Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is a way of treating mental health conditions through communication. It’s the process of identifying and then changing unhealthy thoughts that often lead to undesirable behaviors and, ultimately, the onset of complications in a person’s life.
Many people believe talk therapy involves lying on the couch at a therapist’s office and talking aimlessly about your past and present. And while there are certainly opportunities to open up and express yourself, talk therapy is more structured. What talk therapy does is help to understand the cause behind the stress, trauma, and pain you have, which leads to mental health complications, including the use of drugs and alcohol to cope.
At The Ranch at Dove Tree, you will always find someone available to speak to you about your concerns. A component of the care we provide is cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that uses evidence-based methods to uncover the specific concerns leading to your substance use disorder.
Popular Types of Talk Therapy Used in Addiction Treatment
The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that talk therapy creates a safe and confidential place for people to explore and understand their feelings and, in doing so, they can gain coping skills. The following are some of the most common types of talk therapy and how they work to help those with mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
As one of the most common approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, provides an opportunity for people to explore relationships with their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The process involves working individually with a therapist who will try to uncover unhealthy patterns of thinking. Often, a person’s negative thought processes lead to negative actions. Those self-destructive behaviors and beliefs could include turning to substances.
From there, CBT works to change the thought process, teaching you how to recognize the negative thoughts that lead to self-destructive and low self-esteem and replace them with positive expectations.
- From “I can’t do anything right anymore.”
- To “I’ve done this before, and I can do this right most of the time.”
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) helps those dealing with more than one mental health disorder to navigate their thought processes. It is much like CBT, but the emphasis in this area is on validation. The goal is to accept those uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The goal is to stop fighting and struggling with them, but rather to come to terms with the way you feel.
Changing doesn’t seem impossible once a person comes to terms with those thoughts and behaviors. A gradual therapy plan to alter those thoughts can help you balance what you can change and what you need to accept.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
More commonly known as EMDR, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy helps those facing post-traumatic stress disorder. For many, previous unresolved trauma leads to the onset of negative behaviors and mental health struggles. With EMDR, it’s possible to break the link between that past trauma and your life and experiences today.
During this type of experience, you will work through a series of steps with the help of your therapist. The first step is to identify your triggers for anxiety. From there, you’ll learn how to break the rituals that often happen that lead to negative behaviors.
Other Treatments and Therapies That May Help
With the team at The Ranch at Dove Tree beside you, you’ll navigate a wide range of types of therapy to determine the best combination for your needs. What led you to this path is very different from what happened to others, but with the resources available in talk therapy, it’s possible to identify the struggles and begin rebuilding.
In addition to providing you with access to talk therapy, many people benefit from experiential therapy, a type of self-expression journey that can restore your confidence and help you navigate difficult experiences through hands-on activities and engagement.
Exposure therapy is a type of talk therapy, but one that’s often linked to breaking he connection between something that causes trauma and fear in your daily life. For those struggling with anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or phobias, this type of therapy may help you overcome those terrifying feelings with safe exposure.
Turn to the Ranch at Dove Tree for the Guidance You Need
Here’s the good news. If you are suffering from a mental health disorder or an SUD, or you are not sure what is happening, we can help you. Set up an assessment or just chat with our admissions team at The Ranch at Dove Tree to learn more about what we can do to guide you.
