6 Steps To Find A Reliable Addiction Therapy Program
Drug addiction is a common and sometimes fatal health issue these days. To fight it, you need the best addiction therapy program. So here’s how to find it.
Finding the right kind of help is the key to you or a loved one getting better.
But there are many different types of treatments available for addiction including medications, in-patient programs, and therapy.
And each person needs a unique combination of these addiction treatments to get back on the right track.
To find what will work for you or your loved one, it is a good idea to understand some basics about assessment, counseling, addiction therapy, and treatment centers.
Finding An Addiction Therapy Program
If you’re looking for addiction therapy to escape your bad habits, then these six steps will help:
1. Get An Assessment
The first step in finding a drug rehab program that will work for your needs is to get an assessment from a doctor or therapist with experience in this area.
Addiction is a disease, though there are many who still view it as a moral failing.
By seeking out trained therapists or physicians who have certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), you can be assessed for a substance use problem and be put in touch with valuable resources for yourself and your family.
These physicians will be able to explain the various treatments, and which is likely to work the best for your needs.
2. Understand What Works
Not every addiction is the same and so not every treatment will work the same for each person.
During your assessment, you will be asked questions about previous attempts at sobriety and what stumbling blocks you faced to help you find a better fit moving forward.
The treatment proven most to work is group therapy sessions, which is most often paired with any detox or medication treatment that an individual needs.
You can choose inpatient programs if you have struggled with sobriety in the past or outpatient ones if you have a supportive environment at home.
3. Look Into Counseling And Addiction Therapy
Most programs will include a type of counseling and addiction therapy in either a group or individual session for reinforcement of sobriety principles and accountability.
For those with a dual-diagnosis, individual sessions can help treat depression and other mental illnesses. And group sessions can help develop good social networks and fight addiction.
The biggest benefit of these sessions is that you can learn cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy techniques and apply them to your life.
These techniques help you stop at the moment, evaluate where the cravings are coming from, and make a positive decision moving forward.
This can include ways to reduce stress, develop beneficial hobbies, and much more.
When practiced in a group session, these techniques can be reinforced and informed by those learning with you.
4. Research Treatment Centers
Treatment centers are all different and knowing how those differences will affect your treatment can be the biggest help in finding the right one.
Some will have licensed therapists on hand to help with dual-diagnosis patients. They’ll also have a detox center or access to medication programs and physical therapists to help deal with chronic pain and pain killer addiction.
Determining what resources are offered by different centers and comparing those resources to your needs can help you narrow down your choices.
5. Know How To Spot Scams
Not every organization who says that they treat addiction do so in an honest manner. And this can have a negative impact on the quality of your treatment.
To avoid being taken in by a scam, it is a good idea to research the three hows:
- How long a center has been in business;
- How many staff members have relevant credentials;
- And how open the website is about the recovery process.
There is not a guaranteed way to overcome addiction and the most successful programs require ongoing check-ins and a life-long commitment to recovery.
6. Stay On Track
Research shows that the best programs for drug rehab include attending regular group meetings long after the initial treatment.
This is because addiction is a life-long disease and reminding yourself of the principles learned during rehab can keep you from picking the habit back up.
This is where 12-step-programs get their success. But it is important to remember that many of those group meetings are not run by therapists. They are support groups rather than treatment ones.
Ultimately, finding the right drug rehab program for your needs is a personal choice that shows a commitment to a better journey ahead.
The more you research programs, centers, and treatments, the easier it will be to find one that motivates you towards sobriety.
