Evidence-Based Therapy at Banyan’s Chicago Drug Rehab

Many recovering addicts require more than just substance-specific treatment for their addiction. Unique programs and therapies like Chicago Gestalt therapy are often incorporated into treatment programs to increase their chances of sustaining long-term sobriety. By incorporating this evidence-based treatment, our staff has helped numerous people regain control of their lives. When our patients undergo their health assessment prior to their detox and addiction treatment, our team creates an effective treatment plan that meets each person’s needs. We believe in having a wide variety of comprehensive programs and therapies to choose from when we’re creating these plans for our clients.

What Is the Gestalt Method of Therapy?

Gestalt therapy is a unique method developed in the 1940s that advocates the importance of forgiving yourself in recovery so you can move forward and approach stressful situations differently. The purpose of Gestalt therapy for addiction treatment is to help patients manage the emotional and mental aspects of their recovery from addiction. Many people who have struggled with a drug or alcohol problem have trouble forgiving themselves and moving forward. These emotional hurdles can make recovery difficult and potentially prevent them from reaching sobriety.

The primary goal of Gestalt therapy for substance abuse treatment is to help patients gain self-awareness regarding the impact of their decisions. The Gestalt method advocates the importance of releasing negative thoughts and emotions that may prevent them from getting the most out of their substance abuse treatment.

Our Gestalt Therapy for Addiction

At our Chicago addiction treatment center, we offer Gestalt therapy for drug and alcohol addiction in order to assist our patients in their emotional and mental healing. Gestalt therapy addresses any factors that may prevent the individual during their recovery. These factors may include any thoughts, feelings, emotions, and perceptions that are hindering the person from feeling confident and motivated during this process.

During Gestalt therapy, patients will learn how to cope with past situations and properly manage problems that may present themselves in the future. Patients receiving Gestalt therapy during one of our addiction treatment programs will also learn how their behaviors and thoughts are connected to their drug or alcohol problems. The Gestalt method is beneficial in learning how to manage challenging situations during recovery. Developing the tools to properly cope with stressful situations without returning to substance abuse can greatly impact addiction recovery and help the individual avoid relapse.

Many people have benefitted from Gestalt therapy during drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Not only will this program be incorporated into the patient’s treatment plan, but additional therapies, such as dialectical behavioral therapy, conducted in individual and group sessions will also be included. These different settings will provide patients with the time to personally speak to a therapist and the opportunity to connect with others who are in similar situations. This helps create a community of support in which members continuously encourage each other to keep moving forward.

Gestalt Therapy Techniques

The integration of the mind, body, and emotions is emphasized in this humanistic and experiential approach to psychotherapy. It emphasizes the present moment and the awareness of one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and sees people as whole beings. The basic goal of Gestalt therapy is to help patients become more self-aware and to encourage personal development.

This is accomplished through a number of techniques, including:

  • Empty chair technique: This enables clients to examine unsolved issues, release repressed emotions, and gain insight into internal problems by having a conversation with a fictitious counterpart or version of oneself who is seated in an empty chair.
  • Awareness through bodywork: Clients are guided to become more conscious of their physical sensations and how they relate to their emotional states through the use of techniques, including body scanning, breath work, and mindful movement. This procedure makes it easier for the body to release stress and trauma stored there, fostering a sense of wellness and wholeness.
  • Two-chair technique: Similar to the empty chair approach, clients alternate between two seats that represent opposing or conflicting aspects of themselves or a relationship. Clients can use this strategy to examine and reconcile opposing feelings or viewpoints.
  • Exaggeration technique: Clients are urged to exaggerate specific thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to deepen their experience and get a better understanding of underlying patterns or unresolved difficulties.
  • Dream work: Clients engage in dream work to examine and play out their dreams or certain dream components in order to better understand their unconscious thought processes and unresolved tensions.
  • Role-playing: To improve their understanding of their own experiences, relationships, and ways of being, clients assume various roles or views in a controlled setting.
  • Creative expression: Art, writing, and other kinds of creative expression are utilized to enrich the therapy process, facilitate emotional expression, and improve self-awareness.
  • Mindfulness and present-centered awareness: Clients are led to concentrate on the present moment while becoming more conscious of their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without passing judgment or attaching any meaning to them.

Our Chicago Gestalt therapy program is all about learning how your thoughts and behaviors affect your life and contribute to your addiction. Once these things are realized, the individual can then focus on how they can adjust their usual behaviors and focus their efforts on their sobriety.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction, our team at Banyan Treatment Centers Chicago is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our Illinois drug rehab and the additional levels of care we offer.

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Benefits of Gestalt Therapy

Benefits of Trauma-Informed Therapy