The most widely used andstatistically proven treatments for drug addiction are called "evidence-based"
therapies because of their rigorous testing and government approval. These
therapies include one-on-one counseling sessions, peer-group discussions, and
family therapy. However, there are other highly successful drug addiction treatments
which rehab clinicians across the country use every day to treat their
patients.
One of these methods isknown as reality-based therapy. This group of treatments is designed for two
primary purposes. The first is to mimic the "real" world to which
addicts will return after they complete their intensive treatment programs at
rehab clinics. The second purpose is to teach addicts coping and
problem-solving strategies for facing the inevitable challenges of a drug-free
life. Understanding the way addiction specialists use reality therapy is
crucial for addicts making decisions about attending various treatment
programs.
Real-World Environments and
Georgia Treatment center insurance One of the problems whichrehab specialists must address is the difference between the clinical
environment and the outside world. Addicts may be able to engage their
therapies and make positive choices in clean, supervised settings, but it
becomes much more difficult to maintain sobriety in a world filled with drugs.
Transitioning into everyday life easier for recoveringaddicts - Georgia Treatment center insurance Reality therapists seek tocreate clinical environments which mimic the outside world as closely as
possible. Residential inpatients cook, clean, shop, and manage their living
spaces at their clinics just as they would in their houses or apartments. In some
cases, they may even make their own appointments and manage their own schedules
during their thirty-to-ninety day in-house stays.
Creating such realisticenvironments allows addicts to connect the positive mental and emotional
changes they make during evidence-based therapies with the experiences of
everyday life. Blurring the line between the safe, clinical environment and the
more risky, consequence-filled outside world allows addicts to make positive
choices and maintain sobriety as they rejoin society.
Realistic Problem-Solving
The basic philosophy ofreality-based therapy is that every person must live in a world filled with
other people. Everyone must satisfy his or her own needs without harming other
people or preventing them from satisfying their needs. What this means is that
everyone is going to encounter some situations which they can control, and
others which they can't control. Addicts who undergo reality therapy learn to
recognize the difference and act appropriately.
For example, alcoholics whodrink when stressed may not be able to control all of the stressors in their
lives. They might not be able to control their workloads at their jobs, or the
negative behaviors of certain family members and friends. For these situations,
they develop coping mechanisms which allow them to alleviate stress without
turning to alcohol.
However, other stressorsare under their control. They may be able to break ties with negative people,
or they may quit jobs which involve constant stress. Alcoholics who undergo
reality therapy learn to recognize these types of situations and make proactive
decisions to change or avoid them. By exercising control in this way, they
altogether avoid temptations to drink.
Overall, reality therapy isone of many effective treatment methods for drug addiction. If you are
currently suffering an addiction, you don't need to struggle alone. Use the
links below to get a toll-free consultation with one of our dedicated addiction
specialists. We can find a treatment plan that's right for you and get you
started on the path to recovery.
