How can a Clinical Psychologist Help Me?

Addiction is a complicated disease that affects a person’s mental well-being, physical health, and social life. Clinical psychologists can provide tailored treatment plans that address a patient’s unique addiction history, medical needs, and past traumas.

Recovery professionals have many tools available to guide you on the road to sobriety. These specialized treatment plans create new coping strategies to promote positive behaviors. This blog looks at clinical psychology, how it’s applied, and the different forms of treatment available.

Understanding Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology studies people using observation or experimentation to promote lasting change. This branch of psychology looks at mental health issues, emotional well-being, and behavioral disorders that substance use disorders can cause.

How is Clinical Psychology Applied?

Many clinical psychologists work specifically with individuals who have mental health issues, emotional trauma, and behavioral problems. If you’re suffering from a chronic condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction, clinical psychologists are here to support you.

The applications for clinical psychology are widespread, used in places like hospitals, schools, the courts, and even the military. Substance use disorders can show up anywhere at any time. Clinical psychology’s flexibility gives it the unique ability to tackle addiction problems and mental health problems anywhere.

Addiction Therapy Programs

Addiction therapy programs typically use a mix of group and individual therapy sessions that focus on developing new strategies for recovery. Clinical psychologists counsel participants to find new coping skills to handle the possibility of relapse.

The most common type is behavioral therapy, used in many rehab centers. Clinical psychologists focus on providing the patient with the chance to create new behavioral patterns. Below is a list of different types of treatment programs:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is widely recommended for substance use disorders. It allows patients the opportunity to understand how their behavior impacts their addiction and mental health issues.

The therapy focuses on creating the coping skills needed to stay sober, avoid risky situations, and prevent future relapse. These therapy sessions treat patients who suffer from co-occurring mental health issues and substance use disorders.

Contingency Management

Contingency Management is an effective treatment for substance abuse used to encourage long-term sobriety. This addiction treatment gives the patient rewards for positive behavior, such as staying sober or attending therapy sessions. Many rehab facilities have noted that using this type of therapy dramatically lowers the chances of dropouts or relapses.

Motivational Interviewing 

Motivational Interviewing is a type of treatment that teaches individuals to find their own “motivation” for why they’re in recovery. Therapy sessions mentor the patient to reflect on their negative behavior and understand how they impact themselves and others. As patients find their motivation, therapists hand over control to the patient to create their recovery plan.

12-Step Programs

12-step treatment programs advise members to avoid drugs or alcohol by using the support of group meetings.  These meetings, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, use a 12-step process to reach sobriety. Some other popular options are SMART Recovery, Celebrate recovery, among many others.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA), modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a 12-step program for recovering alcoholics. Narcotics Anonymous helps those dealing with drug addiction to reach sobriety. Both support groups emphasize abstinence as a vital part of long-term recovery.

Maintenance Therapy

Maintenance Therapy addresses the fact that addiction is for life. People who’re addicts always run the risk of relapsing; the need for lifelong treatment is a reality.  Any chronic illness requires long-term care, and addiction is no different. Some can find themselves entering rehab several times as they try to get sober.

Aspen can Help

Taking the first step into treatment for drugs or alcohol dependence can be scary if done alone. Let our team of medical professionals and recovery experts guide you as you begin to learn how to handle the stressors of a sober life.Our team is ready to help you every step of your road to recovery and to help change your life for the better. Contact the team at  Aspen Behavioral Health to learn how we can help.

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