mental health treatment Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

What to Expect in Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Posted on June 5, 2021 by cmarnew

When you are depressed, you want to feel better. And a number of people turn to opioids or alcohol for relief. These substances make them feel better temporarily, and they may begin to associate them as a cure for their depression. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse alongside mental health issues, there are programs specifically designed to help. A dual diagnosis treatment program is the best option for you to get over your addiction by getting to the cause of the original problem.

At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment programs that will get to the reason behind your substance addiction and help you regain your life from your addiction. To learn more about this approach to addiction treatment, call 833.448.0127 today to speak with a member of our team.

How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs Work

When you first speak with a therapist, they will determine if you need a dual diagnosis treatment program. This type of treatment program is not for everyone and is custom-tailored to the needs of the patient. A dual diagnosis treatment involves treating both mental health issues and dependence on drugs and alcohol.

Many rehab therapy programs fail because they only deal with one aspect of the problem. However, dual diagnosis programs give patients the best chance at long-term recovery.

Treating the Underlying Issue

You can’t stop your trigger for your coping mechanism until you find out what prompts you to reach for it. Many problems start in childhood and involve deep-rooted habits that will make quitting on your own extremely difficult.

Many underlying issues can lead to substance abuse, and you may not even realize it without an outside perspective. Some of the mental health issues that co-occur with addiction include:

Depression
Generalized anxiety disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Bipolar disorder
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Those who struggle with these mental health conditions have a higher rate of substance abuse, and the addiction hides the underlying issue. Most singularly focused therapy or rehab programs fail because of this. A dual diagnosis program will include treatment programs to help you get to the bottom of your illness.

Treating the Physical Side of Addiction

Addiction is not a weakness. Instead, it is a mental health issue and a physical issue all on its own. When you begin to view your addiction as a disease, you understand that you can treat it just like any other disease.

As you go through detox, you might experience withdrawal symptoms. These can include:

Sweating
Shaking
Vomiting
Severe mood swings
Muscle pain
Tremors

Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone help reduce the negative side effects of withdrawal from opioids along with other medications that help with alcohol and nicotine.

Treating individual issues can be difficult on its own. That is why a dual diagnosis treatment program is crucial if you are serious about recovering from your addiction.

Benefits of a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program

When you begin a dual diagnosis treatment program, you will receive a mix of one-on-one and group therapy to help you get back on your feet. Some of the benefits of these therapies include:

A better understanding of the underlying issue and how to treat it
A healthier mind and body
New coping mechanisms that you will use for life
Renewed energy and motivation
New friends to help you stay sober

Recovering from mental illness and addiction will bring about many changes in your life, and the right treatment center can give you the tools you need to maintain your new life.

What to Expect at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

When you begin your treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, you will be treated with the utmost care and respect from our certified therapists and staff. We understand the difficulties of recovering from addiction and treating your mental illness. That is why we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment.

When you are ready to begin your recovery, call our team at 833.448.0127 or connect with us online.

How Neurofeedback Therapy Helps with Mental Health Disorders

Posted on April 1, 2021 by cmarnew

When you have a mental health disorder, it can feel like you don’t fit into your own skin. While talk therapy can be critical in helping individuals get to the core of their issues, some people may benefit from alternative forms of treatment like neurofeedback therapy. Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery provides clients with the opportunity to try neurofeedback therapy in the hopes that it provides relief from the symptoms of various mental health disorders.

What Is Neurofeedback Therapy?

The use of neurofeedback therapy goes all the way back to the early 20^th century. It’s a non-invasive procedure that monitors brainwaves using equipment like an electroencephalograph (EEG) to record the brain’s electrical activity. Therapists rely on this data to find irregularities in different areas of the brain and find ways to encourage more positive activity in the organ.

Neurofeedback therapy helps clients by teaching them techniques that help them regulate and boost brain functions. The treatment has proven helpful in providing relief from the symptoms that accompany mental health disorders like ADHD, anxiety, and insomnia.

How Is Neurofeedback Therapy Applied?

Your therapist may recommend that you try neurofeedback therapy if you are dealing with conditions like:

Attention deficit disorders
Birth trauma
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
PTSD
Brain injuries

It’s considered safe to use neurofeedback therapy on children, adolescents, and adults. Clients dealing with issues tied to cognitive loss because of aging can also benefit from the treatment. Neurofeedback therapy can be used in combination with more traditional forms of therapy as part of a client’s treatment plan.

How Does Neurofeedback Therapy Work?

Most people attend neurofeedback therapy once per week, and sessions typically last between 30 and 60 minutes. The number of sessions you attend depends on the severity of your condition. While the average length of treatment tends to be 20 weeks, your therapist may recommend that you attend more sessions per week if they think you might benefit.

Sessions typically start with you having electrodes attached to your scalp that let the EEG machine read and measure your current brain activities in real-time. There are four brain wave types measured during a biofeedback therapy session:

Beta waves — These brain waves move quickly at low amplitude. They measure alertness, arousal, and how much you are cognitively engaged.
Alpha waves — Alpha waves move slower than beta waves at a higher amplitude. They help therapists read your brain’s level of mental coordination, learning, non-arousal, and the mind-body connection.
Theta waves — Theta waves move slower than alpha waves at a higher amplitude. They show your brain’s memory levels, recognizing vivid imagery, subconscious information processing, and awareness of internal signals.
Delta waves — Delta waves move the slowest of all brain waves at the highest amplitude. They produce information around your deep sleep, healing, and regeneration.

What Are the Benefits of Neurofeedback Therapy?

While neurofeedback therapy can’t cure mental health disorders, it can help regulate how your brain works to help it function more healthily. Neurofeedback therapy helps your central nervous system reorganize and control different brainwave frequencies. The sessions also help your therapist pinpoint specific places in your brain producing the symptoms of your neurological issues. That information helps them come up with more targeted treatment.

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery believes in providing clients with every tool necessary to help them overcome their issues. Neurofeedback therapy can help clients find relief from the symptoms of a mental health disorder that may be holding them back in life.

Other treatments and programs offered at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery include:

You don’t have to continue living life the way you have. Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today at 833.448.0127 to get started on a new path.

3 Benefits of Trauma-Informed Treatment for Drug Addiction

Posted on March 25, 2021 by cmarnew

When a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder, it’s easy to think that willpower alone should be enough for them to overcome it. However, addiction is not a choice; it has been proven to be a chemical change in the brain. For many, past trauma has impacted the way they use drugs or alcohol. Trauma-informed care can help those who are struggling with addiction work through traumatic experiences and develop healthy coping skills for lifelong recovery.

How Addiction Relates to Trauma

Some individuals turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with something deeper. To get through life or trauma they’ve experienced, they numb and self-soothe to overcome feelings and thoughts that have become too burdensome. This helps them disconnect and cope, but all the while, substance abuse causes even more problems. Understanding how addiction relates to survival can help more people recover from addiction. For example, an overwhelming number of adolescents receiving treatment for substance use disorders end up having a history of trauma exposure. This alone points to trauma being a consideration factor when developing treatment plans for those dealing with addiction. It also explains why trauma-informed treatment is so necessary.

How Trauma-Informed Treatment Can Help

Trauma-informed therapy is based on the belief that a person’s substance use can be their way of coping with negative, overwhelming, or intrusive thoughts and feelings. These can be from memories, current situations, or past traumas. With these clients, safety is a high priority for therapists. Clients often experience triggering moments when learning how trauma has played a role in their lives. Through therapy that takes a trauma-informed approach, the therapist helps the client make positive connections, handle situations that have triggered drug use, and create a toolbox of strategies for overcoming trauma and avoiding substance use in the future.

Trauma-informed therapy used for substance abuse disorders involves:

A respectful, safe place to do the work
An understanding of how mental health-related issues and trauma co-exist with addiction
Leading the client to have self-compassion and self-respect instead of shame and guilt surrounding trauma and addiction
Creating healthy solutions to the identified problems
Finding ways to provide ongoing support

Three Benefits of Trauma-Informed Treatment

There are many benefits of taking this approach, but three stand out as the most helpful:

It provides holistic care
It offers a lower risk of re-traumatization
It uses well-known approaches to therapy

Trauma-informed treatment takes a holistic approach, recognizing that addiction has roots in both chemical and emotional causes. It connects recovery and resilience, trauma and addiction, so that the whole person can be treated. It can be provided in any setting and uses evidence-based information, family engagement, empowerment, and collaboration as its touchpoints for success.

Many people are exposed to trauma on some level or another in their lifetime, but taking a trauma-informed approach allows a therapist who understands how trauma affects a person to have a hand in helping a person through recovery. If someone not as informed on trauma is assisting a person, there can be accidental incidences of re-traumatization. A deeper depth of compassion and sense of safety in trauma-informed therapy helps the client feel more compelled to heal. The extra gentleness provided in these sessions is beneficial for success in recovery.

Trauma-informed treatment uses some of the primary and most evidence-backed methods of treatment available today. Not only is cognitive-behavioral therapy especially effective for co-occurring disorders involving addition and mental health, but EMDR is as well. EMDR uses rapid eye movements to desensitize clients from the negative emotions, detrimental behaviors, and possible stigmas associated with trauma and addiction. It allows clients to process the emotions surrounding their trauma so that they can create healthier behavior patterns.

Trauma-Informed Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, clients can benefit from therapists who take a trauma-informed treatment approach. Understanding the symptoms of trauma, PTSD, and other related issues can help those suffering from a substance use disorder. Options such as telehealth and outpatient meet various needs, and our approaches offer a complete recovery to clients. Contact us at 833.448.0127 for more information.

What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

Posted on February 5, 2021 by cmarnew

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the evidence-based treatments commonly used to treat drug and alcohol addiction. It’s used because it is very effective and can help provide individuals with the tools they need to change their thinking and behaviors. So, what is cognitive-behavioral therapy? At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we use CBT to help our patients reframe their thoughts. Utilizing a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, holistic care, and medications, it is often possible to restore health and mental wellbeing.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT is a type of psychological treatment used to treat both drug and alcohol addiction along with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. When used properly, CBT can improve function in daily life while also improving quality of life.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on a few specific principles:

Many with addiction or mental health disorders stem from poor, unhelpful, and faulty ways of thinking.
Many times, these problems come from learned behaviors or patterns that are unhealthy.
Those who struggle with these problems can learn to cope with them.
Symptom relief comes from changing thought processes and improving thinking patterns to avoid unhealthy or unhelpful behavior.

By changing thought patterns using cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, it’s possible to stop negative behaviors such as using drugs, self-doubt, and poor self-confidence.

What Are Typical Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Techniques?

Therapists use a number of techniques to help foster changing thought patterns and processes. This may include teaching a person to recognize that their thought processes are unhealthy or unrealistic. It is often necessary for people to learn how to recognize the initial thoughts that typically lead to negative behaviors, such as self-doubt or inaccurate thinking about their circumstances.

From there, therapists work to help individuals learn how to use problem-solving skills to deal with challenges. It is very common for people who have addictions to turn to these substances when they are faced with intense situations, such as financial difficulties, relationship problems, or work-related problems. Providing a way to deal with this in real-time to avoid negative outcomes is critical.

In addition to this, those receiving CBT may also learn how to face their fears instead of avoiding them or worsening their anxiety about those fears. They may engage in role-playing to work through some of their most difficult situations. Other times, they will engage in activities to calm the mind and relax even while facing intense stress. All of this can contribute to improved mental health and confidence.

CBT Is One Treatment Solution We Offer

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy in terms of a person’s overall addiction treatment? CBT is just one component of the care a person receives at our location. Whether through in-person or telehealth, our team works with individuals to teach the strategies needed to change negative thought patterns. They also learn how to engage in life with more confidence.

Among CBT, we also offer a number of other evidence-based treatment programs. These work alongside CBT to help restore health. Some of what we offer includes:

A combination of these programs can often lead to healing and improvement of quality of life.

Call Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery Today for Help

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly used treatment options, but CBT isn’t the only option for many people. Utilizing a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques along with other holistic and evidence-based treatments, our team at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery can offer the support needed to overcome addiction. To learn more about treatment options, call us at 833.448.0127 or connect with us online now.

Which Type of Counseling Is Best for Recovery?

Posted on January 10, 2021 by cmarnew

Drug and alcohol addiction takes a toll on your mind and body. Mental health disorders complicate matters, as well. For those who are ready to embrace treatment, it may be helpful to know a range of counseling types are available. That includes things like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). You may also embrace telehealth at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery.

What Are the Types of Counseling We Offer?

There are a range of counseling types available because not everyone responds to therapy in the same manner. What is most critical is providing an individual with the type and level of care they need, so they obtain the best level of healing possible. Let’s explore the range of counseling types most commonly used and how they can help you.

CBT

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is designed to teach you how to notice negative thought patterns you are having and to recognize if they are accurate or not. It then applies a strategy that helps you to change those negative thoughts to help you avoid negative behaviors. CBT is very effective and tends to be a foundation in recovery.

DBT

Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of CBT. The goal here is to help a person to focus on living in the moment and learning to control thoughts and actions. It is designed to help a person to embrace better decision making.

MAT

Medication-assisted treatment is not a true counseling type. Rather, in a MAT program, medications are used to help you to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The direct result of this is to help a person to gain more control over their thoughts by controlling dependence. MAT is often a big part of a successful recovery program.

Telehealth

Telehealth is also not a true type of counseling. Rather, it is a method of communicating. It allows people to work with their therapist online instead of coming into an office. For those who are looking for a way to improve their addiction, but are unable to make it to a treatment center for care, telehealth opens the door for opportunities.

Which of These Counseling Types Is Right for You?

The good news is you do not have to choose counseling types or even try to understand the details of each one. That’s what your therapists and doctors are for once you request care. Our team at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery works closely with you to better understand your needs based on your addiction severity and the type and then makes recommendations for counseling types that may work for you. Many factors go into this decision, such as:

The type of drugs you’re using
Underlying mental health conditions
The severity of your withdrawal symptoms
Length of time you’ve used drugs
Access to in-person or online therapy

You can find treatment that’s right for your situation. These are just some of the counseling types that may be right for your situation. It’s our goal to empower you through comprehensive therapy and support.

Getting Help for Addiction Starts with Reaching Out

If you are serious about changing your life and accomplishing your goals, our team at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery can help you. We encourage you to start the process by learning more about some of our programs and how they can work for you:

Embrace Treatment – Call Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery Now

If you are learning about the counseling types – CBT, DBT, MAT, and even telehealth, you’re ready for addiction treatment. There’s no benefit to putting it off. Reach out to Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today to learn more about how we can help you start on the path of healing. Call 833.448.0127 or connect with us online now.

What Is a Harm-Reduction Approach to Recovery?

Posted on December 20, 2020 by cmarnew

The harm-reduction approach to therapy is a set of eight principles that center around meeting people where they are and slowly bringing them along to recovery. Treatment specialists recognize that not everyone is ready or capable of ending their addiction at a given time. Instead of assuming where an individual should be in their addiction recovery, therapists use evidence-based methods to treat the addiction symptoms.

Harm-reduction treatment programs can prevent addiction-related harm instead of helping the individual end their addiction. Programs offer education, resources, disease prevention, and medical care to those suffering from addiction and need help right away. A person who receives medical care for addiction may decide that it is time to enter a drug or alcohol rehab program. To learn more about our addiction treatment center approach, contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today at 833.448.0127.

What Are the 8 Principles of the Harm Reduction-Approach?

The harm-reduction approach to treatment includes a variety of strategies that involve safer drug or alcohol use, managed use, full abstinence, and addressing medical conditions or mental health issues for drug or alcohol users. Programs operate on eight main principles.

Principle 1: Acceptance

Treatment professionals involved in mental health and behavioral treatment must first accept that prescription and illicit drug use is a part of their reality. Their primary goal is to minimize the harmful effects of drugs instead of ignoring or condemning them.

Principle 2: Understanding

Healthcare and mental health treatment professionals must understand that drug addiction is a complicated problem that involves various behaviors that range from severe use to abstinence. They must acknowledge that some ways of using substances are safer than others.

Principle 3: Wellness

Treatment professionals and facilities must first establish a treatment that enhances a person’s quality of life, not just addresses their addiction. Improving the quality of life needs to be the criteria used to assess and identify successful intervention and treatment.

Principle 4: Non-Coercive Services

Non-coercive and non-judgmental services must be offered to those who are struggling with addiction. This treatment may include services, such as:

Medical treatment
Clinical treatment
Case management services
Educational resources

Services must be designed to reduce any harm that may come to those who receive treatment. Recipients must not feel judged or pressured into receiving addiction treatment.

Principle 5: Empowerment

Those who are struggling with addiction or mental health issues must be allowed to contribute to the creation of addiction treatment therapies designed to help them recover. Those with addictions may have some ideas on how best to help them get clean and stay clean for life.

Principle 6: Affirmation

The harm-reduction approach affirms that people who use drugs are the primary people who reduce the harm drugs cause. Harm-reduction treatment empowers drug users to share information and support other users with strategies that meet their needs.

Principle 7: Recognition

Treatment professionals recognize that factors such as social inequality, sex-based discrimination, past trauma, social isolation, racism, class, and poverty all contribute to the vulnerabilities of those addicted to drugs. They also affect a person’s ability to deal with drug-related harm.

Principle 8: Acknowledgment

This type of treatment fully acknowledges the danger and harm that is associated with illicit drug use. In no way or form does it try to ignore or minimize the physical and mental impact of drugs.

Learn More at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

If you are struggling with addiction, you can get help for the harmful effects of drugs without feeling like we’re judging or alienating you. Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery at 833.448.0127 today. We will discuss your condition, get answers to your questions about the harm-reduction approach, and explore your treatment options. We are here to help you get on the road to recovery.

Do You Need Family Therapy During the Holidays?

Posted on November 15, 2020 by cmarnew

While a family can be a happy union, sometimes things may not work well. Some issues can strain the relationship between spouses, children, and parents. It is essential to interact with your loved ones and know whether there is a need for family therapy during holidays. Every family is unique, and determining your needs can help you find the right help. Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery can assist if your family is battling an addiction to opioids or alcohol. To learn more about our programs, reach out to our team today at 833.448.0127.

The Significance of Family Therapy During Holidays

Family counseling aims at addressing particular issues that affect the proper functioning of the unit. For example, holiday stress can be challenging for many families. Furthermore, health and behavioral problems can cause disconnection between family members. However, a qualified therapist at a mental health treatment center can use various proven techniques to solve the issues depending on your family’s situation.

Feeling of Loneliness

A holiday can bring your family together, but this is not always the case. If you have teenagers in your household, they may want more privacy. Your spouse may engage in other activities, like going on a trip with friends. It is okay for any family member to desire privacy and time alone. However, if a loved one prefers to stay away from others and avoid interacting with family members and friends altogether, it could be a huge problem.

Withdrawing from family and isolation could signal stress, depression, or other mental problems requiring family therapy during holidays. For example, a child who shows such behaviors could be struggling with abuse or bullying. A therapist at a family therapy program can determine the underlying issues and help reconnect the child with the family.

A Loved One Suffers Substance Dependency

Sometimes your spouse can be battling with a substance use disorder but hides it from other family members. Substance dependency can affect individuals in different ways. If you notice behavioral changes in your loved one, such as withdrawal, mood swings, and a lack of interest in hobbies, investigate to discover the problem.

Finding help for your loved one can save the entire family. A family therapy program equips you with the life skills that are essential to caring for and supporting each other.

Strained Communication in Your Family

Proper communication is vital for understanding each other and strengthening relationships. However, some family members can fail to talk about their situations, causing disconnection and creating barriers, hence paving the way for more problems. If your loved one is in recovery and experiencing holiday stress, a therapist can intervene by teaching vital skills to handle triggers.

Teen Behavioral Issues

Dysfunction in a family unit can cause teenagers to misbehave. The teen could be reacting to unhealthy relationships within the family. You can solve such issues by determining the underlying problems. For example, children who experience traumatic events can change their worldview. Addressing the situation through a therapist can prevent potentially severe consequences. In most cases, family issues can cause children to exhibit various symptoms, including:

Physical and mental problems
Rebellious attitude towards parents
Drug and alcohol abuse
Persistent sibling rivalry
Sex issues

Let Your Family Heal at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Identifying the issues affecting your family’s relationship can help you seek the necessary help promptly. Failure to intervene can lead to a disconnection between family members, ruining the unit. A therapist will examine the situation and uncover the underlying issues. We offer treatment programs for the following:

Family therapy during holidays addresses these problems and aims at connecting your loved ones for a healthy relationship. Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today at 833.448.0127 and benefit from personalized treatment based on your family’s needs.