When being treated for opioid addiction with the help of suboxone, it is also beneficial to participate in an outpatient behavioral treatment program. By combining the medical treatment with behavioral therapy, the patient has a great chance of long-term recovery. Not only does it help the patient with stopping the drug use, but the therapy also helps give the patient the skills that are necessary to stay off of the drugs in the future.
When consulting with a behavioral health counselor, there are several different forms of behavioral therapy that may be used. These include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Helps the patient to recognize and avoid situations where they are the most likely to use drugs while also helping them to learn the skills for better coping with this type of situation.
- Contingency Management: Also referred to as “motivational incentives,” this form of therapy uses positive reinforcement to encourage continued abstinence from drugs.
- Motivational Interviewing: Involves capitalizing on the readiness of the patient to change their behavior.
- Multidimensional Family Therapy: Addresses the many different factors that may influence drug abuse patterns while working to improve overall family functioning.
In many cases, a combination of these various forms of therapy may be used to help treat a patient. Behavioral therapy may be more intensive at first with several outpatient sessions scheduled each week. After completing this first stage of treatment, the patient may meet with the therapist less frequently and for fewer hours per week as they work together to sustain recovery. To learn more about suboxone and how it can help with this process, contact Advanced Spine & Rehab today!