It is a specialized form of psychotherapy that helps individuals understand, manage, and recover from harmful patterns of substance use or behavioral addictions.
This therapy supports clients in identifying triggers, addressing underlying emotional or psychological issues (such as trauma, anxiety, or depression), building coping strategies, and developing long-term recovery plans. It may involve individual, group, or family sessions, and can be integrated with medical treatment or 12-step programs. Common areas of focus include alcohol or drug misuse, prescription medication dependence, gambling, internet or gaming addiction, and compulsive behaviors.
Approaches often used include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and relapse prevention planning.