The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that about 70 percent of people who develop an alcohol dependence issue have just one episode that lasts for about three or four years. In order to recover, people access therapy and they learn how to leave the temptation to drink behind them. Their treatment plans are customized, meaning that no two people with alcoholism receive exactly the same kind of care, but these are five components that are typically used in an alcoholism rehab program.

1.  Motivational Enhancement Therapy

At the beginning of an alcoholism rehab program, people may feel as though they don’t really need help in order to stop drinking. They may have agreed to enter treatment programs due to pressure from their families, but they may not be committed to addiction treatment on a deep and visceral level. Boosting that commitment is vital to long-term success, and motivational enhancement therapy can make it happen. Here, therapists ask their clients to define the important things in life, and then therapists ask clients to think about how alcoholism could impede their progress at getting the things they want. The therapy isn’t designed to be confrontational, but this kind of therapy does aim to change assumptions and push the boundaries of what the person believes about alcohol.

2.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This form of therapy is considered the gold standard in the fight against addiction, as people develop vital skills through the work they do in these sessions. They’re asked to:

• Identify the situations that spark cravings for alcohol
• Vocalize the thoughts that come before a sip of alcohol takes place
• Develop replacement messages for the harmful thoughts that push the person to drink
• Practice diversionary tactics that could be used to stop a relapse

This form of therapy could be provided individually, but it might also be provided to groups of people. These group settings allow participants to practice their newfound skills and strengthen their abstinence muscles.

3.  Communication Skills Therapy

Some people with alcoholism use drinking as a weapon. Instead of vocalizing their anger, their dreams or their desires, they drink to sedate and blur. Communication skills therapy is designed to help people learn how to express themselves clearly, so they’ll be able to talk about their feelings instead of leaning on alcohol. For some people, this can be a transformative therapy. In a study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, people who received this kind of therapy drank significantly less alcohol per day than people who had another form of therapy that focused on mood, not talk. By amending the way they communicated, these people were able to amend their alcohol intake, and this could be something other people could experience if they had the same form of therapy.

4.  Family Therapy

While therapy often focuses on the habits and preferences of the person who has the addiction, there are times when adding the family into the mix could be beneficial. Alcoholism can shred family relationships, causing deep scars of resentment and pain, and the whole group could have terrible communication skills that ensure that a conversation turns into an argument, each and every time. Family therapy can help, as the group has the opportunity to discuss their pain and their trauma, and together, they can come up with a roadmap for the future that’s healthier for everyone involved.

5.  Medication Augmentation

Therapy in and of itself might be enough to help some people heal, but there are times when the craving for alcohol is so strong that the person simply cannot participate in therapy. The person might have a deep desire that works like clouds covering up the sun, and brushing those clouds away might be difficult for someone to do alone. Medications can sometimes help, as they can help to quench cravings. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, medications like naltrexone are typically taken for 12 weeks or more, and they’re not considered a treatment for addiction when used alone. But, they can play an important role in helping people prepare for the hard work of therapy.

If you have any questions about how alcoholism rehab works, or you’re ready to start on your own journey toward a robust sobriety, please call us. At Axis, we offer residential treatments that can help people leave an addiction behind. We start with a thorough assessment, and we tailor the treatments we provide based on the needs of our individual clients. Please call us to schedule an appointment.