For many Kentuckians, addiction is a part of life. Perhaps you are struggling with substance abuse, or are watching a family member or loved one struggle. Substance abuse affects not only the individual but also their family and community. Sterling Crossroads offers an outpatient addiction therapy program in Kentucky for residents of Mount Sterling and the surrounding communities. Counseling is essential to any treatment plan for addiction, but how does counseling help substance abuse treatment? Counseling provides proven and effective ways of changing negative thoughts and behaviors associated with addiction.
Sterling Crossroads understands addiction. We offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP), including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help with withdrawal symptoms. In our addiction treatment programs, we use behavioral therapy and counseling to address the underlying issues and root causes of your addiction. Contact Sterling Crossroads in Mount Sterling, KY, today at 888.991.1476. We’re here for your family, your community, and most importantly, you.
The nature of addiction
Addiction affects both the brain and body, changing how people think, feel, and act.
- Drugs and alcohol interfere with neurotransmitters, the brain’s chemical messengers, which disrupt how brain cells communicate. Over time, this causes changes in areas of the brain that control decision-making, memory, self-control, and feelings of reward. This can lead to a strong urge to keep using substances, even when they cause harm.
- The body also gets used to these substances, causing physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms when stopped.
These changes in the brain and body can cause negative thoughts, mood swings, and harmful behaviors, making it important to get professional counseling and support to recover.
What is the purpose of substance abuse counseling?
Purging drugs or alcohol from your system is just the first step on the road to recovery. Because addiction changes the brain and body, it leads to altered thoughts and behaviors that drive the addiction in a dangerous cycle. Breaking free of this cycle of addiction requires changing those negative thoughts and behaviors. Counseling gets at the underlying causes of the addiction. You learn to recognize negative thoughts and change those thoughts before they become destructive behaviors. Counseling will also give you strategies for when you’re facing triggers or situations that make you crave drugs or alcohol. You can resist temptation and avoid relapse by using those strategies and changing negative thought patterns.
Benefits of counseling for drug abuse
- Helps individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms to manage stress and emotions.
- Provides a supportive environment to address underlying emotional or psychological issues contributing to addiction.
- Equips individuals with tools and strategies to prevent relapse and maintain long-term recovery.
Sterling Crossroads offers outpatient addiction therapy to help you or a loved one live a sober life once again.
How does counseling help substance abuse? Contact Sterling Crossroads today
If you or someone you know in Kentucky is struggling with addiction, Sterling Crossroads is here to help. We know recovery can be hard, so we offer an intensive outpatient program designed to fit your needs. Our team also provides medication-assisted treatment, a proven way to treat alcohol and opioid addiction by combining medicine with counseling for long-term results.
At Sterling Crossroads, we don’t just treat addiction—we help you build a better future. Our services include life skills training to help you live independently, parenting classes to strengthen family relationships, and anger management classes to help you handle emotions in a healthy way.
Counseling is an important part of addiction treatment because it helps people understand why they started using substances and works to fix those issues. Through one-on-one and group therapy, people learn better ways to cope and how to avoid relapsing. It also gives them a safe space to share their stories and get support from others who are going through the same journey to recovery.
Recovery is about more than just staying sober—it’s about creating a happy, balanced life. Take the first step toward real change. Contact Sterling Crossroads today online or call 888.991.1476 to start your journey to healing.