Individual Therapy Explained
Individual therapy is part of addiction treatment, where a counsellor or a therapist uncovers the psychological problems that have led to the addiction disorder. This is usually done in a 1:1 setting where the patient is given the freedom to tell their story. The critical factor in this setup is that the therapist creates a safe space for the patient without fear of judgment. This way, it’s easier for them to share their life experiences and uncover the disorder’s root cause.
In this session, the highlight is the patient’s relationship with the substance, their triggers, and personal history. Individual therapy aims to carve out a safe space free from shame and stigma so the patient and therapist can work together to uncover the deeper issues and how to resolve them.
Why Choose Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is just one part of the holistic addiction treatment. This is a highly personalised therapy method where the recovering user gets to develop new thinking patterns and start rebuilding their life through the lens of mental health. Addiction is rooted in many deep rooted psychological problems, and to heal them, uncovering them first is the top priority.
In this form of therapy, one can discover what the patients relationship with alcohol is like. Some people use alcohol to numb or escape difficult emotions like stress, shame, or anger. It can act as a shield to protect them. With individual therapy at play, people can find new ways to see their condition and also develop healthy coping skills and strategies to combat their triggers.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are
tiny matters compared to what lies within us
What Happens During Individual Therapy?
During individual therapy, the first session will include an assessment and many open-ended questions towards the patient. The goal of the therapist is to hear about your life with addiction and uncover your personal history that led to this dependence. The patient can also discuss some parts of their life or ask the therapist questions. Communication is, after all, a two-way street, and in individual therapy, it is set up to be a safe space where the patient can communicate freely without the fear of stigma.
In the next sessions, the patient will then be able to share anything on their mind. Their therapist will guide them throughout the session to uncover their feelings and understand their problems in a new light.
Most of the time, connections from the past and present will pop up, but the patient is never forced to divulge anything they don’t feel comfortable sharing. This makes individual therapy safe because they have control over what to share and keep.In some
cases, there are a fixed number of meetings, each lasting for around an hour. Every week, they will have one session and most of the time, it’s up to both the therapist and the patient to decide what number of sessions are needed.
The benefits of individual therapy
Here are just some of the benefits of individual therapy, especially for people struggling with substance abuse:
- Confidentiality
The information shared during sessions remains completely private.
- One-on-one attention
This allows the therapist to be thorough in understanding the individual’s specific problems and develop an individualised approach to treatment.
- Completely individually customised
For individuals who can handle more focused and intense interventions they may benefit from a quicker therapy pace. On the other hand, for those individuals who require more time to adjust they may benefit from a slower-paced therapy.
- A strong therapeutic alliance
This refers to the working relationship between the individual and therapist. Research indicates that the therapeutic alliance is a key component of any successful therapy intervention.
- The development of self-awareness
This is achieved by discussing specific issues in great detail and receiving feedback from the therapist.
- Flexible scheduling
If attending via out-patient treatment, the individual can arrange a time for the therapy sessions that is most conducive to their schedule.
What to Expect from Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy should be a safe space where one can express difficult emotions and painful experiences freely without the fear of judgment. The feeling of safety is a crucial part of individual therapy.
In these sessions, the patient will uncover their triggers, personal history, and other emotions and develop healthy coping skills and strategies. These skills can be used to deal with the triggers when they come up and also handle difficult emotions that have been the root cause of addiction.
The Role of Counselling in Individual Therapy
Counselling and individual therapy refer to 1:1 sessions with a therapist who helps the patient explore their emotions and problems in new ways. Counselling is often regarded as a “lighter” form of therapy, but both can be useful in addiction treatment.
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Facts about individual therapy
In 2010, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy discovered that 1 in 5 people have been to an individual therapy session. It’s also found in the study that over 94% of people accepted the notion of going to a therapist in dealing with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. This signifies a huge change in the general attitude of people towards therapy, and now its growing positive impact towards people’s lives has made it an essential part of addiction treatment.
- Individual therapy is also used in grief counselling, treating eating disorders, and other mental health disorders
- Individual therapy is often done in conjunction with therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, which is another mode of treatment for addiction
- This kind of therapy also falls in the same alternative category as art therapy, music therapy, and the like
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Our highly trained advisers are available to speak to you right away, simply call 0808 252 3379 today.
We can discuss your concerns in complete confidence, explore the options for treatment, and help you to understand what will work best for you.
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