The benefits of therapy in addiction treatment

April 30, 2025

9:00 am

Being caught up in addiction is not a pleasant place to be. It can be a long, painful trajectory that finds someone cut off from friends, work, family and pursuits. Rehab centres provide, not only a detox for those who need it, but also a powerful resource to help someone get into recovery and achieve abstinence: Therapy.  

What is the aim of therapy in addiction recovery?  

As cliched as it might sound, those in recovery from addiction need to heal. No one makes a choice to become addicted, it is a byproduct of abuse, trauma, distorted family dynamics, unemployment, bereavement, a car accident, in other words a whole host of reasons. Therapy is designed to help the person to understand the underlying causes of their dependency, how to identify triggers, who is there to support or enable and new strategies for overcoming addiction.  

Here at Find Me a Rehab we have a raft of experienced addictions clinicians who work in rehab centres and outpatients. Perhaps you are thinking: Is there a drug rehabilitation centre near me? Is there an alcohol rehabilitation centre near me or where can I get 24-hour rehab advice you need look no further. We are here to provide free, confidential and impartial advice.  

I have heard a lot about the 12 steps, what is it all about?  

For just under one hundred years, 12 step programmes, initially developed in the USA for alcohol recovery, have helped millions of people across the globe to achieve long lasting sobriety. At the core of the 12-step philosophy is a principal that addiction is not just a physical health problem but a psychological one, and a spiritual one, too. It places an emphasis on accepting a power, greater than oneself and that there is great benefit to be gained from others in recovery.  It has a gradient approach, with recovering addicts following a path from step one: onwards. This means that when someone leaves a rehab centre they will be on a particular step so that they can continue at any 12-step group, anywhere in the world. The process enables someone, not only to address their dependency, but also to build a different way forward while making good damaged relationships due to addiction.  

What are the steps?  

Acceptance: This is, obviously, the first element and is about accepting that the use of drugs/alcohol has got out of control and that it is possible to get control over their use. 

Trust: Contrary to popular misconception, this is not about God. Putting your faith in a higher power doesn’t need to have a religious element.   

Liberation: This is about understanding the higher power and how to engage with it and its plan for you.  

Understanding: This can be a testing time in therapy as the person in recovery will be examining previous thoughts and behaviours while also evaluating moral aspects of past actions.  

Acknowledgement: Again, a difficult and testing time, this is about opening to those who have been caught up in the persons addiction and have suffered as a result. This is not family therapy but can shine a light and spark a re-connection. It also highlights that anyone can get caught up in addiction.  

Freedom: This element is around abandoning damaging thoughts and negative behaviours that have caused pain and suffering in the life of someone in recovery. 

Growth: An opportunity to look for guidance by strengthening your relationship with a higher power as well as with modesty.  

Reflection: This helps someone to understand, to take stock, of how their dependency has caused damage and to explore fears and anxieties around making amends for this damage.  

Forgiveness: Where appropriate, reaching out to those who have been negatively affected by your addiction.  

Continuity: At this juncture, it is important to re-assessing thoughts and behaviours and the impact of new thinking skills and approaches.  

Connection: Reminding the person in recovery to continually search for insight and direction from their higher power. Meditation is often used at this point.  

Supporting others: Step 12, the final step, concerns perpetuating the power of the 12 steps by utilising what you have gained from the process by assisting those new it.  

Is it hard work to complete the 12 steps?  

Achieving and maintaining abstinence is hard work. Going into a rehab centre is not like going to a spa retreat. It is not all about drinking green tea, chanting and chakras: Far from it. Sure, there are centres that provide this, at a cost, but rehab is not a holiday, it is hard work: As it should be.  

Getting into recovery from addiction is a trajectory and the 12 steps a very useful framework for the process. It has helped millions of people for nearly one hundred years but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with challenges.  

What are the common flashpoints with a 12-step model?  

Though everyone who participates in 12 step-based therapy has a different experience, there are some common themes:  

Staying committed: Getting into recovery means a commitment to lifelong abstinence. Life throws objects at us all so staying committed to the philosophies of a 12-step approach can be challenging to some. However, those who achieve sobriety and abstinence will tell you that re-visiting the philosophy of the model and attending meetings to listen to others can help to provide a focus.  

Opening  up and sharing within a group: While a group therapy session is a “safe place” active participation requires someone to share experiences which can lead to sense of vulnerability. Conversely, sharing information and listening to other people’s experiences can be very liberating as it reinforces that the person in recovery is not alone, others share similar experiences, and recovery is within their grasp.  

Higher power: This can be a contentious issue, especially among those who are atheist. The higher power does not have to be a religious based one. The higher power could be reality, nature, science: It matters now.  

Taking ownership: part of the process, within a 12-step programme, is to draw up an inventory of past mistakes and, where possible, make amends. This, as anyone who has undertaken 12 step work will tell you, can a very significant challenge but a necessary part of the process.  

    What about therapy for loved ones and the extended family?  

It is no understatement to say that addiction affects, not only the individual, but the wider family. Addiction can place unbearable strain on a spouse, parents, children and others. Relationships can be severely strained or broken. It is essential to address how someone’s addiction is affecting family dynamics. The family, as well as the individual, needs time and space to heal. Family therapy provides that space and time.  

What happens during a family therapy session?  

As with 12 step group work, much emphasis is put on participants being honest and open. Those taking part are supported to say how they feel and what they are thinking. Sessions are also about learning new ways to supporting the person in recovery. Role play can often be helpful. One of the most important aspects is realistic goal setting.  

Can these sessions be stressful?  

Those getting into recovery, can do so after many years of addiction. As such, there can be much pent-up frustration amongst the family group and a whole range of emotions can be borne out in sessions: Always in a safe and supportive way with the assistance of an experienced and qualified family therapist. 

Experience shows that some of the emotions expressed in family therapy sessions include:  

   Shame: It is not uncommon for family members to feel that their loved one has  

   Brought shame upon the family and tarnished its reputation in the community.  

Guilt: Sometimes loved ones blame themselves for not seeing the signs of addiction believing that, if they did, they could have got their relative help before the problem took root. 

Fear: Showing concern for their loved one is to be expected in family therapy as are concerns for the future.  

Helplessness: It can be difficult for family members to know how to support someone in addiction and sometimes family members’ loose hope. These sessions can help to restore that hope.  

Anger: Trying to support someone in a family group who is caught up in addiction can lead to feelings of anger that the person has fallen into dependency and that they feel powerless to fix the problem. 

What can the person in addiction and the wider family gain from family therapy?  

Support the person in recovery: Just as it takes time to fall into addiction, so it takes time to reach out and get into recovery. Family members, through therapy, can develop new skills and knowledge to help their loved one to make positive changes and maintain abstinence.  

Understanding the problem: Understanding the origins of someone’s addiction, what may have caused it and triggers that can exacerbate it is essential, and family therapy can educate the wider family network. This is aimed at enhancing a positive response to a family member. While family members can learn how to be empathetic, they can also be more informed on how not to enable.  

Improve communication: Someone caught up in addiction may feel that no one is listening to them, which can lead to feelings of anger and a perception that they are being ignored. Trying to resolve or explore these concerns within the family can lead to heightened tension and high expressed emotion. Family therapy provides a space where feelings and emotions can be explored and worked on in an atmosphere of calm and there is no judgement.  

Identify enabling behaviours: Family members, overall, try their very best to support their loved one caught up in addiction and assist with money and emotional support. Unfortunately, this can perpetuate active addiction. Through family therapy family members can discover positive ways to support their loved ones which can include formulating clear boundaries: This supports the family as well as their loved one dealing with addiction.  

Learning new skills for long term recovery and abstinence: Recovery doesn’t come quickly and can be a long and arduous process. Having the right support from those close can be invaluable. Family members, though not deliberately, can be, with the best intentions, controlling or even judgemental. Family therapy can help to resolve these issues. Family members can, sometimes, be reluctant to come on board with family therapy: They cannot be forced.  

What happens in a group session when someone is in rehab?  

Group sessions are led by someone with skills, experience and training, often in recovery themselves. Depending on their qualifications there are differing regulatory authorities that oversee therapists. It is the role of the therapist to guide the conversation, provide structure, keep the discussion relevant and use differing techniques to heighten the benefits of attending.  

It matters not if the centre is 12 step/SMART or eclectic based; As long as the person in addiction is getting the help they need. It is likely that elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are used as well as dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT). Mindfulness can also be an element of group therapy. Others in the group could be at the beginning of their stay, or at the end. There may also be those who have relapsed. Everyone has a part to play in others recovery. 

Knowing where to get help can be a minefield. Here at Find Me a Rehab we provide totally free, confidential and impartial advice to anyone. If you are wondering “Is there an alcohol rehabilitation centre near me” or “is there a drug rehabilitation centre near me” call and speak to a clinician. We provide free 24 hour addiction advice.  

What can someone gain from joining group therapy?  

Group therapy is the nucleus of all recovery models in every centre in the world. You could be sitting next to a rock star or a litter picker: it matters not. The person to your left could be alcohol dependent, the person on the right dependent on sleeping pills: The model is the same and the trajectory is recovery. One of the key components of therapy is relapse prevention. It is often said that rehab centres are a “safe place”, which is true, but the real world awaits, and it is essential that those in recovery know how to avoid triggers and to make positive choices when they go home.  

What are the positives from joining in on group therapy?  

  • Form strong bonds with peers 
  • Reinforces compassion, empathy and kindness for all as well as yourself 
  • Addresses feelings common in addiction: depression,anxiety,isolation and shame 
  • Demonstrates the success of others which can bolster motivation  
  • Fosters a sense of taking stock of responsibility for your own actions 
  • Celebrating success while supporting those who are finding it difficult to be in rehab 
  • Breaking negative behaviour cycles and honing communication skills.  

Are there any considerations?  

It is perfectly normal, indeed common, for those taking part in group therapy to be fearful, indeed anxious: especially for those who are unaccustomed to expressing their emotions. Some common themes include:  

  • Worrying about not fitting in: It can take time, but the inclusive and supportive environment brings a freedom to talk and engage. 
  • Privacy: There is a legal requirement for therapists to maintain absolute confidentiality. Within a group setting there  
  • Thinking others are judging you: Everyone there is there for one reason: They are caught up in addiction and are there to support you.  
  • Opening up will make me feel uncomfortable: Yes, this might happen but that is the point of therapy to explore, examine, confront, challenge, learn, develop, cry, laugh, and learn to love: yourself and others.  

Does group therapy work?  

If the question is, does it work for everyone, then the answer is: no. That is to say that if someone in addiction enters treatment but isn’t prepared to “do the work” then group therapy won’t be productive. Sitting quietly, listening and nodding isn’t active participation. You get out what you put in. If you go to a gym and sit in the cafe area, you won’t get fit: The same applies to group therapy. You must put in the work.  

What about individual therapy?  

This is sometimes known as one-to-one therapy or counselling. This is provided, as part of a treatment plan for those entering treatment for more than one week. It is normally one session a week for 50 minutes. It can be based on Cognitive behavioural therapy, a dialectical approach or an eclectic approach. Sometimes, elements of motivational interviewing are included as are role plays.  

I have deep seated trauma from my past; can this be addressed?  

Absolutely, yes. If past trauma is not resolved, then relapse is inevitable.  

What happens in one-to-one therapy?  

Working, exclusively, with a therapist allows someone to really take a deep dive into the causes of their addiction. Often, the cause is buried and mentally “locked away”.  Sometimes, people feel more able to delve into difficult areas on a one-to-one basis then in a group. Therapy is about healing and taking the lid of trauma can be a stressful time: Working with an individual therapist can really help someone to heal. It could be the first time that someone, caught up in addiction, has ever had to speak to someone who is there just for them, who really wants to help and is solely listening to them in the privacy and security of a session.  

How experienced will my therapist be?  

All therapists in rehab centres have many years of training and experience with recognised qualifications. They are guided and regulated by external bodies, depending on the type of qualifications. Many are in recovery themselves with very strict guidelines on how those in recovery can provide services.  

The role of a therapist is to be welcoming, provide an environment where someone is put at ease and feels safe enough to open up and tackle their dependency. Individual therapy is just that: It concentrates on the specific issues that brought someone to rehab. There are very clear boundaries on confidentiality so someone engaging in individual therapy can share the most difficult of memories and emotions knowing that they are supported and safe.  

How can someone in rehab learn how to prevent a relapse?  

An incredibly powerful element of recovery is amassing the tools and garnishing the support to maintain sobriety and abstinence. Part of the therapy plan will be to work out what triggers relapses and how to cope with stressful situations so that relapse does not occur.  

How does Trauma therapy work?  

To try and separate trauma and addiction would be like separating a parrot from a bowl of nuts: Pointless and incredibly difficult. Addiction is, very often, a way of self-medicating against the raw pain of trauma. The trauma therapy approach is a highly specialised one consisting of four distinct progessive yet intertwined elements:  

  • Identifying the underlying cause of the trauma 
  • Working through the emotional responses linked to the trauma 
  • Building positive and healthy responses to trauma 
  • Learning new skills of resilience and developing as a person.  

There is a 4-element    model within the arena of trauma therapy that is common among the different rehab centres:  

1st stage: Therapeutic alliance.  

Delving into the most difficult and raw emotions of trauma is not going to happen with someone you met 30 seconds ago. Thus, the trauma therapist takes time to get to know you and establish trust and rapport. Part of this initial element is to agree treatment goals.  

2nd stage: Bringing trauma into the open  

Within the safety of the therapy session, this is the time and space to take the lid of the tin where the persons trauma has been stored, sometimes for decades. With the help of the therapist, you will learn to process past traumas and finally release stored up anger, tension, fears and loss so that you can move forward.  

3rd stage: Collating a statement that details the impact trauma has made  

Getting things down on paper can be transformative. With the assistance of your trauma therapist, this impactful piece of work allows you to home in on how trauma has springboarded dependency and can also identify other areas for personal growth and development.  

4th stage: Confronting the roots of trauma 

This allows you to confront those who caused the trauma and achieve a sense of finalisation where the trauma can be left in the past. As you are in therapy the people who caused the trauma are not there so, by reading out the written document in group therapy, peers and the group therapist can provide the support needed to break free from addiction.  

Are there any therapies that can be used as an adjunctive to trauma and family therapy?  

Some centres offer a treatment known as Eye Movement and Desensitisation/Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). This is an evidence-based treatment which is designed to reduce the anxiety, fear and heightened emotional responses experienced by those working on trauma. EMDR can be used to target specific past trauma so that you can develop new ways of processing the difficult and painful memories. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a mainstay of rehab centre treatment plans. As trauma therapy helps you to identify, isolate and work through traumatic memories so CBT works to interpret memories in a different light meaning you can develop new ways of responding to them.  

Evidence and research shows that combining trauma therapy with other approaches can be very beneficial. Blended treatment can include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Trauma therapy helps uncover the root causes of addiction by addressing unresolved emotional issues and traumatic experiences. CBT, on the other hand, equips you with the tools to reframe negative thought patterns and develop healthier coping strategies. By combining these two approaches, you can gain a better understanding of how your past experiences influence your current behaviour and learn practical techniques to break free from destructive patterns like substance abuse. 

Knowing where to find impartial, free and confidential advice can be difficult. Here at Find Me Rehab we can provide this service. If you need free 24-hour addiction advice: Call us or send in an email. If you are wondering is there an alcohol rehabilitation centre near me or is there a drug rehabilitation centre near me, call and speak to a clinician.