How Rehab Would Benefit Someone?
Admission into rehab is an opportunity for yourself and your loved ones to have a place of safety and security. If your addiction has reached the point where you are no longer able to function daily without the use of alcohol or drugs despite maybe still holding a full-time job down, being removed from society for a period whilst allowing you the respite period needed to focus on your recovery journey.
Rehab will give you the chance to meet trained professionals who can give you expert care that is required in the early stage of treatment, whether that be through a medically assisted detoxication regime or through a therapy program. In many rehab clinics, you will come across professionals, who’ve had direct experience with addiction, who are able to give you the highest quality of care and personal insight on addiction.
Entering rehab will give you an introduction to the recovery process, whilst outlining the tried and tested tools for recovery that have been used successfully over many years. Whether that be through talking therapy, 12 steep meetings, online support or SMART recovery.
Rehab allows addiction professionals, to make clinical decisions, plus make referrals for specialist help or ongoing support once you leave the centre if this is required. This might be tailored therapy, housing support, health-related concerns, solicitors etc.
Rehab will enable patients to learn new coping skills and strategies whilst being in a supportive environment. Addiction can be viewed as a coping skill itself, so when clients stop, it’s essential they’re given new skills to ensure they don’t return to their substances of choice.
For many who’ve been abusing alcohol or substances, rehab gives you the chance to give your health a much-needed boost, this could be through vitamins supplied by the GP or, being introduced to eating a healthy balanced diet again. Many rehabs will run a nutrition program, alongside a fitness regime as part of the structure as it’s seen as a vital aspect of recovery.
All rehabs will run a form of aftercare support once you complete, this will vary from each one, but generally, you will be given access, either back to the rehab on allocated days, skype or telephone support from your previous worker. This allows you to continue back in your life, whilst still being able to gain ongoing support.
Many rehabs will run a family support program, this will allow your loved ones if they choose to, visit, get support and, gain knowledge about addiction from the addiction professionals working there.
What Types of Therapies are used?
12 Step Modality
Rehab clinics will use the program of AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) which is a proven method of recovery used worldwide for many years. The element of this program is for you to be part of a support network of other people who have recovered from their addictions.
Talking Therapies
There are many talking therapy theories but generally, rehab clinics will use CBT, DBT, Person-Centred, Psychodynamic or Psychotherapy.
Person-Centred, Psychodynamic or Psychotherapy
These theories of counselling, are designed for clients to look at aspects of themselves, whilst learning new ways of coping whilst not using drugs or alcohol. Patients may at times look back at their life history to better understand themselves in the present moment or just stay focused on the “Here and Now”
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
Focuses on the patients, to look at unhelpful thinking patterns, whilst learning new ways to change behavioural patterns.
DBT (Dialectal Behavioural Therapy)
Is very similar to CBT but has been adapted to help those who suffer from intense emotions.
NLP/Coaching
NLP and coaching is a method used to help clients with motivation through rapid goal setting, to help improve their quality of life, enhance their performance and deepen their understanding of themselves.
Workshops
These are educationally based, with the focus and goals to teach you about a subject. Within rehab clinics they will be delivered in a wide variety of subjects, mainly focussed on recovery and addiction, to teach and show you new skills.
Group therapy
This is a process in which patients share experiences within a group setting led by a facilitator. The aim is to allow clients to share in a mutual way, similar experiences by gaining insight from each other. It’s believed that the healing process of the group working together is as powerful as one-one therapy.
Mindfulness/ Meditation/Yoga
Is the art of learning to be more in the present moment to cultivate a relaxed state of being, using mindfulness-based techniques MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) and meditation. This is proven to aid those who suffer from stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems, all of which are very common for those in the preliminary stages of recovery.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy is used to help those who may find talking therapies difficult. Art allows patients to express themselves in another form, this can be either through drawing, painting or creative writing exercises.
Equine therapy
This is used to help patients promote emotional growth by using physical contact with horses with a trained therapist. Studies have shown that those with mental health conditions benefit the most from this type of therapy.
Acupuncture
This form of complementary therapy is designed to improve the body’s functions and promote the natural self-healing process. This is achieved by inserting small needles in certain pressure points over the body to create a life force energy to be activated. Its roots come from traditional Chinese medicine. Contrary to belief, the needles used are relatively pain-free.
