Talk therapy gets a lot of attention in addiction recovery because it plays a vital role in the process. It helps people to discover and better understand feelings that drive them to abuse drugs or alcohol. Even so, talk therapy isn’t the only way to help someone recognize and cope with those feelings. Experiential therapy uses a hands-on approach to help a person access and channel those feelings.
What Does Experiential Therapy Involve?
Experiential therapy isn’t a single activity. Different treatment centers offer different options based on the skills of their staff and the size of their grounds. A small center or one in a city might focus on writing or music because they use less space. A large center in a more rural area might offer wilderness …show more content…
If a person doesn’t brush the horse well enough, it gives them a way to talk about feelings of failure or anger. Doing it well gives them a chance to talk about struggling to accept success.
It’s important to understand that experiential therapies don’t replace talk therapies. Their job is creating more chances for people to get at their feelings. The hope is that clients will bring those breakthroughs into individual or group therapy. The more emotional work they do during rehab, the better their chances of staying clean long-term.
Benefits of Experiential Therapy
This hands-on approach offers several benefits. The most important short-term benefit is giving people other paths to reach their feelings. Until a person can come to grips with those feelings, they’re much more likely to relapse. You can’t come to grips with something you can’t stand to talk about.
Hands-on therapies also teach people how to use their free time in non-destructive ways. A hobby, such as painting, gives people better ways to fill the hours they used to spend on drugs or alcohol. Developing a hobby isn’t the point of the therapy, but it’s often a happy byproduct.
Some of the therapies also offer health and fitness benefits. Yoga, in particular, is good for improving strength and …show more content…
Their approach is based on the time-tested 12-step model, but they embrace experiential therapies. In addition to music therapy, equine assisted therapy and yoga, they also have:
• Rope
What Does Experiential Therapy Involve?
Experiential therapy isn’t a single activity. Different treatment centers offer different options based on the skills of their staff and the size of their grounds. A small center or one in a city might focus on writing or music because they use less space. A large center in a more rural area might offer wilderness …show more content…
If a person doesn’t brush the horse well enough, it gives them a way to talk about feelings of failure or anger. Doing it well gives them a chance to talk about struggling to accept success.
It’s important to understand that experiential therapies don’t replace talk therapies. Their job is creating more chances for people to get at their feelings. The hope is that clients will bring those breakthroughs into individual or group therapy. The more emotional work they do during rehab, the better their chances of staying clean long-term.
Benefits of Experiential Therapy
This hands-on approach offers several benefits. The most important short-term benefit is giving people other paths to reach their feelings. Until a person can come to grips with those feelings, they’re much more likely to relapse. You can’t come to grips with something you can’t stand to talk about.
Hands-on therapies also teach people how to use their free time in non-destructive ways. A hobby, such as painting, gives people better ways to fill the hours they used to spend on drugs or alcohol. Developing a hobby isn’t the point of the therapy, but it’s often a happy byproduct.
Some of the therapies also offer health and fitness benefits. Yoga, in particular, is good for improving strength and …show more content…
Their approach is based on the time-tested 12-step model, but they embrace experiential therapies. In addition to music therapy, equine assisted therapy and yoga, they also have:
• Rope