Acupuncture for addiction is becoming an increasingly popular therapy. It is not a cure for addiction, but it does help to reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, which in turn makes it more likely that someone will successfully get through the first few days of addiction treatment without turning back to their substance of choice. What Is …
Research into hypnosis as a treatment tool for addiction has shown that this alternative practice can help some people. Results are mixed, though, and it seems that the strategy is best used as a tool within a more traditional and comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. If you’re interested in trying it, work with the professionals …
A new twist on cognitive behavioral therapy is gaining traction in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. It uses techniques from psychodrama, an experiential role play therapy, layered over the research-based favorite, cognitive behavioral therapy. Although this combination is not officially recognized as a distinct form of therapy, it’s being used by some leading-edge …
Blending Psychodrama and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Addiction Read More »
Our minds can greatly help or hinder our ability to cope with stress. And it turns out that managing stress well relies heavily on the way we think when we’re under pressure. The wrong thoughts — what psychologists call “thought distortions,” or errors in how we mentally process reality — can increase stress levels and …
Think This, Not That: How to Use CBT to Manage Stress Read More »
While professional experience has some impact on the course of prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD, all well-trained practitioners can effectively administer this form of treatment, according to recent findings from a team of American researchers. A form of change-oriented psychotherapy called prolonged exposure therapy (PE therapy) has verified usefulness as a treatment for people affected …
Clinicians of Varying Backgrounds Can Successfully Deliver Prolonged Exposure Therapy Read More »
Therapy has become almost commonplace in the modern era, at least throughout the developed world. As therapy has become run-of-the-mill, the one-hour-per-week therapy session has become standard along with it. Given the dominance of the one-hour weekly session, it is somewhat surprising that there is so little in the way of actual scientific basis for …
Uses for CBT For many years, CBT was used primarily to treat anxiety disorders and depression. However, over the years it has gained recognition as an effective therapy for a vast array of other psychiatric disorders. It’s also an effective treatment for emotional, interpersonal, and life challenges that many people encounter at some point in …
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Part 2 Read More »
Many people have the false impression that psychotherapy always involves years of tedious exploration of the subconscious mind in order to get to the root of whatever ails them. In the movie Pretty Woman, Richard Gere’s character somewhat jokingly alludes to this tedious process when he recalls how it took him 10 years of therapy …
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Part 1 Read More »
New treatment techniques that can help those who struggle with substance abuse are always welcome news to those impacted by addiction. One of the most exciting developments in addiction treatment is neurofeeedback therapy. Based on biofeedback, which has been in use for decades, this therapy has been shown to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder, …
Insomnia is a condition characterized by problems such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and (in most cases) unrestful sleep that fails to sufficiently refresh the body and mind. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) classifies insomnia as an independent mental health issue in a category known as sleep-wake disorders, and it also appears as …
For Insomnia, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy As Effective as Medication Read More »