Recovering from an addiction is often an uphill battle. Patients need all the help they can get, be it in the form of supervised detox, prescribed medication, sober living, counseling, or other evidence-based addiction therapy interventions.
Read on to learn more about the role that therapy plays in this support network and how Garden State Treatment Center, one of the premier Northern New Jersey rehab centers, can help you recover.
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Is Therapy Really Effective for Addiction Recovery?
It’s perfectly normal to wonder about the effectiveness of therapy. After all, you’ll spend a good chunk of time, effort, and money (check if your insurance plan covers the full expenses) on therapy sessions.
But it’s important to clarify that the success rate of therapy is variable. Yes, there are some predictors of recovery (and we’ll get to the most important one later in the article). But still, it’s hard to assign percentages to the effectiveness.
Therapy and Medication Often Go Hand-in-Hand
All that said, scientists and healthcare professionals recognize that addiction is a complex, chronic disease made up of a cluster of physiological, cognitive, and even behavioral symptoms.
So, obviously, you need to tackle physiological dependence. For some patients, this means using approved medications for a while. But you also need to address the cognitive and behavioral aspects, which therapy can help you do.
Insights from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also support this notion.
SAMHSA reports that, to build a “whole-patient” treatment approach, both medications and counseling/behavioral therapies are needed. And this combined approach to addiction treatment has been shown to:
- Improve survival rates
- Decrease illicit opiate use
- Increase patients’ odds of gaining and maintaining employment
- Reduce the risk of relapse (and thus lower the risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C)
Dual Diagnosis Is a Real Thing
Healthcare professionals use the term “dual diagnosis” to describe a patient who suffers from both a mental health issue and a substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time. Naturally, therapy interventions can help with mental components.
Unfortunately, dual diagnosis cases are more common than you may think. The SAMHSA reports that the state rate for adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is 19%, compared to the 29% nationwide average.
What Does Addiction Treatment Therapy Look Like?
There’s no one “right” addiction therapy to choose. The treatment plan has to be tailored to every patient’s needs and adjusted as time goes by.
Therapy at Different Stages of Recovery
As you progress on your recovery journey, you’ll find that therapy interventions take different forms. The required time commitment and focus points change to cater to your changing needs.
Here’s what to expect during different addiction treatment stages:
| Stage/Level of Care | Focus | Time Commitment |
| Detox | Recovery education and support through withdrawals | Brief |
| Inpatient or Residential Rehab | Skill building | 24-hour structure |
| Partial Hospitalization Program | Skill building | ~6 hours per day, 5–6 days a week |
| Intensive Outpatient Program | Skill building | 3–4 hours per day, 3–5 days a week |
| Outpatient Services | Aftercare and relapse prevention (may include 12-step facilitation) | Once or twice a week |
Types of Therapy
The New Jersey-based Garden State Treatment Center offers a wide range of therapeutic interventions.
Here are some of the available evidence-based options:
CBT
You’re likely already familiar with talk therapy, which involves speaking with a licensed mental health professional, usually in a one-on-one setting. It’s what comes to mind when you think of a therapy session. And cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is actually a type of talk therapy.
CBT revolves around the idea that thoughts influence feelings and feelings, in turn, influence behavior. This chain can be a positive or a negative thing.
For SUD patients, though, there’s a lot of negativity to tackle. Negative and unhelpful thought patterns take hold, fueling the sort of feelings that lead to drug or alcohol abuse.
During CBT sessions, therapists work with you on identifying, challenging, and replacing those thoughts.
Just note that the goal of CBT isn’t to dwell on the past. The sessions focus on learning practical skills and working towards realistic goals. Expect some “homework” and real-world exercises as part of your therapy.
DBT
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is all about teaching acceptance-based strategies, making it a suitable intervention for patients with intense emotional responses that can’t be addressed with CBT alone.
The “dialectical” in the name refers to the fact that the DBT holds two opposing ideas: Accepting yourself as you are (addictions and all) and working towards meaningful change (long-term recovery).
In general, therapists focus on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness during DBT sessions.
Here’s a quick overview of how DBT differs from CBT:
| DBT | CBT | |
| Setting | One-on-one sessions plus group skill training | Usually one-on-one |
| Typical Duration | 6+ months | 6–20 weeks |
| Target | Emotion management | Thought patterns |
Counseling: Individual and Group
Both individual and group therapy settings have their place in addiction treatment.
Individual therapy offers the ideal setting for patients and therapists to address unique trauma and individual needs. One of the techniques that may be employed during the sessions is motivational interviewing (MI).
Meanwhile, group therapy offers plenty of peer support and reduces the risk of isolation, all while fostering a sense of accountability within the community.
Family Therapy
Addiction doesn’t just affect the cognitive, behavioral, and physiological aspects of the individual’s health. Its effects can ripple out and touch the individual’s loved ones. That’s why substance abuse treatment centers often offer some sort of family therapy.
These sessions encourage family involvement in the treatment plan. The sessions also address the interpersonal dynamics that might have led to the substance use in the first place.
Couples Therapy
Sometimes, addiction hits couples together. And some facilities offer specialized rehab programs for couples.
In this case, they go through the different treatment stages together, including psychotherapy. Before the program is over, addiction treatment professionals will also help the couple set goals and identify ways to avoid relapses as they navigate life post-rehab.
Teletherapy
At a certain stage, you may find telehealth services more convenient than in-person sessions. Instead of coming into the facility for every follow-up session and support group, you can just attend a virtual therapy session.
There are several perks of going virtual here, including the flexible scheduling. Plus, you can get a wide range of interventions online as well. Individual therapy, CBT, DBT, group therapy, and even family counseling can all be done through teletherapy.
Just make sure the treatment center is using a HIPAA-compliant platform and is designed to protect your privacy.
At Garden State Treatment Center, we offer traditional therapy, along with telehealth alternatives. Our licensed therapists and social workers strive to provide the same level of care offered in our in-person therapy sessions.
Holistic, Experiential, and AI Therapies: Are They Good Enough?
Interventions like CBT, DBT, and group therapy are all research-backed and commonly used in addiction treatment.
But they’re definitely not the only options out there. There’s also AI and holistic routes to consider. So, can they replace your traditional therapy? For the most part, no.
Let’s look at AI therapy first.
Chatbots come with some advantages, availability and affordability being the most obvious two. However, chatbots lack emotional resonance and can deliver outright dangerous responses simply because the tool didn’t pick up on the meaning behind the prompt.
It’s also worth noting that your confidentiality isn’t guaranteed with AI tools since they’re typically not HIPAA-compliant.
As for experiential or holistic therapy (yoga, acupuncture, art therapy, sound healing, etc.), they can be effective elements of the treatment plan. But they shouldn’t replace traditional psychological interventions in any case.
3 Things That Can Make or Break Therapy Sessions
There are a number of factors that affect the outcomes of your therapy programs. Let’s check out three critical aspects to keep in mind before committing to therapy:
1. A Strong Therapeutic Alliance
One of the strongest predictors of therapy outcomes is the therapeutic alliance. The therapeutic alliance (or therapeutic rapport) refers to the relationship between the therapist and the patient.
Experts believe that the presence of a strong therapeutic alliance pushes both sides to perform better. The client who feels this alliance is more likely to engage in therapy, while the therapist is more likely to put effort into understanding the client’s challenges.
What, you may wonder, builds a strong therapeutic alliance? Well, you need a foundation of mutual trust, authenticity, positivity, and honest communication.
You want a therapist who’s attentive and capable of creating the right atmosphere for opening up and being vulnerable. Most importantly, you want to know that your provider has your best interests at heart.
When choosing a treatment center, it helps to check out the staff members who’ll be handling your case.
Start by looking for credentials, such as Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). You can also inquire about the specialized therapies offered at the center.
At Garden State Treatment Center, our primary therapists are Charlee Miller (LSW) and Anthony Ricci (LSW). Melissa Forte (MA, LCADC, CCS, CGRS) is our clinical director.
2. Individualized Therapy Approach
We can’t overstate the importance of individualized approaches for substance abuse treatment. Because even if two patients share the same diagnosis, they likely have different traumas, emotional needs, socioeconomic circumstances, support networks, and recovery goals.
That’s why our team crafts treatment plans (therapy sessions included) that are highly individualized.
3. Session Conditions
It’s true that both the therapist and the client have to put in work to build a strong therapeutic alliance. However, the setting matters as well. You need the treatment facility to be nearby, easily accessible, and safe.
Our goal is to make every patient feel at home as they recover. And this is reflected in every aspect of our facility, from the central location in Sparta to the pristine state of our premises.
Addiction Therapy at Garden State Treatment Center
At Garden State Treatment Center, we understand the complexities of substance use disorders. We know that long-term recovery requires commitment from the patient’s side and tons of dedication from the treatment staff.
Our experienced therapists, social workers, and group facilitators want to get to know you and your struggles so that they can provide you with the best guidance possible.
The admissions team is also happy to take your calls, whether you want to learn more about the available therapy options or just need someone to talk to. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
