Why Psychotherapy is Essential to Overcome Opiate Dependency

One of the main reasons The Waismann Method has such a high rate of success, is because we integrate psychotherapy and the most advance medical techniques into our program. Using our own approach of therapy, helps us and each of our patients gain a clearer understanding of what led to a dependency to opiates in the first place, giving them a better chance of living an opiate-free life.
At Domus Retreat, we see so many different motives for why people start taking and can’t stop using opiates – we believe the key to treating chemical dependency begins with understanding the conditions and processes that drive the unwanted behavior. Once there is a clear picture of the factors causing unwanted dependency, a treatment plan is designed. We individually tailor each patient experience based on individual needs and dynamics.
While at Domus Retreat we offer, Psychotherapy, Bio-feedback, Yoga, Massage, and Acupuncture to support physical and emotional recovery. We provide support for: Sleep problems, Chronic pain, Anxiety, and Depression. One of the reasons for extremely high rates of relapse is that chemical dependency is often seen as the primary problem rather than a symptom or coping mechanism.
Individual Psychotherapy delivers insight into internal and external tensions that drive unwanted behaviors. The work is oriented toward understanding underlying needs that conflict with one another. Emotional needs are often unrecognized or minimized which results in tension and eventually substance use to relieve the the strain. For example, some feel stuck as the result of an extremely busy and responsibility driven life. On the outside things seem very good but internally an unsustainable level of stress builds. The accumulated stress is often unrecognized or minimized until there is either an interrupting event like an injury or often a type of fatigue. In this situation, chemical dependency acts as a coping mechanism so that the individual can temporarily feel better while maintaining their responsibilities. The coping mechanism or chemical may help temporarily, but eventually causes its own dangerous problems. Underlying needs remain unmet and unrecognized.
Because substances initially create a sense of wellbeing, the pattern is repeated. In time, physical tolerance increases leading to increased substance use leading to an unwanted physical and emotional dependency. Now, the substance use creates a feeling of helplessness through a cycle of needing to fend off continual states of physical withdrawal. At this point, even when there is a desire to be out of this painful cycle, the substance use is often continued until there is a critical moment where the cycle is no longer sustainable. Often, there is a sense of guilt and shame that accompanies the substance use making the individual feel less of a right to help or treatment.
In order for anyone to sustain sobriety, we believe it is critical they truly understand the factors that weaken their commitment to staying sober, as well as the factors that help support and sustain their commitment to staying sober. The psychotherapy patients receive at Domus Retreat help them gain a level of self-awareness and understanding, which is essential to the process of long term recovery. In fact, we now offer a special program at Domus Retreat, which helps patients identify and address real world triggers to ensure their sobriety. Through this program, patients are able to return to Domus a month or two after they complete their treatment and aftercare. By returning to their homes, jobs and personal lives, patients can assess any triggers in their day-to-day lives that may cause a relapse then return to Domus to address these issues through psychotherapy and learn how to cope without resorting to substance abuse. People are much more likely to maintain their commitments when they believe in their importance and have a clear awareness of what drives their behaviors.
Through psychotherapy and the different programs that are offered at Domus Retreat and Waismann Method, we are able to recognize and work with the physical and emotional factors and to help patients live an opiate free life.