Addiction treatment

Often you are not sure if you are addicted. It is important that you want to stop certain use (alcohol, drugs or medication) or behavior (sex, gaming or gambling), because it is not good for yourself and your environment. Also if you feel guilty after use or behavior, or if you notice that your environment (family, friends) is affected by it, then it is good to do something about your addiction.

Only a few people who are addicted seek professional help. And usually only if they have been addicted for a long time and the addiction has already destroyed a lot. Or after a long period of denial of the addiction. That is a pity, because there are good treatment methods for addiction and the chance of recovery is better if you seek help in time. Do not hesitate any longer and ask for help. You rarely overcome addiction alone.

During the treatment you learn to regain control of your own life, to break through ingrained addiction habits and to build a life that is no longer about your addiction. We discuss what causes your addiction and what the risks of a relapse are. We also examine when or why you are craving for your addiction. Are you, for example, nervous, do you suffer from stress or do you have nothing to do all day? Or you can forget your problems for a moment?

Therapies for addiction

Depending on the type of addiction and the duration and severity of the addiction, a psychologist can apply different forms of therapy during the conversations. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a widely used and effective therapy for addiction.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a good treatment method for addiction. The principle of CBT is that your thoughts influence your feelings and your behavior. Your thoughts and your behavior maintain your addiction. Do you think you are only having fun when you have had a few glasses of wine? Do you think you can only relax after using cannabis? Cognitive therapy helps you to change your way of thinking and your behavior, helping you to get rid of your addiction. Specific exercises are used for this.

With an addiction you are mentally and / or physically dependent on a particular substance or behavior. An addiction can be persistent, there is often a relapse and sometimes it is only possible to overcome the addiction after you have been in treatment several times. In addition to individual therapy, it can be useful to involve important loved ones (partner or family members) in the treatment. Family therapy can reduce the risk of relapse and improve treatment efficiency.

It is possible that one form of therapy is used, but a combination of different types of therapy is also a good option. At the start of the treatment process, you discuss with your therapist which form of therapy is best for you and your symptoms, and what feels comfortable for you. In this way, the treatment is tailor-made, so that you feel seen, heard and helped by us.

Contact Psychologen Amsterdam

Do you recognize your symptoms and do you need help or do you just have a question about the treatment of your addiction? Then call for an appointment or send a message to Psychologen Amsterdam.