Last Updated:

July 29th, 2025

Treatment Therapies | Addiction Treatment

Addiction therapies are the tools you will use in rehab to untangle thoughts, habits, pain and triggers. While all can make a huge difference, there isn’t one kind of addiction therapy that works for everyone. Some people need time and space to talk things out, while others do better with practical strategies or learning new ways to spot the moments where things usually go wrong. No matter what type of addiction you are looking to overcome, understanding what addiction therapies are, how the different types work and what to look for in a well-rounded rehab programme is a great way to begin your recovery journey.

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What is addiction therapy?

Addiction therapy is a safe space where you get to talk, listen, reflect and work through what’s going on in your head or life that has caused addiction. It is led by a trained expert who can help you make sense of your thoughts, feelings, habits or past experiences without passing judgement.

Some people go to therapy because something big happened that suddenly triggered addiction. Others need to work through deep-seated challenges that have caused a lifetime of addiction struggles. There are different types of addiction therapy but all are designed to help you create a life without drugs, alcohol or harmful behaviours.

How does therapy help addiction recovery?

Addiction is usually tied to thoughts, feelings, habits or experiences that are hard to deal with.  In rehab treatment, therapy helps you talk through the past so it no longer dictates your present. This means rethinking some of the beliefs that have been holding you back, noticing your thoughts without getting dragged into them and knowing what to do when cravings hit.

Recovery starts when you choose to take the first step

Struggling with an addiction? If you are ready to seek help, reach out to us today, and a member of our compassionate team will help you find the best option for starting your recovery journey.

Traditional addiction therapies

Top rehab programmes offer a mix of well-established therapies that have been proven to be effective for recovery. New ones are being developed all the time, with some of the most common including:

12 step
This is a recovery programme based around twelve specific steps that guide you through things like admitting you’re struggling, making amends with people you’ve hurt and handing over some of the control to something bigger than you (which can mean different things to different people). It’s often used in groups like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, where you meet regularly, talk openly and support each other through the ups and downs.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy for addiction helps you notice the thoughts that lead you down a dangerous path and teaches you how to change them.
Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
DBT is all about learning to manage intense emotions without feeling overwhelmed or acting on impulse.

 

Family therapy
Family sessions give you all a space to actually talk and try to heal the mess that addiction has caused together.
Group therapy
Group rehab therapy sessions mean sitting with other people going through similar struggles and talking it all out.
Individual 
Individual therapy is a chance to open up to a personal therapist, gain meaningful insights and share the things you don’t want to say in front of anyone else.

 

Trauma 
If past trauma is connected to your addiction, trauma therapy helps you process it safely so you can learn how to resolve or manage the pain.

 

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a longer-term therapy that looks at the bigger picture, including your patterns, relationships and past experiences. It helps you understand how your life has shaped your behaviour and how to move forward.

 

EMDR 
EMDR (Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) uses guided eye movements to help your brain work through traumatic memories.

 

Psychodynamic 
Psychodynamic therapy helps you explore and resolve things you might not even realise are affecting you, like early childhood memories or deep-rooted fears.

 

Humanistic
Humanistic therapy focuses on helping you reconnect with your own values, strengths and sense of purpose. It’s all about seeing you as a whole person again and not just your addiction.

 

Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy uses deep relaxation and focused attention to help you explore things going on in your mind that might be hard to get to when you’re fully alert and guarded.

Holistic therapies

Holistic therapies are about helping your body, your brain and your emotions work together again. Some of the most effective forms of holistic addiction therapy include:

Art therapy
Art therapy is where you get to draw, paint or just scribble out feelings you might not be ready to say out loud. This can be an amazing alternative for expressing what’s going on inside.
Gong bath
Gong bath therapy involves lying down, closing your eyes and letting the vibrations from gongs wash over you. It sounds odd until you try it but it can be incredibly calming, especially if your mind is always on overdrive.
Meditation
Meditation is about sitting quietly, breathing and trying to slow your racing thoughts. Even just a few minutes can help you feel more grounded and in control.

 

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is practising how to stay in the moment instead of constantly living in the past or future. It helps you notice what’s going on inside without judging yourself for it.

 

Drumming
Drumming sessions can help release tension, boost your mood and connect you to rhythm. You don’t need any musical experience, just a willingness to hit something and let it out.

 

Music
Whether you’re writing lyrics, playing an instrument or just listening together, music therapy can be very calming and give you a creative way to express yourself.

 

Physical health
Substance abuse can take a major toll on your body but exercise, sleep and self-care can all be critical for healing.
Sound therapy
Sound therapy uses things like singing bowls, chimes or frequencies to help settle your nervous system. If addiction has left you constantly on edge, these sessions can be transformative.
Strengths model
The strengths model helps you figure out what your personal strengths and abilities are. You can then work with those to build confidence and start shaping what your future could look like.

 

Nutrition and addiction
Eating well helps your brain and body repair after everything they’ve been through. You can also learn how certain foods can affect your mood, energy and cravings.

 

Yoga
Yoga combines movement, breathing and stillness to help you reconnect with your body. It’s great if you’ve been feeling disconnected, tense or just not fully in yourself lately.
Acupuncture
In acupuncture therapy, tiny needles are placed in specific points of your body to help ease withdrawal, stress or anxiety. It’s not as scary as it sounds and for many people can be surprisingly relaxing.

Benefits of a combined approach of traditional and holistic therapies

There is no “right” way to recover from addiction so the best rehab therapy programmes mix traditional approaches with holistic ones. Traditional rehab therapy helps you understand your thoughts and behaviours, work through past trauma and build strategies to stay on track.

Holistic alcohol and drug addiction therapy can then help with the emotional and physical issues like stress, anxiety and all the other deep-seated struggles that can make recovery tough.

What therapies are most effective for behavioural addictions?

Behavioural addictions are just as serious as addictions to substances. However, rehab therapy can help you figure out why it feels so hard to stop, even though you can see the harm they are causing.
CBT is a cornerstone of gaming, shopping and gambling addiction therapy as it helps you spot the thoughts and triggers that lead to the urge and teaches you how to respond differently.

For things like porn addiction therapy, it can be crucial to address shame and isolation. That is where group therapy or individual psychotherapy can really help as they provide a space to talk through things that probably feel too hard to say out loud anywhere else.

Behavioural rehab therapy may also include relapse prevention planning, which helps you build a strategy for tricky moments like being near betting shops or needing to use the internet for work or school.

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Get started on your recovery journey today

Not sure where to start with rehab therapy? At Addiction Helper, we can talk you through your options and help you find the addiction therapies that match your needs. Call us or message anytime. Real help is just a conversation away.

Reclaim Your Life Today

Our compassionate team are ready and available to take your call, and guide you towards lasting the lasting addiction recovery you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does addiction therapy take?
Addiction therapy can last a few weeks, a few months or longer, depending on your needs and how things go. If you’re in residential rehab, you might have therapy every day as part of the programme and then further outpatient therapy through aftercare. If you begin with outpatient therapy, it might be once or twice a week
Can therapy help someone with both drug and alcohol addiction?
Yes, therapy is made to help with drug, alcohol and behavioural issues. It can also help you if you are struggling with more than one addiction at the same time or if you have a co-existing mental health condition.

 

Is therapy alone enough to overcome addiction?
Sometimes therapy on its own is enough, especially if your addiction hasn’t taken over your whole life yet or if you have people around you who support your recovery. But if you’re physically dependent or still struggling after rehab therapy, you may also need medical detox and aftercare.