How Do I Find a Therapist Who Specializes in Addiction?

The path to sobriety is personal. Therefore, find someone who you believe can help you succeed. This road to sobriety may be more challenging than you think. In fact, it may involve things you never thought about, such as a dual diagnosis treatment program.

When you begin the journey of sobriety, you’ll encounter changes in spirit, body, and mind. That’s a terrific impulse if you’re thinking that you want some professional assistance to direct you through these modifications. A therapist who concentrates on addiction can allow you to recognize, handle, and heal addictive habits and symptoms of trauma.

Finding a Therapist Who Specializes in Addiction

A great addiction expert can assess where you are in your recovery. Furthermore, this individual and also help you to find out your ideal course of treatment moving forward.

Remember that the path to sobriety is extremely personal. Therefore, you’ll want to work with someone who recognizes that your needs are special and wants to help you develop a customized and empowered path to recovery. One key reason trying to recover “on your own” is extremely challenging is that you don’t have the guidance and support you need. Relying only on yourself during this most challenging time is never recommended.

A program that seems like you is one of the many benefits of discovering a therapist who’s truly acquainted with the impacts of addiction. You wouldn’t want your OB/GYN to do your knee surgery, and you wouldn’t want your neurosurgeon delivering your infant. We live in an age of specialized healthcare, which’s a benefit to narrow in on your specific case and development.

No single treatment works for everybody, so discover somebody who thinks broadly about you, your way of life, and your goals.

Start With a Trusted Source, or Use a Vetted Resource

Finding an alcohol addiction therapist or substance abuse counselor in Tampa, Florida who’s right for you might not be a quick procedure. But no matter who you are, the right therapist for addiction is out there.

We suggest getting a referral from somebody you know– ideally someone in healthcare like a doctor or nurse– or from other people you know who use addiction professionals in their own active recovery.

And if you do not have any contacts, you can connect to the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry for a doctor that specializes in addiction treatment or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is essentially a government site. Psychology Today’s feature is another terrific resource.

But those aren’t the only ways to discover the best therapists for you! Therapists will note on their personal websites that they focus on working with clients in recovery, and you can also examine testimonial sites. Whatever you do, begin with the method that feels most comfortable for you.

Ensure Your Therapist is Properly Qualified

Addiction treatment is a large field, so we emphasize that you’ll want to take care that whomever you pick doesn’t mistake personal experience for qualifications. A sobriety coach or peer is different from a therapist– and they all have separate but important roles to play. Assistance from others who share comparable experiences and remain in recovery can be extremely useful. Especially when dealing with psychological disease or trauma you’ll likely need additional support from an expert.

Try to find someone with at least a master’s degree or a doctorate in the counseling field. Consider their education, extra specialty training, and a personality that suits you, too.

It’s less complicated to search for physicians who have a specialty in addiction than for counselors, as they might be American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) licensed, or they might have done an addiction fellowship.

There isn’t actually an addiction accreditation that spans the entire field. Therefore, you ought to ask them the following questions:

• What is their experience in working with addiction?
• How long have they been treating addictions?
• What type of expert development have they actually done to remain current on addiction treatment?

The kinds of restorative orientation that have actually been researched and used in the field for decades include techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, group therapy or 12 Step-based meetings, and individual therapy. For some, medication management is likewise useful and should be thought about.

Keep in mind that no single treatment works for everyone. Therefore, find somebody who believes in you, your way of life, and your goals.
When you talk to your prospective therapist, ensure that they’ll cover the scope of your life, not just your substance usage.

Inquire About Addiction Assessments

Along with checking in about certifications, there’s something else you need to do. When you’re at your first meeting with a specialist, make sure evaluations are something they provide. A therapist adept in the field of addiction understands the following:

• Areas to assess Questions to ask When to press and when to wait
• This individual can also help you get connected with other specialists that you might require.

This needs to address the length of time, how frequently, and how much has actually someone been using a drug. It must also deal with the negative effects of usage and the methods in which it has adversely impacted your life.

Ensure They’ll Evaluate You as a Whole – Not Just Your Drug Use

Therapy for addictive behavior isn’t just about your drug abuse. To ensure that you’re benefiting, it is necessary to talk about what’s going on in your relationships. You’ll also need to go over the history your relatives may have with addiction or mental disorders. Considering all that info, the clinician can then identify a beginning level of care, like detox, inpatient care, partial hospitalization, outpatient care, or some other path. Make sure that they’ll cover the scope of your life – not only your substance use when you speak with your potential therapist.

Similarly important is evaluating other crucial areas of a person’s life that are often interfered with, before or because of the addiction. Locations to cover consist of:

Other psychological health diagnoses Family relationships (work or school) Physical health Social life Community involvement An excellent assessment casts a wide net and narrows on the proper areas.

And, of Course, Make Sure You Actually Like Them

You do not have to be buddies, but having a therapist that you both like and respect is crucial. You definitely do not want to deal with somebody you do not feel at ease around. In addition, don’t deal with someone who has a technique for sobriety and recovery that doesn’t align with your beliefs.

At the end of the day, the person whom you choose is going to be helping you get through a totally new way of living, discovering and unlearning mindsets and habits. Therefore, getting along with their needs to be high on your list of priorities. And bear in mind that you can always interview a therapist and call prior to you going to see them, in truth, you should. Any therapist worthwhile will enjoy accommodating you. You’re also not obliged to keep going with somebody, even if you’ve begun a couple of sessions already.

An excellent therapist is also mindful of the needs of other friends or family and laying out what to expect in recovery. Integrate that with the type of person that resonates with you. Someone that challenges you to answer challenging questions and presses you to be curious about your life and struggles.