Does Addiction Counseling Work for Alcoholics?

People suffering from alcohol addiction know how powerful and devastating the condition is. There are times when people in recovery think that they are in control over their addiction when in reality, it is their addiction that still controls them. In the United States, alcohol addiction is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths.

With enough dedication to achieving sobriety, any person of any age or background can overcome alcohol addiction. One of the treatment methods used in rehabilitation and recovery centers is addiction counseling. If you are seeking a path to recovery or know someone who wants to overcome their alcohol addiction, find out how counseling can help you.

Does Addiction Counseling Work?

To those wondering if alcohol counseling works, it does. Many rehabs and recovery centers incorporate counseling into their treatment plans. What counseling does is help people in recovery identify the main causes of their drinking problems. This, in turn, helps them fight off the cravings and the triggers that lead to relapse. Not only does counseling help people overcome alcoholism, but it also helps mend broken relationships and improve one’s physical health.

Alcohol Addiction Counseling Options

Counseling is done in many ways. It can be done individually or in groups. Individual counseling, as the name implies, involves one-on-one sessions between an alcoholic and an addiction counselor. Group counseling, on the other hand, is a therapy that involves sessions between a group of alcoholics and a counselor. To find which of the two would work best for you or your loved one, seek advice from professionals.

Here are some of the options when it comes to addiction counseling:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involves helping people in recovery overcome their behavioral issues associated with heavy drinking and substance abuse. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, counselors assist alcoholics in becoming more familiar with their emotions and being aware of certain situations that could lead to heavy drinking. The main goal of this therapy is to help people cope with stress and combat triggers that often lead to relapse.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are therapies with a similar goal of motivating alcoholics to change. MI uses a broader approach, while MET uses a more specific one that focuses on assessment, feedback, and plans for achieving change. Both of these therapies help people develop skills and confidence to maintain sobriety.

Marital and Family Counseling

Marital and Family Counseling is a therapy that allows loved ones involved to participate. Alcoholism does not only affect one person; it also affects marriages and families. In Marital and Family Counseling, broken relationships are mended. Additionally, this therapy uses family as a support system to help people overcome alcohol addiction.

Several studies have proven that people who receive support from their families are doing better in terms of battling triggers and cravings leading to relapse, compared with those who undergo individual treatments only.

Brief Interventions

Brief Interventions are done either individually or in groups. The sessions in this counseling option are time-limited and involve the discussion of different drinking patterns and their consequences. After the discussion, addiction counselors give advice and assistance on how to set goals. These goals include behavioral changes to avoid drinking.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy was originally intended for people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Nowadays, it has been adapted to help treat other mental health issues, including eating disorders and substance abuse. This counseling option is often used for people with dual diagnoses, such as alcohol addiction and mental health issues. The goal of Dialectical Behavior Therapy is to help people develop healthier habits to cope with stress and build up confidence.

Contingency Management

Contingency Management is a counseling option based on behavioral reinforcement. This involves helping people stay on their path to recovery by giving them rewards for achieving specific goals. The rewards can vary, but some of them are vouchers or coupons for a movie night or snacks. There are also Contingency Management therapies that reward people with cash prizes.

Is Individual Counseling Better Than Group Counseling?

Individual counseling is not necessarily better compared to group counseling. These two approaches have their benefits, and combining them produces better results.

The main benefit of individual counseling is that people are given time to focus on their personal concerns and issues. On the other hand, the main benefit that people get from group counseling is that it reduces the feeling of isolation by promoting support from family and friends.

To determine the best counseling therapy, it is best to consult addiction counselors who have extensive experience on how to counsel alcohol addicts. These professionals conduct assessments and evaluations to determine which therapy will best suit every person in recovery.

How Haven House Recovery Center Can Help

At Haven House Recovery Center, we provide a unique and effective treatment plan for every person battling alcoholism. We provide support individually and in groups to address all the issues of people in recovery.

If you are looking for the best path to recovery or know someone in need of counseling, we have a drug rehab near Murfreesboro that you can visit. For inquiries, contact us. We’ll be happy to assist you!