February 07, 2022 By Leah Malone

Three Ways to Utilize Therapy in Recovery

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  1. Be open-minded and honest

A clinician is not able to assist you if you are not completely honest with your thoughts and feelings in the clinical setting. In my addictive addiction, I had very little concept of honesty because of the delusions I lived in regarding my drinking and using. I was not willing to be honest with myself regarding how substances were affecting my life, therefore I projected my delusions onto others, creating an echo-chamber of delusional beliefs regarding my thoughts, feelings, and actions. Once I found recovery, for the first time I was able to be honest in therapy, therefore being able to fully utilize the services therapy offered, which propelled me into true emotional health.

  1. Take feedback

In my active addiction, I spent much time and energy seeking people that would enable my maladaptive behaviors. I was not willing to hear feedback or take suggestions to engage in behaviors that were healthy for me. When I got sober, I became willing to do something “different”, and in turn understood that others’ feedback and suggestions was only meant to be loving and helpful as I continue to heal.

  1. Do your homework!

I can’t tell you how many times my previous therapist recommended mindfulness and meditation as a skill to manage my anxiety and minimize trauma responses. Every week, I would swear that I would make a commitment to doing that week’s “therapy homework”. Without fail, I made the decision to never utilize the skills that were being offered to me, despite (what I thought at the time) a desire to be emotionally and spiritually healthy. Come to find out, the skills therapist suggests have taught me, when put to practice, do offer the relief I was searching for.

Therapy & the 12-Steps

When I first entered recovery, I felt as if I heard so many conflicting messages regarding therapy and the 12-steps. I was confused about when to assert boundaries, and when to let things slide under the idea that the Universe has a plan and to “let things fall as they must.” I continuously felt conflicted and pulled in two directions.

As I continued to engage in both 12-step recovery and therapy and developed a deeper understanding of both practices, I began to understand that instead of conflicting each other, they compliment each other. I learned that “one day at a time” can translate to “one moment at a time”, which was exactly what Mindfulness was. I learned through the Serenity Prayer, that I could not control other people and that the only thing I had control over was myself. These tools built a foundation where I learned how to face life successfully.

When I got sober, all I wanted was to quit drinking. My life had become messy and I was unable to exist in society. I believed removing alcohol would clear that all up. The reality was, the only coping skill I had development was picking up a drink, and had to develop those skills as well. The outcome of continuing to persevere through trial and error, is a life of freedom, contentment, and happiness.

About Author

Leah Malone

Learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings can be painful and disturbing at times. When Leah was able to see her behavior patterns and decided there was enough pain to be disturbed, she became motivated to make changes and accept the work that needed to be done to heal. She needed direction and had no clue how to heal on her own. Through a connection with God, authentic connection with others, honesty, willingness, and humility, Leah is now in recovery from addiction and trauma.

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