Individual therapy is perhaps the most common form of treatment for both mental health issues and substance use disorders. It involves working one-on-one with a counselor or therapist to develop a trusting rapport where clients can identify, confront, and overcome their issues. This most frequently takes the form of talk therapy. A Fresh Start Therapy is a behavioral and mental health counseling practice located in Washington, D.C., and we offer numerous therapeutic services to give clients support.
Talk therapy denotes a group of counseling methods that can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The benefits of talk therapy include long-lasting positive effects and a reduction in physical symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Individual therapy can be especially beneficial in substance abuse treatment. Therefore, it makes sense to learn more about the various techniques used in talk therapy and discover its benefits.
What is Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy defines several forms of psychotherapy that involve the patient talking to a therapist to identify and resolve mental health issues. Millions of Americans struggle with depressive disorders and anxiety disorders every year. Individual therapy can be an effective means of overcoming those issues. It can also address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other issues like obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. In individual therapy, you talk about your problems and develop solutions to resolve the issues. Talk therapy includes many different types of methodologies and holistic treatments, including:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The goal of CBT is to explore negative thinking patterns. By understanding how negative thoughts affect your behavior, you can also learn to respond more positively. For example, if you have a substance abuse issue, you can explore the negative thinking that sparks the desire to abuse alcohol or drugs. In turn, you can anticipate these negative feelings and choose different behavior.
Behavioral Activation
Behavioral activation is both a coping strategy and a short-term form of treatment. The idea behind behavioral activation is that when you are depressed or anxious, you are less likely to do things you enjoy, such as exercising or socializing with friends. The result is that your depression or anxiety worsens. With behavioral activation, you identify goals in line with the type of life you want to lead. For example, if you want to be a more positive person, your goals that week might include helping others. It will also teach you to engage in positive behaviors when negative emotions arise.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Where CBT teaches people to control their thoughts, ACT teaches a person to expect and accept their thoughts. For example, a recovering addict would learn to expect urges to abuse drugs or alcohol. They would accept these feelings will arise and choose to act in a positive manner, such as go to an AA meeting rather than turn to drugs or alcohol.
What are the Benefits of Talk Therapy?
The benefits of individual therapy are numerous and have proven very helpful in substance abuse therapy. Some of the benefits include:
- Understanding your mental health issues
- Overcoming stress, fears, and insecurities
- Improving relationships with friends and family
- Putting an end to destructive behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse
Individual Therapy at A Fresh Start Therapy
Individual therapy isn’t just a powerful way to work through emotional and mental health issues, it can be an excellent tool in addressing substance use disorders as well. The benefits of talk therapy can help a patient understand their motivations and learn new coping strategies. If you are suffering from substance use disorder or any mental health issues, consider the mental health and wellness programs at A Fresh Start Therapy. We offer a wide variety of treatments designed to meet the needs of individuals but also therapy for young adults and children. Call us today at 855.325.3909.
