What is Contingency Management?
Achieving sobriety is just one aspect of a successful recovery. It is crucial to acquire the tools and knowledge essential to maintaining sobriety. During active addiction, the brain is reprogrammed in a way that creates a strong psychological dependence. Therefore, to break this cycle, it is necessary to undergo a complete rehabilitation process instead of just detoxification. Contingency management therapy employs evidence-based techniques that facilitate the brain’s healing process.
This form of therapy is a part of the behavioral therapy model, where old thoughts and behaviors are replaced with new ones. The brain is wired to enter into a mode of automation where you turn to drugs and alcohol to solve problems. However, this type of therapy helps you identify toxic thoughts and behaviors, allowing you to see your cravings and urges diminish over time as you gain more control.
Why Contingency Management Therapy?
Understanding how the brain functions is crucial for the effectiveness of contingency management therapy. Context-dependent memory is one of the brain’s mechanisms for survival, which we rely on for our basic needs like food, water, and safety. This type of learning is best described by the habit loop model, which comprises the following stages:- Trigger
- Behavior
- Reward
What Works with Contingency Management Therapy?
Untreated mental illness is one of the primary reasons for relapse, which is why medication is crucial. As part of the therapy, it may involve identifying and treating underlying mental illnesses like depression or anxiety using non-narcotic medications. By taking care of your mental health, you significantly increase your chances of remaining sober. We can help you find the right medication to manage your triggers effectively through medication-assisted treatment.
At Steps Recovery, we also provide a variety of other evidence-based methods, as well as holistic and experiential therapy, to enhance our clients’ chances of achieving long-term recovery. We specialize in the following treatment approaches below and more:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Group Therapy
- Individual Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma Therapy
Clients struggling with addiction and mental health disorders are welcomed to our home-like treatment centers. We take the stress and complications out of the treatment and recovery process so that our clients can focus solely on healing.
