Overcoming Chronic Relapse
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Person-Centered Therapy in Florida
Addiction therapy programs are not all created equal, and each client has a complex set of needs that must be met to facilitate their recovery. Our unique approach to person-centered therapy at Gulf Breeze Recovery allows clients to take the lead in their healing, leaving them with enhanced self-confidence and faith in their ability to make positive decisions moving forward. Call our team today at 833.551.2304 to set forth on your path towards permanent sobriety.
What Is Person-Centered Therapy?
Some think of psychological counseling as highly invasive and even hold an image in their minds of an aggressive, elitist doctor, pounding the client with probing questions. This is a natural fear; Clients in recovery are being asked to face uncomfortable experiences from their past and likely feel tremendous anxiety about being judged by an authority figure. In fact, they may find it challenging to mentally distinguish between therapists and corrections personnel, forcing the client to shut down.
However, this is not the reality of person-centered therapy, allowing clients to take the lead in their recovery efforts. In this model, the therapist acts merely as a supporter and aide as the client undergoes their own journey of self-discovery. The therapist is not there to identify or diagnose what is wrong with a client. Instead, they reflect the client’s own discoveries back to them, creating a clearer picture of how certain decisions led to specific consequences. This allows clients to reflect upon and learn from their past without shame and feel increased confidence in their future decision-making.
What Is the Advantage of Person-Centered Therapy?
Person-centered therapy was discovered by psychologist Dr. Carl Rogers in the 1940s and assumes two truths:
- That all people are inherently good
- Everyone can achieve their fullest potential
Rogers felt that there was no such thing as a broken individual and that each person is the best expert on conducting their own lives.
Person-centered therapy places emphasis on sincere, unambiguous communication. Instead of interpreting the client’s statements, the therapist will generally re-state the client’s sentiments back in their own words to ensure they understand exactly what the client intended to say. The overall aim of person-centered is to enhance self-confidence and independence, not to make a client reliant upon a therapist’s advice.
Person-centered therapy can be helpful both on an individual and group basis. It is a highly flexible model that allows clients and therapists to establish their protocols and not impose a one-size-fits-all approach. This ability to personalize the session to the client’s needs allows person-centered therapy to be very helpful in the treatment of substance use disorders as well as concurrent disorders and can be a critical component of both residential and outpatient treatment.
Techniques of self-centered therapy include:
- A universal emphasis upon empathy, compassion, and the establishment of a safe space.
- The therapist does not attempt to heal the client directly; instead, they support the client to heal themselves.
- The therapist will never force a client onto (or off of) a specific topic.
- The therapist does not judge, edit, censor, or evaluate the client’s feelings or experiences.
Learn Person-Centered Therapy Techniques At Gulf Breeze Recovery
At Gulf Breeze Recovery, we believe that healing is only possible when all clients’ needs are met, including establishing an environment conducive to trust. Help is always available.
We take a holistic approach to healing that may include other therapies and programs such as:
- EMDR therapy
- Anger management therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Meditation therapy
Call our team today at 833.551.2304 to learn more about the role of person-centered therapy to get you on the road to better health.