You can choose different types of therapies when you hire a professional team. Each type of treatment is useful for different people, and addiction specialists can help you determine which methods are best for you. Some of the different types of therapy to consider include:
- Group Therapy: Surrounded by your peers, you can find the support and stimulation you need for rehabilitation and recovery.
- The Twelve Step Programs: Alcoholics Anonymous launched this peer support network that helps people with alcohol addiction to abstain. Other versions, such as Celebrate Recovery or SMART Recovery, were released later.
- Residential Treatment: When you move into a residential treatment facility, you automatically separate yourself from the people and triggers that encourage your use. Residential treatment has a high success rate and is sometimes covered by your medical insurance.
- Family Therapy: Since alcohol addiction affects the whole family, the whole family often benefits from going to therapy together – and you’re likely to have a better chance of staying in treatment if loved ones are involved.
- Outpatient Treatment: Often offering the same kinds of psychologists and techniques as residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment sometimes allows you to live at home and still work or go to school.
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: Commonly called CBT, this therapy equips you to manage your thoughts and emotional reactions. Cognitive behavioural therapy psychologists teach you to avoid triggers while encouraging healthy thoughts.
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: This kind of therapy, also called DBT, prioritizes changing unhealthy behaviors, such as alcohol abuse, by encouraging healthy habits.
Consider Rehabilitation Treatment
Many people dependent on alcohol need to start their treatment with a rehabilitation program. Such a program will keep you safe through withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. You are protected in case of hallucinations or seizures and can access ongoing help to help you through your detox.
When you choose research-based rehabilitation, you can access an expert team to help you with your medication management, medical detox, and mental health therapy, including CBT and DBT. A well-designed rehab program also offers group and individual therapy, acting as a community that supports you in achieving and maintaining your sobriety. A holistic program also offers exercise and meditation to support physical health and well-being.
In addition, your rehabilitation program will incorporate resources for your family, providing education and therapy so your loved ones can continue to support you. As you progress, addiction specialists will help you manage relapses by continuing to provide therapy and support as needed.
Treatment Of Alcohol Addiction
Discover the treatment of alcohol addiction. This page is part of the detailed file on alcohol addiction, which specifies the causes, signs, epidemiology, etc.
The Essential:
- Alcohol addiction can be cured
- Searching for a psychiatric diagnosis behind alcohol addiction: comorbidities are frequent
- Follow-up by a psychiatrist(doctor) is essential
- Need for an assessment by a general practitioner because of the risk of physical complications due to addictions
The Initial Approach In The Treatment Of Alcohol Addiction
It is essential to consult a psychiatrist.
Indeed, several steps must be taken quickly:
- Search for an associated pathology on the psych level.
- Search for organic complications.
- Organization of care, which will most of the time be multidisciplinary
- conducting a motivational interview
Given the risk of physical complications of alcohol addiction, this is essentially medical treatment. Any other intervention will only be overseen by a medical case manager.
Motivational Interviewing
The beginning of the care will always be done through a motivational interview. Theorized by Prochaska and DiClemente, motivational interviewing aims to promote the patient’s motivation development. Indeed, this parameter is the best prognostic factor for addiction treatment.
Motivational interviewing is carried out by a psychiatrist trained in this technique. At best, motivational interviewing benefits from interpersonal therapy inputs that assess the patient’s social support.
Psychotherapeutic Treatment Of Alcohol Addiction
Psychotherapy comes after motivational interviewing.
It will be done as best as possible by the psychiatrist coordinating the care or possibly delegated to a psychiatrist, TCC, or TIP psychologist. The psychiatrist will choose between CBT and TIP depending on the elements.
The TCC or TIP psychiatrist or psychologist seeks to identify the determinants that lead to alcohol consumption.
In all cases, we observe an automation of alcohol consumption on the model: I feel like it, I drink. In other words, craving is the trigger for consumption, without the patient giving himself the time to assess whether the consumption is worth it. There is, therefore, a destruction of the patient’s free will. The TCC or TIP psychiatrist will therefore restore the patient’s free will.
Drug Treatment
To reduce the craving for alcohol:
- baclofen
- acamprosate
- antabuses