Thinking of addiction as a primarily physical illness doesn’t do the disease justice. Addiction is a complex disease, but it’s primarily a brain disorder rather than a physical condition. Addiction impacts and alters brain function, making it hard for clients to break free from substance abuse. Take a closer look at the role of a behavioral health therapist on the road to addiction recovery.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
When an individual struggles with more than one issue at a time, he or she has a co-occurring disorder. To treat co-occurring disorders, quality rehab programs offer dual diagnosis treatment.
Dual diagnosis treatment addresses mental health and addiction simultaneously. This ensures that clients are getting the right care for their entire person. If the mental health issue causes the addiction, for example, it’s vital to address the underlying condition right away.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is one of the most common behavioral health services available in rehab programs. It targets negative thoughts and shows clients how to have a more positive outlook in life. CBT is not just for people suffering from addiction. In fact, it can help people with nearly all mental health disorders.
Research has shown that CBT is an effective treatment for people dealing with depression, anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, marital distress, sexual problems and other emotional or behavioral problems.
Many clients don’t have the necessary coping skills to deal with overwhelmingly negative emotions. They might get upset about a negative comment from a friend, for example, and turn that into a downward spiral that includes drug abuse. With CBT, clients can learn how to deal with negativity in the right way. In addition, they learn about how to adopt a more positive attitude whenever possible.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Another form of talk therapy rehab therapists use is DBT, or dialectical behavioral therapy. In DBT, clients learn to control and manage their feelings. This therapy is especially effective for people with emotional instability.
DBT uses concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness. The approach tries to improve a person’s ability to stay in the present moment and regulate strong emotions that might otherwise drive disruptive behavior.
Many people who struggle with substance abuse also feel emotions strongly. When they’re mad or upset, it feels like the end of the world. While experiencing strong emotions is fine, clients can learn to recognize these emotions and gain some perspective. When clients can control or tone down their emotions, they’ll be more rational when it comes to relapse prevention and overall health.
Trauma Therapy
Another of the most important behavioral health services for clients in recovery is trauma therapy. There are many factors that can lead to the development of an addiction. Trauma is just one of these factors, but it can be a significant one.
Trauma can come in many forms. It may include living through a natural disaster or a war, experiencing physical or sexual abuse, watching a loved one die or seeing a violent crime in person. Trauma therapy can address and resolve these issues and give clients the strength to move on.
It is important to understand how trauma shapes an individual’s thinking and behavior. Feelings of self-blame are common for addiction clients who have suffered trauma, but they need to understand that they did not cause the traumatic event. They did not ask to be a part of it, and they should not feel shame about what has happened to them.
Behavioral Health Services at Crestview Recovery
At Crestview Recovery, we offer a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. That means part of the treatment plan includes behavioral health services. An intake assessment at the beginning of rehab establishes what clients will need. Some of the available treatments at Crestview Recovery include:
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Family therapy
- Life skills training
Addressing behavioral health is a key part of holistic treatment. At Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, rehab programs include a wide range of behavioral health services. Take back your life and your health by calling 866.262.0531 today.