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What is Addiction Therapy?

Addiction therapy is a field that focuses on the treatment of addiction and substance abuse disorders. Addiction therapists can help both adult and adolescent patients reduce their use of substances or lessen certain addictive behaviors. Addiction therapists are substance abuse counselors and psychologists that specialize in addiction psychology. Addiction therapists may work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and residential treatment facilities. Addiction therapists may treat the following conditions:

• Substance abuse disorders, such as drug, alcohol, or prescription drug use disorders
• Behavioral addictions, such as gambling or internet addictions
• Co-occurring psychiatric disorders, disorders such as depression that may coexist with addiction or substance abuse

Addiction therapists can perform a variety of different therapy methods tailored to patients' immediate needs and stage of recovery. For example, patients who are sober, have completed detoxification, or are no longer chemically dependent may continue to experience cravings or negative emotions. Through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), addiction therapists can provide these patients tools to cope with their addictions and address underlying trauma. They teach patients to identify high-risk situations for substance abuse and develop techniques to avoid such situations.

Other patients may benefit from therapy methods such as family therapy or group therapy sessions, where the presence of others can provide patients additional support. Addiction therapy methods may include:

• Individual therapy and psychology sessions
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy technique for PTSD
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a therapy technique for managing emotions
• Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Motivational interviewing (MI), a therapy technique to measure patients' motivation and capability of change

Patients can complete outpatient or residential (live-in) addiction therapy treatment courses. In residential therapy, patients may be restricted in terms of where they can go and what activities they can participate in. Addiction therapists may collaborate with neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists.