Finding An Addiction Therapist Near Me
Addiction issues are a serious mental health disorder in the United States. Whether you excessively drink alcohol, smoke, use drugs, or gamble, you are not alone. Over 20,000,000 individuals in the United States have an addiction, and more than 100 people per day die of an overdose, which has tripled in the last two decades. For example, American adults has an alcohol addiction according to a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry. This is a 49% increase in the past decade. Of those who have addictions, about seven percent have a mental health condition as well. You are in the right place if you are wondering about “Where is addiction counseling near me?” If you are living an addiction of any kind, you know how difficult it is to deal with and may be coming to terms your need for professional help. You can take the first step by looking for a licensed addiction therapist— online therapy can be an affordable and convenient option.
Different Types Of Dependencies
Before you start looking for licensed mental health professionals, understanding the types of addiction may help you find the one that is right for you. Addictions can be caused by substance dependency and range from life-threatening drug or alcohol use to nicotine addiction or caffeine. to impulse control disorders, such as gambling. There are also impulse control or behavioral addictions to food, the internet, shopping, or gambling. Often, different mental health professionals specialize in specific mental health issues or addiction types. These professionals are often equipped to take on multiple issues, especially due to the coexisting mental disorders and trauma-related behavioral responses that people in addiction recovery are living through.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol (especially in excess) can lead to alcohol use disorder and greatly increase your risk for developing serious health complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that over 88,000 adults die because of alcohol-related disease or injuries. These include:
Liver cirrhosis
Stroke
Hypertension
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Infections
Type 2 diabetes
Several types of cancers
Alcohol use is legal and common at social gatherings and certain events. This means that alcohol is easy to consume, and problematic use can be easy to ignore or cover-up. Alcohol abuse has gone up by 49% since the year 2000, and it keeps rising. One out of every eight adults in the United States meets the criterion for alcoholism according to a study by JAMA. Because alcoholism is on the rise, the toll on America's health care costs is rising as well.
Narcotics
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about seven million people over the age of 12 in the United States use or abuse drugs. Five million of them are considered to have a drug addiction, and this amount, like alcohol addiction, has been steadily rising for the past two decades. The numbers are up over eight percent in the past decade, with marijuana being the most common drug at 70% of the overall drug use. If you are not sure whether you or your loved one has a problem, there are certain signs you can look for, which include:
Lack of motivation
Missing school or work
Changes in behavior
Appetite changes
Hyperactivity or talking more than usual
Staggering, stumbling, slurring words
Falling asleep sitting up
Poor hygiene
Coughing or stuffy nose
Swelling of the face or hands
Nausea and vomiting
Needle marks
Breath and body smell different
Shaking or sweating
Laziness
Sleeping difficulties
Dilated pupils
Red eyes
Cravings
Lack of interest in other things
Causes And Associated Risk Factors
There are also many risk factors for drug and alcohol addiction. For example, drug and alcohol addiction can be genetic or hereditary. Your environment can also be a cause of drug or alcohol addiction or use. If you have been around drugs and alcohol in your home for a long time such as having a parent with an addiction, your chances are much higher than average of using drugs or alcohol. There are many other risk factors including:
Coping with a chronic or terminal illness like cancer
Mental or emotional disorders
Abusive family dynamic
Rebelling against parents or authority
Peer pressure
To feel good
Parents who are neglectful or abusive
Curiosity or experimentation
BetterHelp Can Help
If you or someone you love has an addiction, no matter what it is, there is an addiction therapist out there who can help. You can find one online by just typing in your zip code. However, there are some important things to consider when looking for addiction therapy. When you have decided to get the help, spend time researching your addiction to figure out what type of therapy would be best. If you are unsure about if you have an addiction or what specific type of addiction you have, it may be difficult to know where to start. In your search for a therapist, feel free to ask for resource materials that can give you more information about any questions you may have. You can also speak with your healthcare provider who can answer some questions and point you in the right direction.
Certain addiction therapists will specialize in different kinds of addictions. For example, some addiction therapists are best for alcohol or drug addiction while other addiction therapists may be better for impulse control or behavioral addictions, such as gambling or internet addiction. It is important to investigate what kind of counseling services you are looking for when you seek treatment because your therapy sessions will focus on different coping skills and underlying issues depending on your specific needs.
Overcoming Drug And Alcohol Dependency With A Counselor
Addiction treatment can help you overcome addiction by helping you find your addiction triggers and find better ways to cope with those triggers. If you have been addicted to alcohol or drugs for a long time, you may need to be hospitalized because it is without medical help. With the help of a doctor, you can get medication that will ease the side effects of quitting that some drugs and severe alcoholism can cause. Some of these side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and even seizures. This can be done at inpatient or outpatient treatment centers, depending on the severity of the side effects. However, no single treatment provider is right for everyone because everyone is different, and each person has their tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
Long-Term Treatment
You will need a treatment that addresses all your needs including medical, mental, and emotional. It is not just about quitting the addictive substance. It is about addressing your problems holistically, which includes examining underlying issues and enacting necessary behavior changes to ensure long term recovery. Counseling or behavioral therapy is essential in treating addictions no matter what you are addicted to. With the help of mental health professionals and treatment providers, such as an addiction psychiatrist or substance use disorder mental health professionals, you have a greater chance to success in quitting and staying clean and sober.
Long-term evaluation and therapy are important in staying away from whatever you are addicted to. Although it is common to struggle with staying completely and sober, having long-term counseling and personalized treatment will help relapse prevention. Some addictive substances cause such severe withdrawals that the user completely avoids quitting due to the unbearable associated symptoms. In these cases, hospitalization or out-patient care often includes medications that make recovery easier and with fewer withdrawal symptoms. For example, if you are addicted to opioids, medications such as methadone or naltrexone are given to help with the effects of withdrawal and will relieve cravings as well. Naltrexone is also used in treating those with severe alcoholism because it blocks the opioid receptors, lowers dopamine levels, and minimizes cravings for alcohol.
Motivational Therapy
Motivational therapy is a form of addiction treatment that utilizes techniques derived from cognitive-behavioral therapy (a form of talk therapy that helps you change patterns and behavior). It was specifically designed to treat substance or alcohol addiction or abuse from a humanistic perspective. Motivational therapy is a patient-centered method that focuses on motivating the person with the addiction to change negative behaviors through empathy, compassion, and personal accountability. Publicized by , this type of therapy was found to have excellent results in treating substance use disorder (previously called substance abuse), especially opiates or other euphoric drugs. Motivational therapy focuses on the stages of change, which include:
Precontemplation, when you are not ready to change
Contemplation, when you are thinking about changing
Preparation, when you are getting ready to change
Action, during the change and doing therapy
Maintenance, which is sustaining behavior change
Relapse is slipping back into your previous behavior
Termination means you are done with the cycle and have moved on
Getting Help
There are a wide variety of exercises and treatments that are excellent for drug and alcohol abuse to improve mental health. If you are interested in starting on your mental health journey, you can so do through BetterHelp. As mentioned above, there are many potential ways to treat addictions with counseling. One of the most common is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is particularly well-studied for its online effectiveness. For example, in an extensive review published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, researchers found that remotely delivered cognitive behavioral therapy was just as effective as face-to-face. Concomitantly, the study reported that people who lived in rural locations or unable to make it to in-person sessions were able to get the help they needed due to the convenience and accessibility of online sessions.
Being put on a waitlist is another potential problem for some as they seek out mental health professionals, but BetterHelp pairs most people with mental health professionals within 24 hours.
Taking on addiction is a big life step for anyone. Overcoming it will involve finding the right balance of support and treatment. You can take that first step today with BetterHelp. Take a look at the following reviews about other people seeking addiction recovery:
BetterHelp Reviews
“Rebecca is a phenomenal counselor, her background and experience in a few areas like the judicial system and drug and alcohol treatment offers great insight for those who may have loved ones working through those issues. They are highly available, always willing to open additional appointments if you can't find a time that works for you, respond quickly through chat. I would highly recommend anyone interested in working with cognitive behavioral therapy to reach out and see if they are available for a chat.”
“Samuel is an extremely smart man and makes me feel like he cares about me and my mental health. He goes the extra mile in finding me local groups and clinics and refers me to books to read. I still have a long way to go but I’m glad it’s with him. Thank you, Sam.”
Below are additional commonly asked questions on this topic:
What are the four levels of the addiction process?
What are the five types of addiction?
What happens in addiction counseling?
What are the five stages of rehab?
How do I stop being addicted?
Is drug addiction a disability?
What does God say about addiction?
What are examples of addictive behaviors?
What is considered addictive behavior?
What kind of therapy is used for addiction?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an addiction therapist?
Addiction therapists help individuals who are struggling with a substance use disorder. They specialize in addiction treatment and are highly trained in their field. Seeking addiction treatment can be overwhelming, but addiction therapists are there to help. You can search for addiction therapists online by yourself, with the help of a loved one, or with a medical professional. Another way to find an addiction therapist is to ask a medical provider, such as your healthcare provider. They will be able to help you find addiction therapists in your area and locate treatment facilities if needed. Addiction therapists are skilled in treating many different types of mental health issues. It's challenging to work in a field when you have clients that often relapse, which is why this profession requires dedicated individuals. Mental health professionals are passionate about helping clients who struggle with substance use disorder on the road to sobriety.
How do I become an addiction counselor?
Addiction mental health professionals require a substantial amount of formal education and typically hold at least a master's or doctoral degree. However, the exact steps to take to become an addiction counselor will vary depending on where you are located. Check the requirements in your state to see what education you need to complete and how many hours of supervised training you need to complete. Note that there are a lot of careers in the field that you can take on. While you might need a master's degree to practice as a licensed addiction counselor, you can work in a peer-support role after completing a certificate program.
What is the role of an addiction counselor?
The role of addiction mental health professionals is to help people who are struggling with addiction. Depending on an individual's treatment plan, addiction mental health professionals might provide talk therapy, hold family counseling sessions, or conduct group therapy. You can find addiction therapists or mental health professionals in several settings, including hospital settings, residential or outpatient service centers, and government or community centers. Alcohol and drug mental health professionals have many roles. They can act as a coach, provide a sense of structure to a client, and help them integrate back into the world after completing treatment. Mental health professionals are trained to see the warning signs in therapy that may point to relapse or other issues.
What does an addiction social worker do?
An addiction social worker connects people battling addictions to resources such as mental health treatment, other medical services, employment, housing, and education. They support clients by speaking with them about what they are going through and using tangible actions to help them get to a better place for their mental health. The search for addiction therapists can be a difficult one. Effective addiction social workers and addiction therapists are compassionate, non-judgmental and care about their client's recovery. Addiction therapists and other substance use disorder professionals will work with clients through relapses and other potential challenges. Finding a therapist who treats substance use disorder does not have to be as difficult as you might think.
How long do you have to go to school to be a counselor?
In most locations, you will need a master's degree to become a counselor and mental health professional. You will have to get a bachelor's degree first and will then have to apply for graduate school. With both your bachelor's and master's degrees included, you will typically need on average six years to complete the education necessary to become a counselor. After you finish graduate school, you will have to complete supervised training and go through the licensing process. Addiction therapists and mental health professionals with a high level of expertise and knowledge of different modes of therapy for substance use disorder.
What is the best therapy for substance use disorder?
There are many types of therapy used for substance use disorder. Your therapy should be uniquely tailored for you and dependent upon your addiction type, your identity, and any coexisting conditions you may have with mental health. In general, when you look for a therapist, you want to make sure that they specialize in addiction so that you can get the help that you need. Addiction therapists might provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), or motivational interviewing. CBT consists of therapy that helps you recognize and avoid or cope with the situations that cause you to turn to drugs or alcohol. You might also find that a combination of different types of therapy, such as group therapy paired with individual therapy, works the best for you and your mental health. Online, you will also be able to find therapist reviews and possibly even information about therapy costs. You must find the right therapist, so do not be afraid to look for other addiction psychologists or addiction therapists if the first one doesn't work out.
What is a drug therapist?
A therapist can use different modes to treat addiction. A therapist may use these different modalities to build mental health:
One-on-one therapy or counseling
Group therapy
Skill-building therapy
Family therapy
Couples therapy
Marriage counseling
Therapy individually
You might choose a 12-step program, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, REBT, contingency therapy, etc. There are several modes of therapy that can be used for addiction treatment with a therapist. You can explore therapy options online and read about them before going to your first session with a therapist to become familiar with what it will be like.
Which type of therapy with a therapist is most effective?
The type of therapist that works best for you will be determined by what resonates with you the most as an individual and the issues you want to be treated with a therapist for your mental health. Sometimes, people have trauma or comorbid conditions to work through and will seek other forms of treatment in addition to addiction therapy. You can explore therapy modalities and see what feels the most effective and authentic for you. Elements of a good therapist include having trust with your therapist, open and honest communication with your therapist, and feeling as though your mental health professional is truly hearing what you are saying. People come to therapy with all sorts of experiences and backgrounds. For example, some people have deep seated religious beliefs such as a Biblical perspective, and many therapists work hard to respect the individual’s spiritual faith in line with the help that modern science can also provide. One of the signs of healthy therapy for mental health is when a client sees their life-improving and values the world outside of addiction. Several different kinds of substance use disorder therapy are available through online therapy services.
What does a treatment plan include?
Your treatment plan will be created to fit your individual needs and the type of therapy that you prefer. It will vary depending on if you are seeking inpatient or outpatient treatment, too. Typically, you will attend both individual counseling and see a psychiatrist on an individual basis as well. Many people find group therapy to be an essential part of their treatment plan, and if you choose to attend an inpatient treatment center, it will likely be included in your treatment plan. At some point during the treatment process, you might have family therapy or see a marriage mental health professional with your spouse. It is all highly dependent on your unique circumstances.
What are SMART goals in therapy?
SMART means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. SMART goals or the SMART model are meant to help you set and meet achievable goals for your mental health.
How many sessions do you get on a mental health care plan?
The number of sessions covered by the mental health care plan that your insurance provides will differ depending on your insurance company and individual insurance plan. You can find mental health professionals through your insurance company that is covered by your policy by calling them or checking their directory online if applicable. They will be able to help you locate an alcohol and drug counselor with expertise in their field. Sometimes, insurance websites will even show ratings for different providers.
What qualifies as a professional mental health provider?
A mental health provider can be licensed mental health professionals, marriage and family therapists, addiction psychologist, psychiatrists, or other individuals who provide mental health services.
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