Do I have to go to therapy? » Using Methadone » ACT

Is this the kind of therapy where we just sit and talk in circles?

No. We use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT on our patients. The patients do a mental self-examination and determine the course of their actions based upon their inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Why does CBT work?

Lectures, taunts, threats, punishments, and yelling are things that our clients learned to block out a long time ago. Telling them what to do does not work because they’ve learned to tune it out. CBT allows the patients tell themselves what to do.

What do you learn from therapy?

Clients learn about focusing on positive ideas and behaviors. They set and reach their own goals. They learn how to recognize and deal with bad thought patterns and habits. They learn practical problem solving. They learn to challenge themselves and cast doubts on their current behaviors and learn that their openness is valued and highly constructive.

What is the end result of doing therapy?

A reduction in emotional stress, reinforcement of co-operation, adaptation to changing situations, and recognition that working with the system and following rules can have benefits. Many clients become curious and thoughtful people.

How is counseling different from therapy?

Counseling includes securing the “basics” like food, shelter, and clothes; taking care of any legal issues you have; dealing with stress and boredom; avoiding situations and people that put you in contact with drugs; working on your relationships with people; having fun and enjoying your life again.

Once I’m off Methadone do I have to stop going to counseling?

No. In fact we encourage everyone to continue counseling so that they can stay off drugs for good.

Do men and women respond to therapy in the same way?

For women the most important thing is to reconnect with people and form healthy relationships. After that the most important thing is to have fun. For men getting a good job is the most important thing. After that they need good healthy relationships.

Is it true that I’ll never feel excitement in my life ever again?

Since you started taking opiates your body has stopped making endorphins. These are natural chemicals that cause a euphoric effect and a pain dulling effect. Now that you are off hard drugs you’ll be able to trigger an endorphin rush through physical activity and life experience.

You mean like running a marathon or skydiving?

Those are two examples but they do not have to be that extreme. We have patients that experience genuine excitement when they go fishing.

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Do I have to go to therapy and counseling?

Therapy is a very important part of solving your drug problem. You can take the Methadone but if you don’t solve the problems that got you using in the first place you’ll end up right back where you started.