Why Counseling Is Important for Those Recovering From Addiction

In the fight against addiction, some of the most effective approaches involve a combination of medication-assisted treatment and counseling. Counseling with addiction treatment is a mainstay to ensure a foundation for a successful recovery. Whether one-on-one or in a group, these sessions address the role that behavioral components, emotional health and psychology often play in substance misuse.

Detoxing from opioids and other substances is just the beginning of recovery. Counseling from a trained mental health professional ensures you have the tools you need to manage cravings and avoid relapse so that you’re ready to live a life free from addiction.

Importance of Adding Counseling to Addiction Treatment

Addiction is more than a physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Even after those substances are purged from your system and you’re technically withdrawal-symptom-free, many people still struggle with cravings. A craving is an overwhelming desire to use a substance that puts you at high risk for relapse if you’re not prepared.

A variety of psychological and social factors can be powerful triggers that rouse cravings and lead to relapse:

• External triggers: These are the people, places and things that are associated with past opioid misuse. External cues can be environmental, such as visiting an old neighborhood, or social, like spending time with friends who still use.
• Internal triggers: These are the thoughts, feelings, sensations or even habitual behaviors that trigger a craving. Stress, especially sudden life stresses, are often the most powerful internal triggers.
• Situational triggers: Triggers can also arise due to a certain situation. A bad breakup or even a relative coming into town are situations that can put you at risk if you’re not aware of your response to triggers.

Triggers are an ongoing part of life in recovery. They can create a strong urge to use again. Counseling teaches you how to identify triggers so that you can escape cravings and learn to roll with whatever life throws at you — without substance misuse.

Benefits of Addiction Counseling

A variety of counseling therapies treat opioid use disorder and other types of addiction. From the safety and control of individual counseling to the support and sharing of a group counseling experience, no one method is known to be better than another. Likewise, there is not a single approach that works for everyone struggling with opioid addiction. The right addiction treatment plan is tailored to your addiction and individual needs and can provide you and your recovery journey with many benefits, including:

• Pinpointing triggers and stressors.
• Teaching you how to deal with triggers and cravings as they arise.
• Becoming an important part of your support system.
• Addressing potential behavioral, emotional or mental causes for addiction.
• Instating important coping and recovery skills.
• Encouraging and motivating you toward change.

Learn More About Counseling Services With Addiction Treatment

When you choose Health Care Resource Centers (HCRC) for your addiction treatment, you’ll learn first hand how effective medication-assisted treatment coupled with professional counseling can be. Counseling empowers you to overcome the cravings that accompany opioid addiction so that you can live a fuller, healthier life.

At HCRC, we combine personalized addiction treatment with compassionate counseling. Learn more when you contact HCRC online or give us a call at 866-758-7769.

Medically Reviewed By:

Health Care Resource Centers Clinical Team

Health Care Resource Centers Clinical Team

The Clinical Team at Health Care Resource Centers is our team of physicians and medical directors within the organization. HCRC is a CARF accredited organization and has been providing addiction treatment services for over 32 years in the New England area.