A person in detox must be prepared to make lifestyle changes, such as adjusting sleeping patterns and exercising. They must also learn how to cope with their mental health issues.
Residential and outpatient detox programs vary in their medical supervision level. However, all should offer adequate biomedical and psychiatric evaluations and appropriate linkage to ongoing care.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Addiction-related mental health concerns can be treated using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is quite common. CBT is a brief treatment that may be applied individually or in a group. It teaches people to swap out negative ideas and sensations with good ones to act better.
It is based on the belief that psychological problems, such as substance abuse, broader behavioral addictions, and co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, are rooted in dysfunctional thought patterns. It also teaches individuals how to recognize those patterns so they can begin addressing them.
In CBT, you and your therapist will identify the negative thoughts that trigger drug addiction relapse so you can learn to change them. You’ll also address any underlying issues contributing to your depression or anxiety. Once you can better understand and deal with those symptoms, focusing on your recovery is more accessible.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a powerful tool in the recovery process because it allows for personal interaction with a trained treatment professional. It can be used to address underlying issues such as trauma, anxiety, or depression that can often trigger substance abuse.
It can also be used to uncover intrusive thoughts or feelings that could pose a threat to recovery. These are usually rooted in past experiences that were difficult to deal with at the time, or they can be related to current triggers, such as an environment associated with drinking and drug use.
The role of a therapist during inpatient detox San Diego is to help the client to understand these triggers and how to deal with them without using drugs or alcohol. The therapist can also provide information about coping skills that are effective in the long term for dealing with emotional disturbances. This may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This information can help the patient develop a stronger foundation for sobriety once released from detox.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is one of the most potent treatment options during inpatient detox. It’s designed to address the psychological and emotional aspects of substance abuse while addressing negative behaviors and replacing them with healthy, positive ones. Psychotherapy can help patients improve their self-confidence, self-esteem, communication skills, and feelings of well-being and purpose.
Ideally, patients are moved along a continuum of treatment settings as they demonstrate their ability and motivation to cooperate with the program (American Psychiatric Association, 1995). However, some residential neighborhoods have minimal medical oversight.
These settings can be used for initial assessment and acute biomedical care. They should offer some form of onsite monitoring or be able to facilitate rapid triage and linkage with an ongoing detoxification service. Still, they are not likely to provide good psychiatric or biomedical stabilization, mainly when dealing with severe withdrawal symptoms.
Group Therapy
Group therapy sessions provide a unique opportunity for individuals to learn how to interact with and support one another. Whether the group is open (meaning new members can join at any time) or closed (meaning members begin at the same point), these groups can benefit individuals in various ways. Members of the group may be at different stages in their treatment, but they will all share a common goal of recovery.
Individuals who participate in group therapy often gain a sense of belonging that is not always experienced daily. This feeling of universality is crucial to rehabilitation because it enables people to understand they are not alone in their troubles and that others can connect.
Group therapy is facilitated by a trained therapist or counselor who works with group members to help ensure the process is healthy, safe, and productive for all involved. Many individuals also receive individual therapy and participate in group therapy sessions.
