How Often Do You See a Therapist During Drug Treatment?

Talking to a therapist is an important part of addiction treatment. Therapists are trained in a variety of different methods for treating addiction, and you’ll quickly discover that they are easy to talk to about your challenges. One of the first things that you’ll do during your admission to a drug rehab is talk to a therapist who will quickly get to work creating a personalized treatment plan that helps you stop using drugs or alcohol. How often you see a therapist during drug treatment depends upon the type of program that you are in and your specific needs. You may also talk to several different therapists if your treatment plan includes multiple strategies for your care. While the frequency of your visits with a therapist matters, it is much more important to focus on making the best use of your time together.

If you go to an inpatient or intensive outpatient rehab program, then you’ll likely see therapists every day. Some of these visits will be in groups while others will be with just you and the therapist alone. You may even meet with a therapist along with your family members to work through issues such as helping them to understand your addiction. People who are in outpatient or after care programs may see a therapist less frequently. Typically, therapy happens on a weekly basis with sessions lasting between 45 minutes to an hour once you move past the primary phase of your treatment. Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines. Some people visit their therapist more or less often depending upon the time they have available in their schedule and how well they cope with their cravings.

Lean On the Support of a Therapist During Drug Treatment

If you’ve never been to therapy before, then you may be wondering what you will talk about. At first, it can feel a little strange talking to someone else about your life. This is especially common if you tend to be a private person or prefer to handle your problems on your own. The first session or two with a therapist usually involves discussing your history with drugs and alcohol. They may also ask for some general information about your life such as whether you are in a relationship or raising children. You may even dive into a few details about why you think you developed an addiction. Over time, you and your therapist will explore more about the underlying issues that drive your addiction, and you may even get help with mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD and anxiety. While you always remain in control of what you share in therapy, it is worth diving as deep as you can into your underlying issues so that you can enjoy greater healing.

Whether you are in group, family or individual therapy, your therapist can help you by sharing several valuable techniques for handling addiction that may include the following:

  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • dialectal behavioral therapy
  • rational emotive behavioral therapy
  • mindfulness training
  • art and music therapy
  • role playing and communication skills practice

Your therapist can also help you learn how to address issues that arise throughout each part of your treatment. You may talk to them about how you are adjusting to spending time in the program, or you might bring up how you struggled with handling a trigger such as a difficult visit with a family member. Group therapists often try to base sessions upon a theme that allows everyone to contribute and learn from each other. For instance, they may ask people to share what is working for managing their cravings, or you may practice handling conflicts in a relationship.

Therapists typically view their role as being more of a guide who can help people learn how to tailor their drug treatment to fit their needs. Your meetings with a therapist are more effective when you are willing to open up to them about your life. Confidentiality is a big deal in drug treatment, and your therapist will never reveal what you say in your sessions to others without your knowledge and permission. This means that you can tell them your deepest, darkest secrets and know that you won’t be judged or have others find out. The relationship that you’ll develop with your therapist is built upon trust, and this makes it possible to get more out of every session no matter how often they happen.

Do you have more questions about going to drug treatment? Feel free to let us know, and we’ll help you find the answers. We’re ready to talk at 833-846-5669!