When it comes to treating substance use disorder, there are countless forms of therapy that an individual can participate in that can advance his or her journey towards recovery. From individual and group therapies to behavioral therapy and trauma treatments, there is certainly no shortage of therapeutic supports for those who are getting sober. However, the majority of these therapies are conducted in the four walls of a therapist’s office or a treatment facility and require clients to do a great deal of talking and processing. While this is extremely beneficial, some clients gain more by doing, such as by participating in our experiential therapy in Tennessee.
What is Experiential Therapy?
Experiential therapy is a specific form of therapy that incorporates activities into one’s care in an effort to uncover underlying issues as they relate to a substance use disorder or mental illness. Experiential therapy has been around since the 1970s and today, it is regarded as one of the most sought-after types of therapy for those experiencing substance use disorders. Part of the draw to experiential therapy is that it allows clients to connect to and access their emotions by participating in an activity rather than through traditional talk therapy.
Different Types of Experiential Therapy
One of the greatest aspects of our Tennessee-based experiential therapy program for addiction is that there are several different activities that clients can participate in as they work to reach their recovery goals. Many of these therapies include those below:
Music Therapy
Whether a client is playing music, writing music, dancing to music, or simply listening to music, he or she can begin to focus on specific aspects of his or her life that have been deeply impacted by the presence of his or her substance use disorder. For example, countless individuals who are in recovery for substance use disorder struggle with feelings of anxiety and nervousness on a regular basis. Turning to music instead of drugs and/or alcohol can help them engage in an activity that allows them the ability to relax and calm their nerves. Also, when doing activities such as writing song lyrics or using an instrument, individuals can express the feelings they have without having to talk through them.
Art Therapy
Art has long served as an outlet for creativity and imagination, even for those who are not always the most artistically inclined. Experiential therapy for addiction offers art therapy, which includes activities such as painting, drawing, sculpting, writing poetry, and acting, to name a few. Similar to music therapy, art therapy provides clients with an outlet for self-expression that is unconventional in that it does not require clients to speak about how they are feeling. Instead, clients can utilize a specific art form for their expression and then follow up with their therapist regarding the story behind the art for further therapeutic assistance.
Equine Therapy
People and animals have a unique ability to bond with one another in ways that other beings cannot. One of the reasons for this is that animals are unconditional in the provision of their love and do not judge the person, allowing the person to feel comfortable being vulnerable in the animal’s presence. Equine therapy, which is a popular form of our experiential therapy in Tennessee, connects people with horses in an effort to help them work through mental and emotional issues they are dealing with. When engaged in this type of therapy, clients can benefit from a number of things, specifically from the immediate responses that horses provide clients with. Horses respond to how a client is feeling, allowing the client to utilize the horse as a mirror for their own emotions.
Adventure Therapy
Adventure therapy is another form of experiential therapy in Tennessee we utilize that many people who are looking to recover from substance use disorder want to participate in. One of the reasons for this is that adventure therapy connects clients to physical activities that can not only be helpful in addressing the emotional and mental issues they are experiencing but can also be fun to participate in. Some of the most common forms of adventure therapy include fly fishing and ropes courses. When a client, for example, is participating in ropes courses, he or she will be asked to work on things such as trust, communication, and vulnerability, all of which can benefit a client when working towards developing a solid base for their recovery.
Benefits of Our Experiential Therapy in Tennessee
Not only is our Tennessee experiential therapy program intriguing to many clients, but it is also highly beneficial in treating the several components of a substance use disorder. When clients participate in experiential therapy for addiction, they can obtain the following benefits, plus many more:
- Greater ability to manage stress
- Improved communication skills
- Increased sense of self-worth
- Increased self-confidence
- Greater ability to trust oneself and others
- Improved motivational skills
- Improved mood
- Stronger emotional regulation skills
- Improved ability to listen and follow direction
- Better coping skills
- Greater ability to replace negative emotions with positive emotions
Participating in our experiential therapy program can also help provide clients with a connection to something that allows them the freedom of expression. Having an outlet that is not related to substance abuse or other dangerous behaviors is extremely important for those who are striving to maintain long-term recovery from addiction.
Do You Need Help?
If you are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, you might be feeling like there is no way out. You might feel defeated and use more as a result, as well as feel like no one around you can understand what you are experiencing. However, you are one of the millions of people who are currently struggling with the effects of this disease, and you are not alone.
If you have made the decision to put a stop to your substance use disorder, call us right now to learn more about this and other services that we can provide you.
You do not need to go it alone. Call our Tennessee experiential therapy for addiction program today.