Addiction is a complex disease and can cause devastating effects if left untreated. It can challenge a person’s personal and professional life by causing financial problems, employment issues, legal implications, and strained relationships. While multiple drug rehabs are devoted to treating substance abuse, most people fail to achieve sobriety after rehab. Therefore, alcohol help rehab programs offer a variety of treatment therapies to increase one’s chances of successful recovery. However, the rehab therapies must match the characteristics of an individual. Tailoring the therapeutic modalities, settings, and services provided to the patient ensures effective, evidence-based treatment for alcoholism. 

This article will explain the top five rehab therapies for alcohol addiction that are proven successful for alcohol addiction treatments.

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is one of the most effective rehab therapies for alcohol addiction treatment. A form of psychotherapy, CBT is used to treat several mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and alcoholism. CBT aims to identify negative, irrational, and distorted thoughts and behaviours and replace them with positive ones. A solution-oriented approach to treatment, CBT focuses less on diagnosis and more on constructive actions, such as harmful beliefs, confronting fears, improving social interactions, and crafting strategies to stop drinking alcohol and using drugs. 

Also, CBT help addresses alcohol and drug addiction in the following ways:

• Recognise the scenarios in which they are most likely to consume alcohol and drugs
• Build self-control
• Use coping techniques when confronted with events that cause them to crave
• Deal with any other issues that may contribute to addiction
• Stay away from triggering situations

Nevertheless, CBT is a short-term and focused therapeutic modality that helps break bad habits and encourage abstinence among patients.

2. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is another form of evidence-based talk therapy based on the idea that biology impacts how one experiences emotions. The DBT method is designed to help patients find emotional balance and embrace positive changes. Children often need to be taught how to manage their feelings, which becomes a problem in adulthood. Hence, DBT helps people live in the present, work on emotions and distress, and practice honest communication instead of dwelling on the past. People learn to tolerate stress, regulate their feelings, and maintain fulfilling relationships during DBT therapy sessions. While DBT is relatively new in psychology, it is proven to be a practical alcohol addiction treatment approach for borderline personality disorder and substance abuse.

Also, DBT has four main strategies:

• Emotional regulation
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Core mindfulness
• Distress tolerance

3. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

Eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is frequently used in drug rehab centres to address alcohol addiction. In this process, eye movement techniques are used by therapists to process an individual’s memories, thoughts, and trauma using visual stimulation. During EMDR sessions, the patients are asked to follow the eye movement while the therapist moves their fingers back and forth. This activity allows patients to recall troubling memory and identify their beliefs. And once patients are done with that, therapists instruct them to shift their thoughts to positive ones. After each treatment, the therapists rate the degree of distress before and after each EMDR session. Out of all rehab therapies, EMDR is believed to reduce the intense feelings associated with a patient’s memory and treat addiction’s root cause. Also, EMDR therapy doesn’t involve any medication and is an excellent option for patients who don’t respond well to drugs.

4. Holistic Therapy

Other than behavioural therapies, patients can also express and process their thoughts and feelings using alternative methods. For example, holistic therapies are non-medicinal approaches to treating physical symptoms of addiction and withdrawal. These therapies include art therapy, routine exercise, guided meditation, spiritual therapy, equine-assisted therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and nutritional therapy. Also, these strategies focus on the patients as a whole rather than on a single symptom or behaviour.

5. Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counselling rehab therapy where a patient is encouraged to conquer ambivalence, set immediate goals for progress, and stay motivated to realise them. Because most people feel powerless against addiction, MI help people treat substance use disorders. In this therapy, the therapist encourages the patient to commit to change, such as quitting alcohol.

Also, motivational interviewing is a straightforward, semi-directive, and client-centred psychological approach that concentrates on improving and strengthening a client’s motivation for change. Finally, supportive and empathetic counselling benefits those who feel less motivated or unprepared for change. The four basic principles on which MI works include:

• Developing discrepancy
• Rolling with resistance
• Expressing empathy
• Developing self-efficacy

Find the Right Alcohol Addiction Rehab Centre Near You

Though addiction is a complex disease which affects an individual’s health, relationships, and career and can be challenging to overcome, people with alcohol addiction can successfully recover with the help of multiple rehab therapies. Be it cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, or others mentioned above; patients can enter any therapy for alcohol addiction treatment. However, every individual needs a different treatment approach, depending on their needs. If you also need alcohol help, contact your nearest drug rehab in the UK.