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Combining naltrexone medication with therapy can enhance the effects of both, which is highly beneficial for anyone who is taking control of their alcohol consumption. But the therapist you choose is an important decision for getting the best outcome.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why naltrexone paired with counseling is a powerful combination.
• How the results are enhanced when a person does naltrexone and therapy together.
• Why some therapists are better suited for the process than others.
• How to find therapists that understand the naltrexone strategy.
If you’ve decided to significantly cut back or stop drinking after chronic alcohol use, white knuckling it often isn’t the best solution. Not only can it be dangerous in some situations, it is also an ineffective strategy for many people.
White knuckling it doesn’t address the physiological changes that come with regular alcohol use that can make it extremely difficult to stop drinking. It also doesn’t address underlying issues that either lead to the unhealthy use of alcohol or came about because of alcohol use.
Today there are a variety of behavioral and pharmacology treatment options that can be used to improve the success rates of getting sober. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) notes that outcomes are maximized when people are made aware of all the evidence-based treatment options when putting together a treatment plan.
Treatment for problematic drinking isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Often it isn’t a single form of treatment but a combination of treatments that leads to the best outcomes. Many treatment plans include the use of naltrexone medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, both of which have been shown to improve success rates and enhance one another. Here’s a closer look at what’s at play.
The Power of Pairing Naltrexone With Professional Counseling
Naltrexone medication is an amazing treatment option in and of itself, especially for people who struggle to control alcohol cravings. It’s supported by decades of research, showing naltrexone is effective on its own.
In particular, AUD medications like naltrexone have been found to be a great foot-in-the-door initial treatment. Not only do they provide assistance in helping people overcome the current physiological hurdles, they can also be the catalyst for getting people to seek out help from a therapist.
This is hugely beneficial given that studies have found behavioral therapy can improve the results of AUD medications. There’s often a positive symbiotic effect by combining the two.
Combining naltrexone with therapy is a comprehensive approach that covers physiological and behavioral issues. The naltrexone provides immediate help in curbing alcohol cravings, and therapy is a long-term approach that helps address mental health problems, identify triggers and teach healthy stress management solutions.
One study found that using naltrexone and therapy simultaneously increased alcohol-free days by 50%. Other research has revealed that patients are also more likely to stay in treatment when they use naltrexone that’s supported by therapy, and they’re more likely to comply with medication schedules.
In other words, when a person combines naltrexone and therapy they are more likely to stick with doing both and get the greatest benefit possible.
Why Some Therapists Are Better Than Others For Alcohol Use Treatment
As we’ve mentioned in the past, some health care providers don’t prescribe naltrexone when it can be beneficial. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the biggest takeaway is that some medical professionals understand the treatment while others don’t.
Therapists are no different than primary care physicians. Some are familiar with alcohol use disorder, its treatments and the use of naltrexone. Others are not.
Naltrexone treatment is fairly straightforward. The only real variable is finding the dosage of naltrexone that works best. Finding a therapist to work with is much more nuanced. Therapists are often specialized in their profession, and substance abuse may not be in their wheelhouse. Plus, therapists are human beings. They have belief systems, life experiences and biases that are difficult to turn off, even when they consciously try to do so.
Just because someone is a licensed therapist, that doesn’t mean they have the knowledge and experience that’s needed to help you make progress and change unhealthy drinking behaviors. It’s essential to find a therapist that has been trained in evidence-based modalities such as:
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• Acceptance- and mindfulness-based interventions
• Contingency management approaches.
• Couples counseling
• Family counseling
• Twelve-step facilitation therapy
The therapist should also have real world experience helping patients that are trying to overcome substance abuse. These are the professionals that are properly equipped to help and can enhance the effects of taking naltrexone.
Finding Therapists That Understand the Naltrexone Strategy
There are a few ways you can go about finding a therapist that is best suited for where you’re at in your journey:
Ask For Recommendations From Others in Your Situation - If you belong to an in-person or online support group that’s a great place to get recommendations for a therapist. Ask for recommendations from people who are successfully managing their alcohol use since they have achieved the goal you are trying to reach.
Use the NIAAA Navigator Tool - The NIAAA has created a search tool they call Navigator to help people find therapists that specialize in addiction.
Connect With Therapists Through Choose Your Horizon - Our Connect program was created with the understanding that a knowledgeable therapist can make naltrexone even more effective. Our goal is to help people get healthier mentally and physically. We use clinically-proven modalities, and since the research says naltrexone’s effects can be enhanced by therapy, we fully support patients getting professional help from a qualified therapist.
We created the Connect program to help patients find reputable therapists that understand the issues behind problematic drinking as well as the use of naltrexone. It’s one of the best resources for naltrexone patients that are looking for a therapist.
If you are looking for a naltrexone provider that offers more than a prescription, Choose Your Horizon is an invaluable resource. Our telehealth platform helps you get affordable naltrexone medication delivered straight to your door, guidance from qualified clinicians, access to specialized therapists and a suite of tools that support healthy habits.
Find out more, starting with the Alcohol Use Assessment for recommendations, including if naltrexone can be beneficial.
