Mental health is an essential component of addiction recovery. Finding the right therapy for you is critical. Alcoholism therapy and alcohol counseling programs at substance abuse centers are the best way to safely and effectively support recovery. They can also work to understand addiction triggers and change behaviors for long-term sobriety.
If a young man in your life is struggling with alcohol abuse, the team at Red Oak Recovery® can help. Call us now at 866.457.7590 to learn about our holistic substance abuse center in North Carolina. Let Red Oak Recovery® show you how our team can help you thrive with alcohol counseling.
What Is Alcohol Counseling for Addiction Therapy?
Alcohol counseling is a type of addiction therapy for those struggling with alcoholism. Alcoholism therapy looks different for each client because every person’s experience of addiction is their own. Traditional addiction therapy begins with at least one type of behavioral therapy. The most common evidence-based behavioral treatments for addiction are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Both types of behavioral therapy help clients change thought patterns, understand addiction, and lower the risk of relapse over time. CBT focuses on behavior and the root cause of addiction triggers. DBT helps clients understand their emotions and increases their emotional tolerance. Both are highly successful and pair well with alternative therapies. CBT and DBT can be used together. Therapists may also suggest group or family CBT sessions to improve communication, understanding, and social behaviors. These behavioral therapies are the most common among addiction treatments because they really work.
Most recovery programs pair traditional behavioral therapy with a range of alternative therapies for holistic counseling. These therapies might include:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Equine therapy
- Ecotherapy
- Dance therapy
- Large animal therapy
- Wilderness therapy
Tradition and experiential therapy sessions typically range from 60 to 90 minutes. During this time, therapists prompt clients to talk or take part in physical activity. Therapists observe the client’s behaviors, moods, and history to assign homework and help them change behavior.
Benefits of Alcohol Abuse Counseling
Counseling is especially effective for alcohol abuse because alcohol is prevalent in our daily lives. Unlike illicit drugs, alcohol can be hard to avoid. The right counseling can help people manage triggers and thrive. Some benefits of alcohol abuse counseling include:
- Improved communication
- Actionable goals
- Emotional resilience
- A greater understanding of self
- Understanding mental health and addiction
- Re-prioritize daily life
- Reduce the risk of relapse
Like all forms of therapy, addiction counseling has lasting long-term effects. Therapists provide consistent support through daily life and major life changes. This consistency helps those in recovery feel seen, heard, and supported. Long-term counseling can help uncover co-occurring disorders and provide clients with the necessary mental health treatment to reduce alcohol cravings and the risk of relapse. Because mental health changes moment to moment and day to day, long-term counseling can help clients build resilience to handle change.
Start Alcohol Abuse Counseling Today at Red Oak Recovery®
If your son or a young man in your life is struggling with alcohol abuse, call Red Oak Recovery® today. Our holistic treatment center provides men ages 18-30 the help they need for long-term addiction recovery. We help clients uncover, treat, and manage co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and more with dual diagnosis treatment.
With an emphasis on ecotherapy, we pair traditional therapy with wilderness and outdoor therapies to help young men disconnect from their busy lives and reconnect with nature. If you don’t know where to begin addiction recovery, the team at Red Oak Recovery® can help. Call us now at 866.457.7590 to learn more about the benefits of treatment at our substance abuse center.
