What Is Talk Therapy and How Can It Help You Recover?

Many evidence-based modalities help people recover from substance use disorder (SUD), behavioral addictions, and other mental health conditions. One of those many modalities is talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy. The terms talk therapy and psychotherapy are sometimes used interchangeably. However, the word psychotherapy comes with a certain amount of stigmatization. For that reason, some are uncertain about what exactly psychotherapy is or how it can help people. 

Consider educating yourself on talk therapy, how it's practiced, its benefits, and how it helps people recover from SUD. Doing so can help you stay informed and up-to-date on the treatment practice and empower you to feel more control over your treatment plan. Empowerment is critical to recovery. This education can cultivate more self-confidence in your journey today. 

What Is Talk Therapy?

At West Coast Recovery Centers, we believe in meeting clients wherever they are in their recovery journey. With that, we tailor each treatment plan to the individual client. That means implementing various psychotherapies and seeing what works best for each person. 

Talk therapy is a treatment practice that works toward helping people identify and change harmful or troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. The process is usually during one-on-one therapy sessions with a therapist or within the confines of group therapy. Psychotherapy – in combination with medication – is the leading form of treatment for mental health conditions. 

Some types of psychotherapies used by mental health professionals include: 

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps clients change unhealthy thinking patterns or behaviors by assisting clients to recognize these thoughts and behaviors and developing healthy ways to change them
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Uses cognitive and behavioral methods to help people better regulate their emotions
• Behavioral therapy: Addresses the motivation behind a person's behaviors and often addresses unhealthy and destructive behaviors that are learned
• Psychodynamic therapy: Focuses on exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings to help people increase their self-awareness and understanding of their behaviors

What Are the Benefits of Psychotherapy?

As mentioned, many are skeptical of trying psychotherapy, first and foremost because of the stigmatization associated with the word. However, there are other reasons become skeptical, some of which include: 

• Cost and insurance concerns 
• Fear of feeling uncomfortable 
• Previous experiences that lacked progress 
• Committing time and energy to treatment 
• Biases based on misinformation and mental health stigmatization 

Despite skepticism, there are many benefits associated with talk therapy and working with a qualified counselor. For many, simply talking about things can provide significant relief, but some benefits to consider include: 

• Gaining a better understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors 
• Learning healthy ways to manage stress and life challenges 
• Identifying obstacles hindering your mental health and well-being
• Processing traumatic events in a safe, supportive way 
• Improving physical systems caused by mental health conditions 
• Managing repressed emotions within relationships 
• Practicing healthy coping mechanisms to manage mental health 
• Gaining a whole new perspective about yourself and others 
• Preparing you to manage future life challenges  
• Rewiring the brain by challenging negative and harmful thinking patterns 

Now, people seek treatment for all kinds of mental health concerns, but how can psychotherapy aid in addiction treatment?  

Talk Therapy and Addiction Treatment

Individuals exploring talk therapy for their addiction can find comfort in the fact that a trained therapist will listen to them, their struggles, and their problems without judging. An integral part of a mental health professional's job is to create a safe environment where clients can feel comfortable opening up and being vulnerable. This vulnerability is critical to the therapeutic process, especially for individuals trying to recover from addiction. 

Some of the benefits of psychotherapy on addiction treatment include: 

• Helping clients understand the root cause of their addiction 
• Identifying triggers that could lead to relapse 
• Processing thoughts, emotions, and experiences contributing to addiction 
• Learning coping skills to manage cravings, triggers, and relapse stressors 
• Finding emotional support from a therapist and group therapy peers
• Challenging negative thought patterns that lead to addictive behaviors 
• Improving symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions 
• Increasing self-awareness can ultimately reduce the risk of relapse 
• Teaching communication and conflict resolution skills to restore past relationships 
• Fostering a greater desire for self-growth, healing, and personal development 

Consider Psychotherapy to Aid Your Treatment Today

Of course, addiction treatment is most effective when tailored to each client. What works for some may not work for all, but talk therapy is certainly worth experimenting with. There are several ways therapists implement psychotherapy into individual treatment. For example, at West Coast Recovery Centers, clients see their primary therapist at least once weekly. We also offer group therapy and can provide couples and family therapy as needed to clients who require it. 

Talk therapy can help you recover from addiction, heal from trauma, and improve your overall mental well-being. Consider exploring this therapeutic modality by seeking professional treatment or finding a therapist today. 

Several therapeutic and evidence-based modalities can help people heal from trauma, cope with mental health conditions, recover from substance use disorder (SUD), and improve overall well-being. One of the most common therapeutic practices used by mental health professionals today is talk therapy, sometimes referred to as psychotherapy. Despite its benefits, many are skeptical of the effectiveness of talk therapy for mental health or addiction treatment. Nevertheless, talk therapy can help you identify negative thinking patterns, change harmful behaviors, and learn coping tools to help you live a healthier, happier life. You can begin your healing journey through talk therapy by calling West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 and seeking addiction treatment today.