Most of us know how addictive alcohol is, but many people may not know that psychotherapy is a key component in treating alcohol addiction. Because alcohol is so widely available, millions of people become addicted to alcohol every year and must seek treatment to beat this addiction. There are many complexities involved in treating this form of addiction, and the more people understand the process, the more likely they may be successful at overcoming it.
An overview of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction
Although when we think about alcohol addiction — or any other addiction for that matter — we think about the physical manifestations of that addiction, much of addiction is mental, as well. Without dealing with the underlying causes of addiction, it is impossible to avoid relapse and stay sober.
There are many reasons why a person chooses to use alcohol and many potential triggers that can make them want to continue using or relapse if they are sober. This is why a psychiatrist is necessary to help in the treatment process.
A psychiatrist can employ many different methods to get at the root causes of addiction and develop ways to deal with those causes so that a person can live a life without the addictive substance, in this case, alcohol.
Psychiatrists mainly work one on one with patients, but they may also work in groups or as part of a treatment team, where their role is to help develop the right type of treatment plan for the patient.
Types of psychotherapy treatments
Treatments typically depend on the type of treatment facility a person has chosen to receive their treatment in, but there are many ways to approach alcohol addiction. Many factors are considered when implementing a successful treatment plan.
The most common type of psychotherapy is one-on-one therapy, where a person discusses their history with addiction, how it started, why they began drinking, and what motivates them to drink. This allows the psychiatrist to identify triggers and help the person work through them.
Group therapy is another common type where patients with similar addiction histories are brought together to discuss their addiction.
Another type of therapy that is sometimes used takes a more holistic approach. Mindfulness and meditation are sometimes used as a tool to help with addiction because they focus on not only the mental but the spiritual aspects of addiction. Meditation, in particular, has been seen to be effective at producing calm and giving a person a sense of control.
Discover the right treatment plan
By combining multiple types of treatment, it is possible to give someone the ability to deal with the causes of their addiction. Once they can deal with the cause of the addiction, they can move forward on the path to recovery and start to focus on how to live without alcohol. Reach out to our psychiatry office today to schedule a consultation and find out what type of treatment will work for you.
Request an appointment or call Future Psych Ketamine Clinics at 843-788-9718 for an appointment in our Myrtle Beach office.
Recent Posts
Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for trauma-related issues. It can help patients to process and understand their experiences, to develop healthy coping mechanisms, and eventually move on from their trauma.Psychiatrists who specialize in treating trauma use a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches, which depend on the needs of the individual patient. One of the most common…
New patients may get a little confused about psychotherapy’s many approaches. Studies show that there is no single therapy suitable for everyone. A patient may need a combination of therapies. If you want to know the different types of psychotherapy that you can have, here are the details.This psychotherapy stresses how specific life events can…
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder that typically requires psychotherapy and medication to overcome. It’s important, whether you’re a person with bipolar disorder or have a loved one diagnosed with bipolar disorder, to understand the necessity and the impact that the right type of treatment can have on managing the disorder and episodes of…