If you’re in rehab, it’s likely that talk therapy – between you and a therapist, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist or an addiction counselor – has been part of your recovery plan. You may have also participated in group therapy (in which you meet with a group of other people, often with the same addiction).

But the benefits of therapy go beyond rehab. In fact, seeing a therapist or addiction counselor as part of your aftercare plan can be a great step toward relapse prevention. Here are a few ways that talk therapy can benefit your emotional health and protect your long-term sobriety.

1. You’ll improve your emotional management. You can never get too much practice when it comes to gaining a better grasp on your emotions. The more you understand why you are sad, anxious, angry, or frustrated, the better able you’ll be to manage and alleviate these feelings in a healthy way.
2. You’ll better handle the highs and lows of life. After the safe, supportive environment of rehab, it’s pretty scary to navigate the inevitable curveballs of life by yourself. Seeing a therapist can prevent you from getting swallowed up in everyday problems and give you the tools to better cope.
3. You’ll have more empathy. A great (and perhaps unexpected) benefit of therapy is gaining a better understanding of those around you. Talk therapy helps clear any misguided resentment or wrong assumptions you have of others – and this makes it a lot easier to see people’s true intentions and motivations.
4. You’ll feel less alone. Face it: Knowing you have a standing weekly appointment with someone who supports your sobriety can be extremely comforting. And having a safe, non-judgmental environment to rely on can also go a long way in helping to prevent relapse.

Minding Your Mental Health
Our Seabrook Model™ is designed to provide exceptional mental health and addiction treatment through the healing of the body, mind, and spirit. To learn more, call Seabrook today: (888) 223-0298.