You probably hear the word “therapy” fairly often. In one sense, you likely have a general idea of what the word means. But in another sense, you probably realize that “therapy” is a catchall word for a lot of different things. There is physical therapy, for example, which is quite different from mental health therapy. Within the category of mental health therapy, there are many different kinds of therapy that can be used to address many different kinds of situations or issues a person is facing.
If you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, good mental health is a key element of your efforts to protect your hard-won sobriety. And that means you may benefit from therapy. But what kind of therapy?
While it is certainly the case that your mental health professionals will help determine the best kind of therapy for you, it can be helpful to have a basic understanding of various kinds of therapy. In this blog post, we will consider three kinds of mental health therapy: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and recreational therapy.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive behavioral therapy involves delving into the relationship between your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions. When you have a good sense of how those three things are connected and interact with one another, it can be easier to uncover solutions to immediate issues you may be facing.
CBT is structured and focused on goals. It tends to be a short-term therapeutic approach, lasting 12 to 16 sessions rather than for the months or years some kinds of therapy require. It is frequently recommended for those struggling with anxiety, phobias, or depression—all of which can be entangled with your substance use disorder.
With the guidance of your therapist, you will consider topics like the pros and cons of continuing to use harmful substances, creating a plan to avoid or address high-risk situations that might threaten your sobriety, and becoming more aware of the various ways in which allowing negative thoughts to fill your inner monologue can lead to ongoing problems and what you can do to change the narrative.
For a deeper dive into the details of cognitive behavioral therapy, check out this previous blog entry.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical behavior therapy is a variation on cognitive behavioral therapy. DBT can be effective for those who tend to react in extreme ways to challenging circumstances. These individuals might, for example, get quite angry—often at a level out of proportion to the situation at hand—when something goes wrong or they face an unexpected obstacle.
To help a person who experiences these extreme reactions, DBT introduces the concepts of acceptance, mindfulness, and distress tolerance. Learning skills and strategies for facing challenges more calmly and thoughtfully can help lessen the likelihood of over-the-top reactions to situations that arise.
For a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, these skills and strategies can be essential in those moments when a challenge or obstacle might tempt you to return to drugs or alcohol as a way to manage unpleasant emotions. DBT provides alternatives to relying on substances to cope.
What Is Recreational Therapy?
You might be surprised to see “recreational” and “therapy” side by side. After all, no one pursues therapy as a hobby, right?
But it turns out that recreational activities can be powerful therapeutic tools. The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification describes this approach to therapy on their website:
Recreational therapy includes, but is not limited to, providing treatment services and recreation activities to individuals using a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings. Recreational therapists treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients by seeking to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively.
Those in recovery from a substance use disorder can benefit from recreational therapy as a way to improve their mental health and thereby firm up the foundations of their ongoing recovery.
We should note that even if you are not engaged in recreational therapy, having an engaging hobby is an excellent idea in recovery.
We Are Here To Help
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, it might seem as though you have nowhere to turn and no one to help you overcome a substance use disorder. Fortunately, that is not the case.
At French Creek Recovery Center—located in Meadville, Pennsylvania—we provide medically supervised detoxification, a robust rehabilitation program that can also address co-occurring mental health disorders, and a continuum of care to allow you to start your recovery journey with confidence. If you are ready to take back control of your life, we are ready to help.