The great news for people struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) and their loved ones is this: Therapy works.
As one of the three pillars of SUD treatment—the others being medication (naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone, etc.) and social supports such as counseling and peer meetings—psychotherapy or talk therapy significantly increases a person’s chances of finding long-term sobriety. Reams of research studies and countless real-world experiences back this up.
But which therapy works best? Several have been scientifically proven to work, so it may come down to individual preference. The top evidence-based SUD therapies include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), motivational interviewing, contingency management therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
That last one, CBT, may be the most successful and popular of all the new-breed therapies being used to fight SUD. It has done wonders.
Mindfulness is a state of mind and way of........