Many rehab centers in the United States focus solely on evidence-based therapy. While this traditional method is important, experts urge facilities not to underestimate the need for alternative therapies. One example is experiential therapy. Rather than refer to one specific treatment program, it encompasses several.
What Is Experiential Therapy?
This treatment approach applies to numerous therapeutic techniques and therapies. Psychotherapies that fit into this category require individuals to participate in some kind of activity. For example, they might go rock climbing or hiking, participate in role-playing games, or even paint.
The goal of experiential therapy is to tap into underlying problems and issues with which people struggle. The idea behind it is that people better express emotions and repressed feelings through activities. Experts who use experiential counseling say that they can learn more about how people feel through actions than through talking.
During experiential counseling, people typically develop a higher sense of awareness about themselves. Through these activities, they get in touch with their emotions, deepest needs, motivations, and desires. It includes good and bad motivations, and exploring both is an important part of effective recovery.
Benefits of Experiential Counseling
Many benefits come with experiential therapy. One of the biggest is that it allows therapists to observe people in real-life situations. Seeing how they interact gives therapists greater insight into their psyches. Basically, people are more likely to show how they truly feel or think when they participate in activities.
Experiential counseling also helps people take initiative when they come face to face with a challenge. It’s one thing to talk about what they need to do when a challenge arises; it’s another altogether to actually do it. However, taking part in these challenges allows their true nature to shine.
This type of therapy also teaches people the importance of making better choices in life. In real-life situations, people don’t always have long to think about their choices. Experiential counseling teaches them to process information faster while still making choices that align with their true feelings and values.
What Are Some Types of Experiential Counseling?
There are several types of therapy that fit into experiential counseling. For example, life skills training is an excellent form of experiential therapy. It helps people develop skills that they need once they get out of rehab. At the same time, therapists have the chance to observe them performing these actions.
Experiential counseling also includes yoga therapy. This physical activity keeps people active and reduces stress. Taking steps to actively reduce stress is an important part of any treatment program.
Animal-assisted therapy is a strategy that can involve caring for dogs, cats, horses or other animals. It can help people open up about their feelings. It can also teach them how to be reliable and rely on others for support. In addition, animal therapy increases physical activity and reduces stress.
Learn More About Experiential Counseling With Crestview Recovery
Do you think that experiential therapy is right for you? Consider getting treatment for your addiction at Crestview Recovery. We strive to provide a range of experiential counseling services such as adventure therapy. Beyond that, we offer treatments such as:
- Individual therapy
- Residential rehab
- Outpatient treatment
- Group therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Gender-specific rehab
At Crestview Recovery, we use trauma therapy to help you understand and reprocess past troubling events. Trauma is one of the leading causes of addiction in Americans. Our expert staff helps you work through it and deal with the root cause of your addiction.
Don’t try to deal with your addiction alone. Find out what experiential therapy can do for you at Crestview Recovery. Reach out to us today at 866.262.0531 so that we can help you.