Alcohol Counselling
Whenever a patient is admitted into a mental hospital, it is asked whether the patient is alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Families have to treat an alcoholic in a mental hospital sooner or later. This happens whenever a drinker becomes an addict.
Addiction or dependence on a particular substance or activity is very hard to deal with. Alcohol counselling can help a person to overcome this menace and live an alcohol-free life. Counselling is a long-term and comprehensive treatment that includes initial days of medical treatment followed by rehabilitation. During this treatment, a counsellor or a doctor uses a number of therapies depending upon the type of addiction, age and variety of other factors of the victim.
Therapies that are used to treat Alcoholism
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This therapy is all about replacing the negative thoughts and beliefs of the victim with positive thoughts. Often the victim speaks about the failure of his career, love life, marriage life etc. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT deals with the thought process and beliefs of the victim that impact his or her feelings or behavior. A counsellor notes down all such negative behavior and tries to turn them into positive thoughts and beliefs.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
The person with alcohol addiction often develops a mental health trouble known as borderline personality disorder. This therapy cures borderline personality disorder which is often associated with alcohol addiction. DBT technique applies two opposite factors – change and acceptance. The patient will have to bear the pain of changing his habits and at the same time he will accept the pain of withdrawal symptoms.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapy helps the victim to lead a balanced life-style by focusing both on the physical and mental aspects. This therapy applies meditation which is a healing process for the patient. Other actions include spiritual healing, energy healing and acupuncture. Holistic means applying a customized environment both physical and mental in order to treat the patient.
Motivational Interviewing
Here, a counsellor continuously converse with the victim to motivate him or her. This type of therapy is less effective in the initial phase of the treatment. This therapy focuses on setting goals for the victim and to stay motivated in order to realize them. The therapist uses encouraging words to treat the victim and the counselling sessions continue in periodical intervals.
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga or meditation is a part of the treatment most of the time. These are not major treatments but they are used side by side to aid in the recovery process. Both yoga and meditation help an alcoholic to speed up his recovery process. It can control the cravings by developing enough concentration of the brain. Yoga is a combination of both physical and mental exercises. Besides, the spiritual dimension of yoga always has a positive impact upon the victim.
Music Therapy
Music has healing power. This type of treatment with the help of music is costlier. Music helps to reduce anxiety. A counsellor may use this therapy after treatment of the patient to get relief from the pain and discomfort. Music can naturally awaken dopamine which is a neurotransmitter. But music therapies are not so popular yet in many areas.