Recovering from alcohol or substance abuse is hard enough the first time around. Sadly, many who recover later start using again in the future. This may be due to untreated mental health issues, a lack of coping skills, or challenging circumstances. But it should not discourage someone from trying again.
With the right support and treatment, it is possible to achieve sustained sobriety and fulfilling life in recovery. It may take multiple attempts and different approaches, but each effort is a step toward success. Don’t give up on yourself or your recovery journey. Fortunately, modern medical science accounts for the high potential for relapse that many addictive substances carry. To that end, qualified treatments have been developed, specializing in relapse prevention therapy. If you or your loved one is seeking addiction therapy in Tennessee, know that the qualified team at Nashville Treatment Solutions is here to help. Call us at 866.714.5630 or fill out our secure online form to start the journey toward lasting sobriety today.
How Does a Relapse Prevention Plan Help Make Recovery Stick?
When included in a recovery protocol for substance abuse, relapse prevention generally takes the form of individual talk therapy. Clients will usually receive a session once a week for about 12 weeks. These may occur in a variety of inpatient or outpatient settings, depending on the client’s needs. Many effective recovery models pair relapse prevention therapy with other approaches like holistic offerings, group therapies, and medication-assisted treatment.
Relapse prevention therapy focuses on identifying and preparing clients for the triggers that they will face in their day-to-day lives. These triggers could take the form of high-risk situations, such as being near people or places they associate with substance use. Triggers also include automatic thoughts that arise in their minds related to substance use. Having a relapse prevention plan in place for dealing with both expected and unexpected difficulties greatly increases clients’ chances of maintaining sobriety.
Here are just a few strategies that a licensed relapse prevention therapist may employ when working with clients:
- Developing communication techniques for high-risk situations, for example, practicing confidently saying “no” to a drink or drug
- Role-playing everyday situations the client is likely to encounter related to substance use, such as being at a social gathering
- Creating an emergency plan for what to do if a sudden strong craving occurs and the client feels on the verge of using again
- Reframing positive thoughts about substance use and negative thoughts about sobriety
- Building the client’s self-confidence in their own ability to abstain
- Homework assignments between sessions, such as journaling about thoughts that arise related to substance use or practicing anxiety-management techniques
- Mindfulness meditation training, which gives clients the tools they need to observe their cravings and thoughts without harsh self-judgment or the need to act on them
What Are the Benefits of Sober Living in Relapse Prevention?
Sober living can be a great choice following relapse prevention therapy. It creates a safe and predictable environment at a time when clients are still learning to manage their triggers. In a sober living facility, clients must adhere to rules like curfews, drug testing, and visitor restrictions. While these can feel challenging, they are great for creating accountability and safety.
The benefits of sober living following an intensive recovery protocol and before fully transitioning back to everyday life may include the following:
- A community of peers facing similar struggles who support one another’s recovery journeys
- Distance from people or places that may be especially hard to cope with in early recovery
- Access to onsite individual therapy
- Access to or referrals for group therapy, with programs in the time-tested 12-step model being a major component of many sober living facilities
Find a Relapse Prevention Therapy Program in Nashville, TN Today
If you or your loved one is grappling with substance abuse, remember that addiction is a disease like any other. While its negative effects can be incredibly painful, effective treatment is available, and many qualified, understanding people are standing by to help. Get started today by calling the caring team at Nashville Treatment Solutions in Nashville, Tennessee, at 866.714.5630 or by sending us a message online.