
Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse. To be effective, treatment must address the individual’s drug abuse and any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.
Full Answer
What is the effectiveness of individual therapy?
Effectiveness of Individual Therapy. When a person in therapy is open and honest, therapists generally are better able to address each issue and adjust the treatment approach as needed. Going to therapy might feel difficult on some days. But, it is important to attend each session and complete any homework assigned.
Is there a single treatment that is appropriate for everyone?
No single treatment is appropriate for everyone. Treatment varies depending on the type of drug and the characteristics of the patients.
Why is it important that treatment be appropriate?
It is also important that treatment be appropriate to the individual’s age, gender, ethnicity, and culture. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical. The appropriate duration for an individual depends on the type and degree of the patient’s problems and needs.
What is the most effective treatment for drug abuse?
Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical. Counseling—individual and/or group—and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.

Is individual therapy effective?
Individual therapy is an effective treatment for many types of mental, emotional and behavioral health issues. But, it can also help people who are facing difficult life situations, or would like to develop healthier, more functional personal habits.
What is the first step for individual treatment?
The first step in individual therapy is for you and the therapist to get to know each other. Building a relationship will ensure trust and provide an environment that allows for personal growth. The second step will be to help you identify the goals you seek to accomplish.
What is the most effective treatment for addiction?
According to American Addiction Centers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable treatment tool because it can be used for many different types of addiction including, but not limited to, food addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction.
What is the difference between individual and group counseling?
The differences between group counseling and individual therapy are clear. In individual counseling, there is one client and counselor. In group counseling there are multiple clients, and sometimes multiple counselors. Group counseling is roughly defined as at least five clients, and as high as 15.
What makes a treatment effective?
To be effective, treatment must address the individual's drug abuse and any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. It is also important that treatment be appropriate to the individual's age, gender, ethnicity, and culture.
What are the four stages of treatment?
Various models exist describing the overall phases of treatment, but most have elements in common. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes four stages of treatment: initiation, early abstinence, maintenance of abstinence, and advanced recovery.
Is treatment for drug dependence effective?
According to research that tracks individuals in treatment over extended periods, most people who get into and remain in treatment stop using drugs, decrease their criminal activity, and improve their occupational, social, and psychological functioning.
What is a treatment plan for substance abuse?
A substance abuse treatment plan is an individualized, written document that details a client's goals and objectives, the steps need to achieve those, and a timeline for treatment. These plans are mutually agreed upon with the client and the clinician.
What is typically the first step in the substance abuse treatment process?
Typically, the first step in treatment and recovery from an addiction is known as detoxification. Which involves clearing the substance from the body and limiting withdrawal reactions – in many cases, detoxification treatment will involve medications to reduce and mitigate the withdrawal symptoms.
When do you use individual counselling?
Individual counseling can help one deal with many personal topics in life such as anger, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, marriage and relationship challenges, parenting problems, school difficulties, career changes, etc.
What are the advantages of individual counselling?
Through individual therapy, patients can improve skills related to respect, confidence, and empathy. Coping Skill Development: Often, those who have mental health disorders struggle with their symptoms. This often leads to the development of poor behaviors.
Is individual therapy more effective than group therapy?
Individual therapy versus group therapy (n=1 study). Group psychotherapy was significantly more effective than individual psychotherapy at improving subject outcome ratings at both 12 and 24 month follow-up (OR 9.2 at 24 months (95% CI: 3.0, 27.7), p<0.01).
What is individual therapy?
Individual therapy is a form of therapy in which the client is treated on a one-on-one basis with a therapist. The most popular form of therapy, individual therapy may encompass many different treatment styles including psychoanalysis and cognitive-behavioral therapy . Individual therapy allows the therapist and client to focus on each other, ...
How long does psychotherapy last?
However, psychoanalysis and related therapies may progress for months or even years, while brief therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy can produce results in just a few sessions.
How can a therapist help you overcome fear?
In order to accomplish this, the therapist can help you overcome your fear with incremental steps. Techniques commonly used in cognitive-behavioral therapy draw from the schools of behaviorism and learning theory as well as the school of cognitive theory.
What is the alternative to individual therapy?
The alternative to individual treatment is group therapy . Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a common type of group therapy . CBT sessions for phobias may call the therapy session a seminar. The duration may be one hour or several days.
How does psychoanalysis treat phobias?
Psychoanalytic treatment involves exploring the organization of the personality and reorganizing it in a way that addresses deep conflicts and defenses. According to the principles of psychoanalysis, curing a phobia is only possible by identifying and solving the initial conflict.
How long does a syringe last?
The process is generally lengthy, often lasting for many years. It may also be more expensive than some other options, although the costs are dependent on factors such as the number of sessions per week, geographic location, and duration of treatment.
Does a psychoanalyst inject his or her own opinions?
The psychoanalyst does not inject his or her own opinions but allows the client to transfer feelings onto the analyst. Psychoanalysis is not as popular today as it was a few decades ago, but is still a treatment used to address deep seated personality issues.
Why is it important to be active in therapy?
Determination to be active in therapy and heal is essential for meeting therapeutic goals and fostering a positive therapeutic relationship. Finding the right therapist is also crucial to the treatment process.
What is the first session of therapy?
The first session of therapy often focuses on gathering information. A therapist speaks with the person in treatment about their past physical, mental, and emotional health. They also discuss the concerns bringing the person to therapy.
How can a therapist help you?
A trained therapist can help people make lifestyle changes. They can also help identify underlying causes of symptoms and provide strategies for changing unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Therapy can equip people with the skills to manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life.
Why do people break confidentiality in therapy?
But, a therapist may break confidentiality if someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others.
How important is it to talk to a therapist?
Finding a therapist you are comfortable with is vital to successful treatment. It is important to talk about the type of therapy to be used, treatment goals, session length, and how many sessions are needed. Many therapists encourage people in treatment to do most of the talking.
What are the different types of therapists?
They can work as licensed professional counselors (LPC), psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), psychiatric nurses, or psychiatrists.
What is the purpose of therapy?
Therapy can help treat mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral issues. Concerns that may be discussed in therapy include, but are not limited to:
What is effective treatment?
Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.
How long do therapeutic communities last?
Therapeutic communities (TCs) are highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. TCs differ from other treatment approaches principally in their use of the community—treatment staff and those in recovery—as a key agent of change to influence patient attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors associated with drug use.
How does behavioral therapy help patients?
Behavioral treatments help patients engage in the treatment process, modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug abuse, and increase healthy life skills.
Why is it important to ease withdrawal symptoms?
Easing withdrawal symptoms can be important in the initiation of treatment ; preventing relapse is necessary for maintaining its effects. And sometimes, as with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to prior treatment components.
What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which seeks to help patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to abuse drugs.
Why do treatment and services plan need to be modified?
An individual's treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs.
Does treatment need to be voluntary?
Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
How do drugs help people?
Drugs can help people handle the immediate fears, but as soon as the drug wears off the fear returns.
Why is exposure and response therapy important for anxiety?
Since it is believed that anxiety is triggered by a stimulus and that performing the compulsive behavior reduces that anxiety, exposure and response therapy aims to break the conditioned link between a stimulus and the compulsive behavior.
What is dialectical behavior therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy - a form of therapy that combines elements of the behavioral and cognitive treatments with a mindfullness approach based on eastern meditative practices.
What is applied behavioral analysis?
Applied behavioral analysis, a form of intensive therapy based on the principles of operant conditioning

Overview
Benefits
- Therapy can help people overcome obstacles to their well-being. It can increase positive feelings, such as compassion and self-esteem. People in therapy can learn skills for handling difficult situations, making healthy decisions, and reaching goals. Many find they enjoy the therapeutic journey of becoming more self-aware. Some people even go to ongoing therapy for self-growth. …
Treatment
- It could be time to seek therapy if an issue causes distress or interferes with daily life. Distress can mean negative thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or even a bodily sensation such as pain or fatigue. It is important not to wait until symptoms become severe before going to therapy. It may be best to seek therapy if you are often unhappy or feel ov...
Background
- However, statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) show mental health issues are common in the United States. In fact, 1 in 5 adults may be affected. It may help to remember that therapists are trained professionals who provide support and maintain confidentiality. They are used to helping people work through painful or embarrassing issues. So…
Scope
- Therapy can help treat mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral issues. Concerns that may be discussed in therapy include, but are not limited to:
Titles
- Therapists can have many titles. These are based on their level of education, training, and role. They can work as licensed professional counselors (LPC), psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), psychiatric nurses, or psychiatrists.
Risks
- People in treatment can expect confidentiality during therapy sessions. But, a therapist may break confidentiality if someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others. Therapists may also do this if required to by federal or state law. Many therapists explain the limits of confidentiality and provide written guidelines during the first therapy session.
Prognosis
- Some concerns can be addressed through short-term therapy over a few weeks. However, chronic or more complex concerns can require long-term treatment. Sometimes, it may take more than a year for noticeable progress to be made.
Management
- Even if therapy cannot cure a condition, it can help people develop healthy coping skills. Determination to be active in therapy and heal is essential for meeting therapeutic goals and fostering a positive therapeutic relationship. Finding the right therapist is also crucial to the treatment process.
Effects
- Research shows that therapy may result in fewer relapses of common conditions, including moderate depression and anxiety. Furthermore, it indicates that the positive effects of good therapy extend beyond treatment. Many people report improved conditions long after therapy has ended. Therapy is often more effective than psychotropic medication or medical treatments alo…
Results
- Finding a therapist you are comfortable with and cooperating with them can help you get the most out of treatment. When a person in therapy is open and honest, therapists generally are better able to address each issue and adjust the treatment approach as needed. Going to therapy might feel difficult on some days. But, it is important to attend each session and complete any homework a…
Origin
- The term psychotherapy comes from the Greek words for soul and healing. Ancient Greeks may have been the first to view mental health issues as physical and mental conditions. At the time, some other cultures understood them as the result of demonic possession. Still, the Greeks' understanding of mental health issues was limited. They did recognize the benefits of using enc…
History
- Treatment for severe mental health conditions was often harsh and inhumane until reformers worked for better conditions during the 18th century. In 1773, the first asylum in North America was founded. By the end of the 19th century, most American towns had an asylum. However, individuals admitted to an asylum rarely left the facility. This led to a steadily increasing populati…