How Therapy Supports Addiction Recovery: Lessons from National Recovery Month

Learn more about Addiction Therapy.

In This Blog, You’ll Learn:

✅ What addiction recovery is and why it matters

✅ Different types of addiction recovery services near me

✅ FAQs: Answers to common questions and additional FAQs

✅ How therapy supports addiction recovery for men, women, and families

✅ A self-check quiz to see if you may benefit from addiction recovery therapy

🎗️ National Recovery Month: Why September Matters

When is Addiction Recovery Month? Every September, National Recovery Month raises awareness about the importance of mental health and substance use treatment. It is a time to celebrate those on the addiction road to recovery and highlight the resources available in local communities.

❓ What Is Addiction Recovery?

Many people search for what addiction recovery is, but the answer can feel different depending on your journey. At its core, addiction recovery is the process of moving from addiction to recovery, finding healing, stability, and hope.

What Addiction Recovery is Not: One-size-fits-all

Some people turn to structured programs, while others find strength through addiction recovery without religion, addiction recovery without 12 steps, or even addiction recovery without rehab. Therapy offers a flexible and personalized approach that helps clients rebuild their lives.

⚠️Signs Someone May Need Addiction Therapy

• Difficulty controlling substance use, alcohol use, or compulsive behaviors (such as gambling, pornography, gaming, shopping, or food-related patterns)
• Strained relationships with family, partners, or friends due to these behaviors
• Physical or emotional withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop or cut back
• Loss of interest in work, school, hobbies, or responsibilities
• Spending excessive time, energy, or money on substances or behaviors
• Using substances or behaviors to cope with stress, loneliness, or difficult emotions
• Feeling guilt, shame, or regret but continuing anyway
• A sense that recovery is impossible without help

Common Myths vs. Facts

🚫 Myth: Recovery always requires religion or a 12-step program.
✅ Fact: Many people succeed through addiction recovery without god or addiction recovery without religion, using therapy-based or holistic approaches.

🚫 Myth: Recovery is only for individuals.
✅ Fact: Addiction recovery for families is just as important, since addiction affects loved ones as well.

🚫 Myth: You cannot recover if you do not have insurance.
✅ Fact: Many services support addiction recovery without insurance, and therapy offers out-of-pocket options with possible reimbursement.

✅ Quick Self-Check: Do You Need Addiction Recovery Therapy?

Consider these questions, whether related to substance use, alcohol use, or behavioral patterns (gambling, porn, gaming, shopping, food, etc.):

1. Do you find it hard to control or cut back, even when you want to?
2. Do you spend more time, money, or energy on this than you intend to?
3. Have loved ones expressed concern about your use or habits?
4. Do you rely on substances or behaviors to cope with stress, loneliness, or difficult emotions?
5. Have responsibilities at work, school, or home suffered because of this?
6. Do you feel guilt, shame, or regret afterward, but continue anyway?
7. Do you experience withdrawal symptoms (physical, emotional, or mental) when you try to stop?
8. Do you often think about when or how you will do it again?
9. Has your health, mood, or relationships been negatively affected?
10. Do you feel like this pattern is controlling your life more than you would like?

✅ If you answered “yes” to two or more, you may benefit from exploring addiction recovery therapy. It does not matter if the addiction is to substances, alcohol, or behaviors, support can help you regain balance, rebuild relationships, and create lasting change.

Common Myths vs. Facts

🚫 Myth: Recovery always requires religion or a 12-step program.
✅ Fact: Many people succeed through addiction recovery without god or addiction recovery without religion, using therapy-based or holistic approaches.

🚫 Myth: Recovery is only for individuals.
✅ Fact: Addiction recovery for families is just as important, since addiction affects loved ones as well.

🚫 Myth: You cannot recover if you do not have insurance.
✅ Fact: Many services support addiction recovery without insurance, and therapy offers out-of-pocket options with possible reimbursement.

🔎 Types of Addictions and What Recovery May Look Like

Addiction is not limited to drugs or alcohol. It can affect many areas of life. Common types include substance addiction and behavioral addictions.

Substance Addictions

• 🍷 Alcohol Addiction: Recovery may look like reducing or abstaining, rebuilding healthy social connections, learning new coping skills, and restoring physical health.
• 💊 Prescription Medication Addiction: Recovery may involve safe tapering with medical support, addressing underlying conditions, and developing new management strategies.
• 💉 Illicit Drug Addiction (opioids, stimulants, etc.): Recovery often includes detox, therapy for cravings, rebuilding trust, and creating routines that support long-term sobriety.

Behavioral Addictions

• 🎲 Gambling Addiction (Problem gambling): Recovery may look like regaining financial control, repairing relationships, and finding healthier sources of excitement.
• 🔞 Pornography Porn Addiction or Sex Addiction: Recovery may involve breaking compulsive cycles, creating healthier intimacy, and addressing shame.
• 🎮 Gaming Addiction: Recovery may include time limits, rediscovering offline activities, improving health, and reconnecting socially.
• 🛍️ Shopping Addiction or Spending Addiction: Recovery may look like financial stability, reduced impulsive purchases, and finding joy outside material goods.
• 🍔 Food or Eating Behavior Addiction: Recovery may involve balanced eating, addressing binge or restriction cycles, and mindful eating practices.
• 💼 Work Addiction or Exercise Addiction (when excessive): Recovery may include balance, rest, reduced burnout, and deeper personal connections outside productivity.

How Therapy Helps With Addiction Recovery

• ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Addiction: Teaches acceptance and mindfulness-based strategies to reduce addiction cravings and build resilience in recovery.
• Attachment-Based Therapy for Addiction: Supports healing relationship wounds that often fuel addiction and helps strengthen healthy connections.
• CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction: Helps reframe negative thoughts that trigger relapse and teaches healthier coping skills for addiction recovery.
• DBT - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Addiction: Teaches emotional regulation and distress tolerance to reduce addiction-driven behaviors.
• EFT - Emotionally Focused Therapy for Addiction: Strengthens family and partner connections, which are critical for addiction recovery for families.
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Addiction: Reduces stress, increases awareness of addiction triggers, and builds inner calm.
• Narrative Therapy for Addiction: Reframes your story from addiction and struggle to empowerment and growth.
• Psychodynamic Therapy for Addiction: Uncovers unconscious patterns that contribute to addiction and supports long-term healing.
• SFT - Solution Focused Therapy for Addiction: Builds on small, realistic goals to create big change in addiction recovery.
• TF-CBT - Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction: Supports clients whose addictions are linked to trauma by addressing both safely.

Start Addiction Treatment in NJ

If you or someone you love is struggling, you do not have to face it alone. At Mountains Therapy, we provide addiction therapy in Montclair, NJ, as well as online therapy for clients across New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, and Utah. Take the first step on your road to addiction recovery. Book Your Session today.