Addiction affects every part of a person’s life, from their mental and physical health to their relationships, self-worth, and sense of direction. Recovery is about more than just putting down substances. It’s about healing what led to the addiction in the first place and developing the tools to move forward. That’s where therapy for addiction plays a critical role.
As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month in May, it’s important to highlight the vital connection between therapy and lasting recovery. At Riverside Recovery, therapy isn’t an afterthought. It’s at the core of everything we do.
Why Therapy Is Essential in Treating Addiction
No one starts using drugs or alcohol in a vacuum. Substance use is often rooted in deeper emotional pain, trauma, mental health conditions, or learned patterns that developed over time. Therapy helps people uncover and understand those roots, not just to make sense of the past but to create a healthier future.
Therapy for addiction recovery offers:
- A safe space to explore emotions and beliefs without judgment
- Personalized tools for coping with stress, cravings, and triggers
- Insight into self-destructive patterns and how to change them
- Emotional support from trained professionals who truly understand addiction
Without therapy, the surface-level symptoms of addiction may go untreated, leaving people vulnerable to relapse when life gets hard again.
Different Types of Therapy for Addiction at Riverside Recovery
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. That’s why Riverside Recovery offers a variety of therapy modalities to meet people where they are. Each therapeutic approach plays a different role, and our team works closely with clients to find what resonates most.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most widely used therapies in addiction treatment. It helps individuals identify negative thought patterns and behaviors and replace them with healthier, more constructive responses. At Riverside Recovery, CBT is used to treat both substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is especially useful for those who struggle with intense emotions or unstable relationships. It focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — key skills for navigating life without relying on substances.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI is a client-centered approach that helps people resolve ambivalence about change. For someone who knows they need help but isn’t quite ready to fully commit, MI can be the bridge that gets them there. It helps uncover personal motivations and build a foundation for long-term change.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
ART is a unique, evidence-based approach that blends elements of traditional psychotherapy with techniques designed to reprocess distressing memories. For people with trauma or unresolved emotional pain, ART can help reduce the power those memories hold without needing to talk through every detail.
Trauma-focused Therapy
Addiction and trauma often go hand in hand. Trauma-focused therapy at Riverside Recovery helps clients understand the impact of trauma on their brain and behaviors. This approach focuses on healing and empowerment, helping clients move forward without re-traumatizing themselves in the process.
Holistic and Recreational Therapies
Therapy doesn’t always happen in a chair. At Riverside Recovery, we incorporate physical activity, creative outlets, and experiential therapies to support recovery. These include yoga, swimming, art, music, and outdoor activities — all designed to support emotional regulation, connection, and joy.
Addressing Mental Health and Co-occurring Disorders
Many people struggling with addiction also face mental health challenges. It’s not uncommon for someone to be dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder while also trying to manage a substance use disorder. This is also called a dual diagnosis, and at Riverside Recovery, we provide integrated treatment that addresses both sides of the equation.
Our therapy for addiction includes mental health counseling, medication management when needed, and trauma-informed care. Treating these conditions together rather than in isolation is key to lasting recovery.
The Human Side of Healing
Therapy isn’t just about strategies and skills. It’s about connection. It’s about sitting across from someone who sees you, hears you, and believes that healing is possible.
At Riverside Recovery, therapy helps clients rebuild trust in themselves and others. It provides a space to grieve, to grow, and to rediscover who they are beyond addiction. Many clients come to us feeling broken. Through therapy, they begin to realize they are not broken — they are healing.
Therapy Is Just the Beginning
Therapy for addiction is not a quick fix, and recovery is not a straight line. But with the right support, it is absolutely possible. Therapy provides the structure and insight needed to face life without substances and to develop new ways of being—with clarity, purpose, and self-compassion.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, know that real help is available. At Riverside Recovery, our compassionate team offers a wide range of therapies tailored to your unique needs. We walk alongside you every step of the way, during Mental Health Awareness Month and every month.
Contact us today to learn more about our therapy programs and start building your path to healing.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders | McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW | Psychiatric Clinics of North America (2011)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Substance Abusers | Dimeff LA, Linehan MM | Addiction Science & Clinical Practice (2008)
- Addiction Psychotherapeutic Care | StatPearls | National Library of Medicine (2022)