Virginia M Mejia LCSW CADC

Individual counseling involves patients speaking with a counselor or therapist about their addiction in a one-to-one setting. This type of counseling will often incorporate different forms of behavioral therapies such as CBT in order to help the patient understand their psychological relationship with substance abuse and develop techniques to manage cravings and future temptation.

Group counseling can takes place in both inpatient and outpatient settings and involves those afflicted with substances use disorders/behavioral addictions meeting to discuss their issues. This form of counseling can help create a level of empathy and understanding of others journeys with addiction, which can help to give perspective on an individual's addiction. It also helps to build a support network which helps reduce relapse and promotes positive relationships outside of substance abuse.

Family counseling for substance use disorders and behavioral addictions helps the patient repair relationships with those close to them through open dialogue around past miss doings that were caused by addiction. This helps reestablish trust and builds a support network for the patient.

Outpatient treatment centers offer the same level of care as inpatient settings while also allowing the patient to be able to return home each day

IOP requires patients to attend day treatment for three hours a day, often for five days a week but declining as recovery improves.