Thanks to constant media coverage of celebrities' drug addictions and recoveries, most people in the United States have a cursory knowledge of what goes on during substance abuse rehabilitation. In particular, people tend to understand that the usual first step in rehab is a detoxification, and that the next step is a thirty day or longer stay at a treatment facility. Beyond that, however, few Americans understand what types of treatments clinicians actually use to produce positive lifestyle changes in their addicted patients. Lacking this knowledge, many people see rehab facilities primarily as warehousing centers with the common purpose of simply keeping addicts isolated from compromising situations for a set length of time. Because addiction is a physiological condition which can afflict anyone from any walk of life, people should gain a better understanding of the therapies offered at most treatment centers. Here are some of the most common and effective methods:

Evidence-Based Therapy

For most rehabilitation facilities, evidence-based, government-approved therapies are mandatory practice. These methods have been rigorously, scientifically tested and are backed by an immense body of anecdotal evidence from successful recoveries. Among the different types of evidence-based therapies are one-on-one counseling, peer group discussion, and family counseling. Successful rehab facilities use highly-individualized programs, but almost every recovering addict participates in these counseling sessions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral methods concern a person's control over his or her thoughts and emotions. Clinicians use these practices to teach addicts that most of the negativity they feel and problems they experience are a result of their own mental states. By changing the way they think, addicts can change the way they react to difficult situations. Overall, this type of treatment helps the addict to feel in control of his surroundings.

Reality Therapy

The main idea of reality therapy is that every person has things he can control and things he cannot control. It is critical for a recovering addict to learn to understand the difference between these types of situations, and to act accordingly. Clinicians who use reality therapies also administer their patients' treatments in environments as close to life in the outside world as possible. By having patients go about their normal, daily activities in the same environments in which they receive treatment, they create a solid foundation for sober living post-therapy.

Group Therapy

Addicts often find it easier to control their negative thought patterns and behaviors when they are reminded that they are not alone in their struggles. Group therapies offer substance abusers a chance to connect and share stories with people who face similar problems. This type of treatment also allows people who are new to rehab to learn important lessons from more experienced members of the group.

Biofeedback Treatments

Biofeedback therapy allows substance abusers to better understand their bodies and learn how their physiologies are affected by their addictions. Most importantly, they learn to recognize signs of stress or illness, signs they may have ignored before rehab when their minds were consumed with drug cravings and compulsions. Learning to spot negative physical signs can be invaluable in coping with Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, the leading cause of relapse.