Addiction Counseling for Improved Mental Health

If you’re going through an addiction, life can feel more challenging than the average person. However, you’re not alone if you have an addiction; over 20 million Americans over the age of 12 struggle with some sort addiction issue at this current moment. 

If you are wrestling with an addiction, the best course of treatment is to get addiction counseling because it provides many benefits to recovery that someone who is not in counseling does not have access to. In this addiction guide, we’ll walk you through the benefits of treatment and your different addiction treatment options.

Benefits of Addiction Counseling 

Addiction counseling can do more than help you manage your addiction issues; many other benefits exist as well.

Address Underlying Mental Health Issues

Typically, addiction does not happen in isolation of other factors. It is not uncommon that someone who is struggling with addiction also has a co-occuring mental health issues that either contributed to the addiction’s formation or exacerbates its negative effects. 

In light of this context, addiction counseling can help identify and treat other mental health issues you may have such as depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, or bipolar disorder. 

The counseling will offer a safe space to explore the issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Improve Self Esteem 

When you have an addiction, it can also erode your overall sense of confidence and self-esteem. 

In the counseling process, your counselor will assist in giving you strategies, tips, and tools to create a more positive self-image to regain your sense of self-worth.

Strengthen Relationships 

Going to a counselor can also help you to strengthen your relationships. Having an addiction can put a large strain on current relationships which can lead to dysfunction; counseling can serve as space to facilitate better communication, identify expectations, and enlist the help of others in the recovery process.   An individual is also equipped to learn how to communicate more effectively and held accountable to follow-up with techniques that are learned in session with othe relationships. 

Types of Addiction Treatments

There are various types of addiction treatment as well. 

To begin, you will first want to identify what the specific addiction is that you want help for such as drug addiction, alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, video game addiction, porn addiction, or something else. 

Next, one will be assessed as to the severity of the addiction.  Depending on the severity will determine the level of care that an individual will receive in the treatment process. With individuals who are struggling with more severe addictions, inpatient rehab would be one of the highest levels of treatment.  For moderate cases, an individual can attend an intensive outpatient or outpatient program that involves a combination of group thearpy, individual therapy, and medicaiton monitoring.  For the least severe cases, an individual may want to try individual therapy, family counseling, or couples counseling with an individual therapist.

Each type of counseling also uses different therapeutic modalities in the counseling process. There is a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and interpersonal process therapy (IPT). By using different forms of therapy, treatment will be more holistic in its approach to helping the entire individual rather than just targeting the addiction. This increases the chances of a more successful treatment outcome.

Go to Addiction Counseling

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, it may be time to get help from addiction counseling. After reading this addiction therapy guide, you know it’s time to get the help you deserve.

If you’re ready to take the first step in the right direction, you can call us at New Convictions Recovery!

We can’t wait to hear from you and take you on this recovery journey.