One of the most rapidly-growing treatment methods for drug addiction is reality-based therapy. Reality-based treatments are different from other methods in that they avoid the past, encouraging patients to focus on the here and now and to learn how to assess difficult situations and take appropriate action. These therapies also involve questioning designed to elicit logical responses from addicts which then compel them to actively change their behavior patterns. Finally, they mimic environments and scenarios an addict will encounter in life outside the treatment facility to make for a smooth transition and lasting sobriety.

Unfortunately, most addicts and even many healthcare professionals don't fully understand the specifics of reality-based therapy. Simply put, its premise is that every person must live among other people, and that everyone must satisfy his or her needs. This type of therapy is designed to help people control the world around them, so that they may satisfy these needs without encroaching on others. Since addicts often turn to drugs when they feel helpless, this emphasis on control is what makes reality-based treatments so effective at changing harmful behavior patterns.

Reality-based methods rely on the dynamic between the therapist and the addict. As a team, they work to determine and improve the most important personal relationships in the patient's life. In cases where a patient has lost all friends and family ties to drug abuse, therapists help to create new relationships. According to William Glasner, the creator of reality-based therapy, improving these relationships is critical because of the fundamental human need for personal connection.

However, it can be extremely difficult for a recovering addict to work on personal connections while suffering from Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. Trained therapists move the process along by asking patients direct, logical questions which force them to confront their drug addiction with honesty and reason. Glassner emphasizes the following points:

*Avoiding the unchangeable past while focusing on the present

*Discussing challenges and solutions rather than complaints

*Focusing on the patient's current abilities to reflect and act

*Avoiding criticisms, judgments, or force

*Teaching addicts that rationalizations and excuses keep them from connecting with other people

*Focusing on specific solutions with tangible solutions

Many reality-based programs administer treatments at a normal, every-day level. They provide services in patients' actual living environments within an inpatient facility, gently pushing them to take responsibility for their actions. Patients must cook and clean for themselves, shop, and plan and attend their own counseling sessions. For instance, they might not be able to control the fact that they are required to attend therapy, but they can and must control how it occurs. Overall, this type of structure makes the transition back into normal life much easier, as the patients have already been living in an environment with real choices and consequences.

If you or a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, call the number at the top of your screen to learn more about how reality-based therapies can help. Our counselors are standing by day and night to get you started on the path to recovery.