The real value associated with getting treatment at an alcohol treatment center goes far beyond getting clean. Of course, going through detox and therapy are important. The addict has to get rid of old habits before they can move on to a better way of living. With that said, there’s much more going during treatment than meets the eye.
The truth is very few addicts know much about addiction. They don’t always understand the side effects, potential withdrawal symptoms or why they chose to use drugs in the fist place. Counselors and clinicians are acutely aware of these issues. It’s for this reason that most treatment programs are designed to educate the patient. The primary educational goals of treatment include:
- The dangers associated with the extended abuse of a substance
- The causes of the patient’s addiction
- Coping skills to help prevent relapses
Let’s take a quick look at these goals.
The Educational Goals of Treatment
During the first part of therapy and counseling, a lot of counselors like to educate their patients about the dangers of extended drug abuse. No matter how bad of shape the patient was in when they entered rehab, the counselor wants the patient to understand that things will only get progressively worse as time goes on. It’s partially educational and a little bit of an effort to scare the patient into understanding the importance of sobriety.
From there, therapy sessions begin focusing on the whys. Some addiction treatment experts believe the patient doesn’t really need to completely understand why they chose to abuse substances. Truthfully, knowing the causes of addiction brings great value. If the counselor and patient can work together on the truth about the patient’s addiction, the task of developing coping skills becomes easier.
As for coping skills, well, the patient will likely relapse if they don’t learn how to deal with stress, disappointments, their triggers and temptations. A well developed set of coping skills directed at the patient’s personal issues will provide a very important tool for avoiding relapses in the future.
No one has to spend their life caught in the cycle of addiction. That includes you. If you are ready to get back to living the life you were intended to live, we encourage you to call one of our counselors at 844-903-2111. The road to recovery starts with one step and this could be that step for you.