Individual Addiction Therapy Program

When you enter treatment, you will be taken on a journey that promotes self-discovery and healing. Although each client’s treatment plan is unique to them and their needs, individual addiction therapy is a critical component — it is also the most common type of therapy.

Helping you understand and address the underlying causes of your addiction, individual therapy will encourage you to dig deep now, so that you can improve your life for many years to come.

What Is Individual Addiction Therapy?

As the name implies, individual addiction therapy is when you work one-on-one with a licensed therapist, who may be anyone professionally trained in the use of therapy (i.e. a counselor, psychologist, social worker, etc.). This form of psychotherapy is a collaborative relationship involving you and your therapist, taking place in a caring and confidential environment.

When it comes to addiction treatment, detoxing is only the beginning. True recovery takes time and effort. As you work through the root cause of your addiction, you will learn to develop healthier coping mechanisms. In terms of addiction, mental health conditions often need to be addressed. This is what’s known as a dual diagnosis.

Co-occurring conditions are incredibly common, as many individuals begin using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. For example, research shows that more than 50 percent of males and nearly 30 percent of females with PTSD also meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.

Individual therapy will allow you to work through all aspects of addiction, acting as an integral part of a more comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. It is often offered in conjunction with group therapy, as each of these options yields a unique set of benefits.

What Are the Benefits of Individual Addiction Therapy?

One of the greatest benefits of individual addiction therapy is learning to develop key coping strategies in order to keep triggers at bay. As discussed, addiction is much more than a physical dependence on drugs and/or alcohol. Psychological and social factors can act as powerful triggers, including stress, environmental cues, and social networks.

As you work through the recovery process, individual therapy will help you understand underlying emotional issues and any contributing factors within your personal history. As you continue to understand and address your personal triggers, learning to manage stressors in a healthier manner, you can reduce your risk of relapse.

Some of the main advantages of individual addiction therapy include:

  • Individual therapy offers the highest level of confidentiality, as your concerns are only shared with your therapist. Your therapist will also provide you with something your friends and family can’t — a neutral (and professional) relationship with no personal history.
  • Since you receive one-on-one care, this form of therapy allows a therapist to be highly thorough in terms of understanding the specific issues that contribute to your addiction. This will also allow the therapist to develop a more specialized, individual approach to your ongoing recovery.
  • In comparison to group therapy, the pace of therapy can be tailored specifically to you and your needs. As you become more self-aware and improve your communication skills, you will be able to improve the use of healthy coping mechanisms — but all of that takes time, and that’s okay.

What to Expect From Individual Addiction Therapy

When it comes to individual addiction therapy, there are many types of therapy. 

Although it’s been reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that addiction is a complex disease, impacting everyone differently, a combination of both behavioral and pharmacological therapeutic methods is beneficial during one’s treatment plan. 

When you participate in individual therapy sessions, you will be provided with a space that makes you feel safe and understood. Regardless of the type of therapy, you will be able to identify, explore, and manage your personal issues. More specifically, the issues that contribute to your addiction. 

Depending on your specific treatment plan, your first individual addiction therapy session will likely be more of an assessment. In some cases, a therapist will ask you specific questions. In other cases, you may be asked to fill out a questionnaire. Regardless, this initial session will allow you to open up and build a rapport with your therapist. That way, they can develop an action plan based on your individual needs, desires, and goals. 

While varying models of addiction therapy may be used, in general, individual addiction therapy will focus on the identification of personal triggers and stressors, how to better regulate your emotions and behaviors, as well as how you can improve your relationships. 

Here are just some of the types of addiction therapy options that are available to you:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — Research shows that CBT is an effective treatment option for both addiction and mental health disorders. This short-term form of therapy is usually completed over the course of five to 20 sessions. The ultimate goal of CBT is to help you become aware of negative thinking patterns so that you can learn to respond in more effective ways. CBT is a helpful tool, either on its own or when combined with other forms of therapy, helping to treat everything from depression to PTSD, substance abuse disorder to an eating disorder. Pinnacle Recovery specializes in a CBT treatment, as well as incorporating the “three pillars of CBT” for every individual. 
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — This is a more specialized form of CBT, originally developed to treat those with a borderline personality disorder. A form of talk therapy, DBT will help you identify your strengths so that you can build on them. Being cognitive-based, DBT will also help you identify the thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that create problems in your life. Within individual therapy, the goal will be to emphasize problem-solving behavior, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and more.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is designed to encourage people to embrace their thoughts and feelings. It is not intended for people to fight or feel guilty for their thoughts and feelings. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy creates space for psychological flexibility and is a form of behavioral therapy. ACT combines mindfulness skills with the practice of self-acceptance.

Whether you are interested in an inpatient program or an outpatient program, Pinnacle Recovery is here for you. Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, our treatment center is the perfect place to embark on your road to recovery. 

If you’re ready to live the life you deserve, contact us today!