Psychotherapy

Mental health concerns and substance abuse can wreak havoc on the lives of those directly affected. People surrounding someone grappling with one of these issues likewise often suffer hugely. At NuLife Behavioral Health, we understand how difficult it is to face these issues alone or see a loved one suffering. We want you to know that recovery is possible and help is available. Our programs include a variety of excellent, evidence-based treatments for these concerns.

One of the most effective mental health treatments, which also plays a key role in substance abuse recovery, is psychotherapy. This intervention is often called “talk therapy” because it relies on the conversation between a therapist and their client or clients. Psychotherapy is a crucial part of many effective recovery journeys. Call 888.568.2057 or reach out online to discuss our accredited psychotherapy programs in Massachusetts, Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey.

What Is Psychotherapy for Mental Health Treatment?

Psychotherapy for mental health treatment takes many forms, and therapists often draw on more than one style when administering sessions. That said, here are a few of the most common forms of therapy to emerge for mental health treatment:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – In this modality, therapists help clients increase their sense of personal power and replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. Therapy may also explore clients’ personal histories to discover patterns and causes of distress.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – A type of CBT, this approach uniquely also includes the eastern idea of mindfulness. This means that clients practice remaining in the present moment as a coping skill. Specifically, they develop the self-regulating ability to notice their thoughts and emotions without immediately acting on them.
• Gestalt Therapy – In this approach, clients develop an awareness of their own sensations and reactions. This allows them to respond fully and reasonably to situations as they occur. Once they’ve developed this skill sufficiently, they can also address unfinished business from their pasts.
• Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy – While less common, many therapists still incorporate parts of this format initially developed by Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis focuses largely on making unconscious material conscious and may include techniques like hypnosis and dream interpretation.

What Can I Expect from Psychotherapy for Addiction Treatment?

Many of the same approaches are used in psychotherapy for addiction treatment as those used for mental health treatment. Nevertheless, here a great emphasis on behavioral approaches often dominates. This is because those in recovery may benefit most from working to understand and modify their own substance-related behavior.

Increasing self-awareness and coping skills for substance abuse triggers is central to psychotherapy for addiction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is well suited to this and thus plays an especially large role in many recoveries. It can help clients understand and address the root causes of their substance abuse. Coupled with present-moment-focused therapies like gestalt or DBT, it can prove a powerful tool in creating a healthier worldview. CBT also helps clients reframe negative thoughts as they occur. This provides a major coping skill when cravings strike.

Substance abuse recovery also often involves group psychotherapeutic styles. Here a therapist works with a group of people who share a common struggle. This modality creates solidarity, accountability, and a judgment-free social network. Other group approaches may involve a person in recovery’s family or significant other. This can be a powerful tool for repairing social damage that may have been caused by substance abuse. It can also help ensure the client has a loving and well-informed support network as they work toward recovery.