Substance abuse counselors, sometimes referred to as addiction counselors, provide the mental, emotional, and behavioral health services individuals need to recover from drug and alcohol abuse. Clinically this addiction diagnosis is known as Substance Use Disorder. Counselors create a supportive, judgment-free environment that provides patients with the resources they need on their recovery journey. Various therapeutic modalities are used in the counseling process in both individual and group sessions. Some of the ones employed at El Shaddai’s Refuge are::
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A structured, goal-oriented approach, CBT focuses on the relationship among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It aims to identify and modify negative or dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors, and it uses techniques like cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments. CBT is effective for a wide range of mental health conditions, including Substance Use Disorder.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This is a type of therapy that helps individuals manage difficult thoughts and feelings by accepting them rather than trying to control them. It focuses on developing psychological flexibility through mindfulness and commitment to actions aligned with personal values.
Person-Centered Therapy (also known as Client-Centered Therapy or Rogerian Therapy): Using a humanistic approach, this therapy emphasizes the client’s capacity for self-healing and personal growth within a supportive and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship. The core of this approach lies in the belief that individuals possess an inherent drive towards positive psychological functioning and can find their own solutions when provided with a safe and accepting environment.
Nature Therapy: For individuals with SUD, nature therapy offers accessible, adaptable practices that promote mental well-being and recovery from addiction. Simple self-practices like mindful walking on a trail or dirt road, working in the yard, or spending time near green spaces provide calming, therapeutic benefits. On the ESR campus, caring for poultry is one therapeutic activity used as a form of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). This approach complements traditional treatment modalities like therapy and counseling by offering a range of mental and emotional benefits.
ESR 