Empathetic Individual Therapy for Substance Abuse

Individual therapy for substance abuse involves a personal, one-on-one meeting with a licensed therapist specializing in substance use disorders. 

Individual sessions should be considered supplemental treatment that aligns with the work done in group therapy, family sessions, and other therapeutic programs.

Your personalized, individual therapy approach at Beach House may include any of the following

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This widely practiced form of psychotherapy focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

CBT operates on the premise that our thoughts and interpretations significantly influence our emotional responses and actions.

Individuals work with therapists to identify and challenge negative thought patterns that lead to addictive behavior and replace them with more balanced and constructive beliefs. Eventually, CBT helps to reshape negative behaviors. 

Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Classified as a specialized form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, DBT was initially developed to treat borderline personality disorder. 

It integrates mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness to address emotional dysregulation and problematic behaviors and is used to help people change the way they think . 

DBT places a strong emphasis on accepting and validating emotions while working to develop practical skills for managing stress, improving interpersonal relationships, and enhancing overall emotional well-being throughout the recovery process.

Psychoanalysis

Considered an intensive therapy that addresses the patients’ deepest inner conflicts and fears, psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud that delves into the unconscious mind to uncover hidden motivations and conflicts that influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. 

Central to psychoanalysis is the belief that many psychological issues stem from unresolved childhood experiences and repressed feelings. 

Through free association, dream analysis, and exploring the patient’s past, psychoanalytic therapy aims to bring unconscious factors to conscious awareness, allowing individuals to gain insights into their inner dynamics and work through emotional challenges. 

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

A therapeutic specialty that directly addresses apathy or indifference to treatment.

This client-centered technique elicits and strengthens an individual’s intrinsic motivation to make positive behavioral changes. 

MI therapists engage in empathetic conversations highlighting the individual’s values and goals while exploring the imbalance between their current behaviors and desired outcomes. 

By fostering a non-judgmental and collaborative environment, MI encourages individuals to articulate their reasons for change, enhancing their commitment to making lasting positive changes.

Individual therapy for substance abuse offers various benefits, including

• Personalized treatment tailored to your specific health, wellness, and recovery goals
• Confidentiality
• Focused, individual attention
• Support for regulating emotions, identifying patterns, and building self-esteem
• Ability to address co-occurring mental health disorders

Along with these benefits, individual therapy also sets goals, prevents relapse, improves relationships, and supports holistic healing. It is a crucial part of successful recovery from a substance or alcohol use disorder.

As a general guideline, individual therapy for substance abuse can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Some individuals might engage in ongoing therapy for a year or more to ensure continued success and support in their recovery journey. 

It’s important to note that recovery is a gradual process, and therapy duration should be based on the individual’s progress and needs rather than a strict timeline. 

Factors that may impact your timeline could include

• The substance use disorder severity
• Your progress
• Your specific treatment plan, including involvement in a therapeutic alliance
• Motivation and commitment to recovery
• Your support system
• Relapse prevention strategies

A therapeutic alliance is a partnership that exists between the patient and therapist that involves the following qualities:

• Generosity
• Empathy
• Honesty
• Warmth

A therapeutic alliance directly influenced clinical improvement and engagement and retention of treatment. We build and strengthen these partnerships at Beach House by adopting the following best practices

• Ongoing training for all clinical staff
• Regular evaluations using industry standards
• Staff training and supervision based on therapeutic alliance metrics to improve the quality of care in real time

The therapeutic alliance between the individual patient and their primary therapist is critical to the success of individual therapy for substance abuse. Patient-clinician collaboration improves clinical outcomes. 

Our dedication to creating and nurturing an optimal therapeutic alliance is essential for the best possible patient outcomes.

The success of our approach is rooted in our firm belief that the opposite of substance use disorder is love and connection.

The team at Beach House is passionate about giving patients the tools, support, and resources that allow them to overcome substance use disorder.

In addition to individual therapy, we offer a full suite of innovative, evidence-backed programs, including dual diagnosis treatment and medication-assisted treatment.

To learn more about individual therapy for substance abuse, please contact our compassionate admissions counselor today.