Substance Use Disorder Therapies

The complex nature of substance use disorder, in which multiple aspects of life are impacted, necessitates treatment approaches that include a variety of components.^1,2 One of the most common components of effective substance use disorder treatment is behavioral therapy.²

This page will explain what behavioral therapy for addiction is, and the various types of behavioral therapies used at AdCare Treatment Centers.

Therapy and Addiction Treatment

Behavioral therapy is commonly used in multiple levels of addiction treatment and has been shown to provide several benefits, including the following:²

• Helps engage people in substance use treatment
• Provides incentives for remaining sober
• Helps individuals change their behaviors and attitudes involving drug use
• Improves a person’s life skills to help them deal with cravings, triggers, difficult emotions, and relationships
• Facilitates better interpersonal relationships

Therapy for substance use disorder is often a part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also involve medication for addiction treatment (MAT). When used together, treatment outcomes generally appear more effective than when only one or the other approach is used alone.²

Behavioral therapy may take place in individual and group settings and can encompass many different types of therapy.² Some of the most common types of therapy used in addiction treatment are described below.

At AdCare, each of these therapies is conducted by licensed treatment providers who care deeply about each individual’s recovery journey.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

During cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction treatment, individuals learn how to:^2,3

• Identify problematic thoughts and behaviors.
• Challenge those thoughts.
• Identify alternative ways of viewing situations to promote positive outcomes.

CBT involves exploring a person’s motivation to use drugs or alcohol, including situations that may put them at risk, and developing skills such as coping mechanisms to avoid substance use.²

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy for addiction involves helping a person in their efforts to envision and pursue a life worth living. DBT is based on the idea that a person can work toward 2 opposing goals: change and acceptance.⁴

Allowing ourselves to accept some things while changing others helps to balance a desire to end all experiences we find painful with an effort to accept that some pain is inevitable in life. This can be especially helpful in treating addiction.⁴

Dialectical behavior therapy for substance use disorder facilitates the ability to tolerate difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed. As a result, it can increase a person’s ability to process information and solve problems effectively.⁴

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational interviewing is a technique used by therapists, counselors, and other treatment professionals to help patients resolve their ambivalence about change and identify their internal motivations for the change they want to make.⁵

MI is a highly supportive, person-centered style of drug and alcohol addiction therapy that:⁵

• Engages the patient.
• Helps them to focus on their goals.
• Evokes the patient’s own ideas about what and how to change.
• Facilitates planning for change.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is used extensively in addiction treatment at AdCare. This mode of therapy is conducted with more than one client or patient and a trained therapy professional.⁶

Groups can address different topics, have specific goals, and may consist of couples, families, or peers. Group therapy for addiction treatment is known to:⁶

• Promote social support.
• Reduce stigma and isolation.
• Help members develop effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Encourage the practice of recovery-oriented coping strategies.

Family Systems Therapy

Involving family in therapy can be an important component of addiction treatment. The underlying premise of family therapy is that the family is a system, wherein each member of the family influences the others.⁷

Family therapy is especially helpful in addiction treatment because of the impact that addiction can have on families, and the potential for families to influence the course of recovery for the person in treatment.⁷

Including family therapy as a part of a treatment program can positively impact treatment outcomes and can support a person’s ongoing recovery.⁷

12-Step Facilitation Groups

AdCare also offers 12-Step facilitation groups as another component of addiction treatment. The 12-Step philosophy is based on the concept that addiction is a chronic disease that requires ongoing personal work and support from others.⁸ The personal work required involves 12 specific stages of a process that promotes:⁸

• Accountability.
• Spiritual growth.
• Improving interpersonal relationships.
• Helping others with substance use disorder.

12-Step facilitation groups meet regularly at AdCare to provide support and to hold group members accountable to the process.⁸

Therapy and Co-Occurring Disorders

Other mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety commonly co-occur with substance use disorders. It is important for addiction treatment programs to be able to treat both disorders simultaneously.⁹

At AdCare, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders by integrating mental health treatment and substance use disorder treatment. In addition to the various behavioral therapies described above, we also employ acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Acceptance and commitment therapy has been found highly effective for substance use disorders and various mental health disorders.¹⁰

This therapy aims to teach a person to accept substance misuse urges and symptoms associated with them instead of trying to avoid them.¹⁰

Additionally, this therapy teaches a person how to become psychologically flexible and use interventions to reduce the urges and symptoms without becoming judgmental towards themselves.¹⁰

Does Insurance Cover Therapy During Treatment?

Yes, most insurance plans provide some level of coverage for comprehensive addiction treatment, which usually includes therapy as a core component. Substance use treatment and other mental and behavioral health treatment services are considered essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).¹¹

The level of coverage will depend on your specific insurance company and plan. To instantly check your insurance coverage for addiction treatment, simply complete our .

Addiction Treatment & Therapy at AdCare

At AdCare Treatment Centers, our treatment team is committed to excellence. Licensed clinical providers deliver patient-centered care, such as therapy for addiction, with compassion and understanding.

AdCare offers multiple levels of care for addiction treatment at our locations across New England. Whether you are looking for an alcohol rehab in Rhode Island or a drug rehab in Massachusetts, several convenient locations are available.

To start your recovery process and begin treatment at AdCare, call now to speak with an admissions navigator. They can answer any questions you may have and walk you through the rehab admissions process.