At Lennox CMHC, we provide evidence-based addiction therapy in Los Angeles to help individuals break free from substance use disorders and reclaim their lives. Our compassionate, multidisciplinary team offers a range of personalized therapy modalities designed to address the root causes of addiction, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and support long-term recovery.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol, opioids, or other addictive substances, therapy is a crucial component of effective treatment. Through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care (EMDR), group therapy, family therapy, and holistic approaches, we create a customized treatment plan tailored to each individual’s needs.
How Does Therapy Help Treat Addiction?
Therapy for addiction helps address underlying conditions and potential causes of substance abuse. Often, substance use disorders are not just physical dependence. They may also have ties to mental health, trauma, and self-medication for these and other conditions.
Therapy helps with long-term recovery from addiction by helping with:
- Identifying Triggers and High-Risk Situations: Understanding what leads to substance use and developing strategies to avoid or cope with these triggers.
- Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders: Many individuals with addiction also struggle with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder. Dual diagnosis treatment that includes therapy treats both conditions simultaneously.
- Changing Negative Thought Patterns: Addiction often involves self-destructive beliefs, but therapy can help reframe these thoughts.
- Building Health Coping Skills: Instead of turning to substances, clients can learn mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation techniques in therapy.
- Repairing Relationships: Addiction damages trust and communication. Therapy can help rebuild family dynamics and social connections.
- Preventing Relapse: Long-term recovery requires ongoing support. Therapy helps teach relapse prevention strategies and provides accountability.
Therapy Modalities for Addiction at Lennox CMHC
At Lennox CMHC, we believe in a whole-person approach to addiction recovery. Our programs combine clinical therapy, medical support when necessary, and holistic wellness practices to promote healing on every level.
Individual therapy for addiction offers a crucial one-on-one partnership with a licensed therapist, providing a tailored approach to recovery. This personalized treatment allows for the development of strategies specific to the client's unique circumstances and challenges. In this confidential and safe space, individuals can delve into the underlying causes of their substance use.
Group therapy for addiction creates a supportive and structured environment, where individuals in various stages of recovery can learn from one another's experiences. This communal setting can reduce the sense of isolation that often accompanies addiction by fostering a sense of belonging and shared understanding. The collective commitment to sobriety within the group provides a powerful source of accountability. Members can encourage each other to stay on track with their recovery goals. Group therapy also serves as a valuable platform for developing social skills necessary for navigating sober living and rebuilding healthy relationships.
Addiction's impact extends far beyond the individual struggling with substance use, often creating significant strain and dysfunction within their family. Specialized family therapy addresses these broader dynamics, aiming to repair damaged relationships, improve communication patterns, and cultivate a supportive home environment that fosters recovery. This therapeutic approach also delves into family dynamics, which may inadvertently contribute to or enable addictive behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) stands as a goal-oriented and evidence-based therapeutic approach that empowers individuals to recognize and modify the negative thought patterns and behaviors that are intricately linked to their addiction. The core of CBT lies in the understanding that thoughts influence beliefs and consequent actions. In the context of addiction, CBT helps individuals identify specific triggers that precede substance use. They can then practice breaking their personal thought patterns and stop the destructive cycles that perpetuate substance abuse.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized and highly effective form of CBT that places a significant emphasis on the development of skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven to be a valuable tool in treating addiction.
The core skills taught in DBT for addiction recovery include mindfulness (staying present rather than escaping through substances), distress tolerance (coping with cravings and uncomfortable emotions), and healthy emotional regulation. DBT can be particularly beneficial for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), those with self-harm tendencies, or those who experience severe difficulties in regulating emotions.
For many individuals struggling with addiction, unresolved trauma from past experiences (such as PTSD, abuse, or accidents), can play a significant role in their substance use. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps individuals reprocess traumatic memories so that they no longer trigger cravings or substance-seeking behaviors.
EMDR works to reduce the intensity of trauma-related triggers, leading to a decrease in anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks that can often fuel the cycle of addiction. A key benefit is that it allows individuals to heal from past trauma without necessarily having to extensively verbalize the details of their experiences. Over time, this process helps the brain to reprocess the memory in a healthier way, reducing its emotional intensity and diminishing its power to influence current behavior. EMDR therapy can be particularly beneficial for individuals whose addiction is rooted in past traumatic experiences, including those with PTSD or a history of significant childhood trauma.
Holistic therapy modalities, such as yoga and adventure therapy, offer a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. They work alongside traditional forms of therapy by working to heal the mind, body, and spirit. This promotes whole-person healing that helps prime the person for long-term recovery that lasts after the addiction treatment program has ended. Holistic therapy for addiction recognizes that recovery involves more than just abstaining from substances; it requires fostering overall well-being. Holistic therapies help to improve physical health, which can often be compromised by substance use.
The Importance of Personalized Treatment For Addiction
At Lennox CMHC, we believe in utilizing a variety of therapies to support recovery from addiction. Every individual person recovers from addiction differently. The path to recovery can’t be one-size-fits-all, and expecting addiction to be healed on a strict timeline often leads to relapse.
This is why all individuals seeking treatment at Lennox CMHC receive a custom treatment plan designed to address their needs. People may receive special support to aid in detox, or may have a specific plan for “stepping down” from a more intensive treatment program to a less intensive outpatient program over time. Complementary therapies may be beneficial for individuals seeking to enhance their traditional addiction treatment with practices that support their overall well-being and promote a more integrated path to recovery. But others may be new to the addiction treatment process, and find that they mostly benefit from traditional treatment practices like group therapy.
At Lennox CMHC, we work to create a nurturing environment that supports recovery for all people who come seeking help. We offer different levels of treatment that allow individuals to keep up with life obligations while still prioritizing recovery. When it’s time to re-enter “normal life,” we provide special relapse prevention support to help them sustain their sobriety. From the first day of treatment to the day of discharge, we’re here to support recovery.
Why Choose Lennox CMHC for Addiction Therapy in Los Angeles?
We work every day to ensure that every individual that comes through our doors receives support in beating their addiction. Our personal approach to recovery works to help treat the entire person, not just physical addiction.
When you come to Lennox CMHC, you’ll be able to benefit from:
- Evidence-Based Treatments: We use scientifically proven techniques in our addiction recovery treatment plans.
- Dual Diagnosis Care: Treating mental health and addiction together often leads to far better outcomes over time.
- Culturally Sensitive Care: Programs are tailored to treat the needs of the diverse communities of Los Angeles.
- Flexible Programs: Outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), and aftercare options are available to serve people’s needs over time.
- Compassionate Staff: Our therapists specialize in addiction and co-occurring disorders, to better treat the individuals who come through our doors for help.
Remember: It’s not a sign of weakness to suffer from addiction. It is a chronic disease that requires upkeep and effort, and it affects people from all walks of life. Asking for help in dealing with addiction requires incredible humility. It is a sign of strength to undertake the challenge of beating an addiction.
Start Your Recovery Journey Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, therapy can be an essential key to lasting recovery. At Lennox CMHC, we provide personalized, comprehensive addiction treatment in a supportive environment. We work to aid in healing the entire person from recovery, so you can build a new life that includes lasting sobriety.
Call us today to schedule a confidential assessment and learn about our addiction therapy programs in Los Angeles.