Therapy Services at Northern Illinois Recovery

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an efficient resource for behavioral changes. CBT is a commonly integrated practice into addiction recovery services. CBT is recognized for its emphasis on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  CBT can help patients identify these negative, automatic patterns in an attempt to rewire their behaviors for the long-term.
A recovering individual will be guided through their triggers, initiated by these techniques:

• Recognize – Identifying which circumstances or situations that trigger substance use
• Avoid – Removing yourself from trigger situations
• Cope – Practicing CBT techniques to address and alleviate feelings that lead to substance use

In fact, CBT techniques can be practiced outside of the therapeutic setting. A recovering individual may be assigned homework to integrate into their daily life. This can include thought records, image based exposure, and behavioral experiments. CBT is quite hands-on and practical for maintaining healthy alternatives.

Despite its origins to treat borderline personality disorder and suicidal thoughts, dialectical behavior therapy has been used to treat individuals with substance use disorders. DBT has steadily become a staple in treating recovering individuals. Considering how people rely on substances to self-medicate, these impulsive behaviors can be changed through DBT.

DBT can incorporate:

• Phone coaching
• Individual therapy
• Skills training
• Team consultations

Similar to CBT, DBT emphasizes learning new skills and embracing mindfulness to channel emotional regulation. DBT encourages patients to discover healthy environments and support groups. Additionally, DBT enhances the patient’s motivation for themselves to change through self-esteem. DBT can improve efficiency when paired with other forms of therapy such as motivational enhancement therapy.

Individual therapy is a thorough and intimate way to uncover the causes of your mental health symptoms. Individual therapy is conducted on a one-on-one basis, through a mental health professional such as a counselor, psychiatrist, or social worker. It can be uncomfortable to address these traumatic memories/experiences, emotions and intense feelings in a group or family setting.

A mental health professional is not allowed to disclose any identifying information about the client, with the exception of:

• A patient is in imminent danger of self-harm
• A patient likely to harm someone else
• A patient who cannot take care of their basic needs
• A court order

A typical individual therapy session is roughly 50 minutes to an hour. A session can occur on a weekly, monthly, or as needed basis. Setting goals is a primary function of individual therapy.

Attaining sobriety and mental clarity demands your hard work and determination. Therapeutic approaches such as motivational interviewing can be beneficial to those with a desire to understand the depth of their goals. The credentials of the therapist should be a priority.

Group therapy can be a wonderful method to share and connect with other like-minded individuals. Addiction can cause you to believe that you’re alone in your journey for change. Group therapy is a common feature in addiction treatment. Addiction can be an isolating experience and group therapy offers a chance to improve your communication skills.

Group therapy can be broken down into four categories:

• Psychoeducational Groups
• Skills Development Groups
• Cognitive Behavioral Groups
• Support Groups

Many individuals in recovery may lack the social and personal development skills. They could have relied on substances or behaviors to cope with life’s stressors. Group therapy can provide insights from others who are further along in their recovery. Crafting a support system is necessary for life-long recovery.

Family therapy allows you and your loved ones to begin healing the damage in your relationships. Addiction is often recognized as a family disease. In fact, your home environment and genetics play a role in the risk factors of addiction. Families affected by substance abuse can be torn between the intense feelings of fear and disappointment.

Finding the opportunity to share intimate experiences with your loved ones can help bridge the disconnect from addiction. The roles family members play in addiction can vary, however, codependency is an element to look out for. Your counselor will determine the best medium to address your concerns and how each relationship with family members impacts your experience.

The practices in family therapy include:

• Journaling
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Role playing
• Communication techniques and family dynamic restructuring
• Written letters to self

Dual diagnosis programs offer help for those struggling with both addiction and mental health conditions. Sadly, a lot of addictions get their start as people try to self-medicate a mental health condition. For example, those with anxiety disorders often use depressants or alcohol to reduce their anxiety. Unfortunately, they develop a dependence on depressants and alcohol.

Dual diagnosis programs largely treat addiction and mental health conditions separately. This allows both you and the treatment staff to remain focused on one thing at a time. Treating both disorders is crucial as an attempt to prevent recurring relapse. 

Relapse prevention helps you learn about methods for avoiding slips and relapses. After an evaluation, you and your counselor will craft a set of guidelines for your practice when triggers appear. Relapse is a frustrating component of addiction recovery, with 40-60% of recovering individuals experiencing a lapse at least once.

A relapse prevention plan could outline specific scenarios and phrases to use in the event of substance use. A relapse prevention plan can be modified and reevaluated to meet your demands. Relapse prevention plans are practical methods to motivate change and hold yourself accountable. 

Rehab programs usually integrate some form of peer support, such as 12-step programs, into the treatment. This integration introduces you to the concepts of the peer support system, which you’ll need once you leave rehab. The 12-Step Program has been widely used as a guideline for maintaining sobriety. For example, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) implements the 12-Step program, with a focus on relying on a higher power to channel your recovery.

This multi-therapy approach serves several important functions. Individual therapy and CBT let you dig into the causes of your addiction and develop strategies for changing your behaviors. Support groups present a window of opportunity to connect with the recovery community. You may be surprised by the amount of insights from your peers.

Yoga therapy has become a promising feature of addiction recovery services. It can help bring interconnectedness between a person’s mind, body, and even spirituality. Yoga employs the practices of still poses, breathwork, and mindfulness. This practice is known to ease symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Yoga therapy is versatile, either through individual or group sessions. Yoga has ancient origins in India before becoming widespread throughout the world in the late 1800s. Yoga can guide recovering patients through their physical health symptoms, especially if they’ve suffered from chronic pain. Chronic pain can result in substance use.

Another benefit of yoga therapy is the practicality; a nice, calm environment is best suited. The physical and mental toll of addiction can leave a recovering individual within a limbo. Yoga therapy can be adjusted to suit your difficulty level.