress and other mental health concerns. Your mental health should be of the utmost importance during recovery. Individual therapy focuses solely on improving the way you view the world and your current circumstances in life and can teach you ways to cope with any challenges you face on the pathway to a full recovery.
Talk To Licensed Therapist at Aquila Recovery Clinic
At Aquila Recovery Clinic, we offer therapy for patients who are recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. We understand how difficult recovery can be, and you do not have to go through it alone. If you would like to arrange a visit to learn more about therapy or begin treatment, contact our office today to set up a convenient time to come in.