As you research addiction therapy programs, the term “individualized treatment” comes up a lot. What does this mean exactly? What would an individualized therapy for addiction program look like for you? The Ranch Pennsylvania is here to help you make an informed decision for yourself or a loved one.
Learn more about individualized treatment and addiction therapy programs in the 2015 journal article “The Key to Individualized Addiction Treatment is Comprehensive Assessment and Monitoring of Symptoms and Behavioral Change,” published in Behavioral Sciences.
The Different Pieces of Addiction
Let’s consider the journey of one individual to illustrate the idea of individualized treatment in an addiction therapy program. Mark is 54 years old. Mark started smoking marijuana at the age of 12. His high school years included a lot of drinking and weed. During his 20s, after being academically dismissed from college, Mark started using marijuana daily. At this time, a friend suggested he get some therapy for addiction. Mark denied he had a problem.
For a significant amount of time, he was able to hide this habit from his wife and children. However, when Mark hit his mid-40s, he became very depressed. He maintained his job, but his family life suffered as his drinking increased. Mark started acting like a teenager again. He stayed out all night, dressed differently, and started seeing another woman who liked to drink as much as he did.
When confronted by his wife, Mark became angry and defiantly told her a little drinking and weed wasn’t anything he couldn’t stop. His wife begged him to get therapy for addiction. By this time, Mark was smoking marijuana three times or more each day and drinking excessively three to four nights each week.
It was Mark’s employer who forced him into seeking inpatient therapy for addiction.
How Individualized Treatment Looks Like
In addiction treatment, Mark was given a physical almost immediately. Chronic marijuana use had damaged his lungs. He was diagnosed with bronchitis, and his liver was enlarged. Mark was about 25 pounds overweight and had a diet consisting mostly of junk food. He admitted to thinking of suicide nearly every day.
For starters, Mark’s addiction therapy program included some medication for his bronchitis. He spent much of the next few weeks adjusting to life without substances. A dietician created a dietary plan to help Mark’s liver function and replenish the nutrients his body lacked. Treatment for Mark’s depression began with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.
In individual and group therapy, Mark began to feel stronger. He was honest about his affair. He also broke down when he talked about the ways he disappointed his children. Slowly, Mark began to feel as if a burden was lifting. His secrets were coming to the surface, and the people around him didn’t reject him the way he feared. Therapy for addiction was helping Mark see his own value again.
Mark also learned how to manage some of his depression symptoms with meditation.
For more information about holistic therapies like art therapy, read“Explore Holistic Therapies in Addiction Treatment,”published in the journal Addiction Professional.
During the family program, Mark told his wife of the affair. His support team recommended12-step meetings for the loved ones of addicts. In addition, Mark’s wife was referred to an individual therapist.
Mark’s aftercare program included Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, individual therapy, plus family and couples therapy. He was also referred to a medical doctor specializing in addiction recovery. His liver function was monitored, along with his diet and overall health. For the first time in years, Mark started jogging again.
A Unique Plan Made for You
Mark’s therapy for addiction included a holistic assessment of his medical health, diet, relationships, and mental health. His addiction therapy program covered a range of health issues. When he left treatment, these pieces of his life, including a spiritual element, were given a structured plan to follow.
Knowing what to expect during your inpatient addiction therapy program helps fend off the fear you may feel. An individualized therapy for addiction program means your thoughts, feelings, experiences, background, and health all contribute to the treatment you receive.
AtThe Ranch Pennsylvania,we want you to have the best individualized treatment experience possible and teach you the tools to live a healthy life afterward. We can help; call us today at 717.969.9126.
By Heather Berry
Contributing Writer with Promises Behavioral Health
