Psychotherapy is an integral component of addiction treatment, especially in substance abuse. Therapists commonly use it at individual counseling sessions, with techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy to uncover the root of your addiction. The main purpose is to evaluate and change destructive habitual thought patterns, that helps individuals stay sober much beyond the actual treatment. Cognitive therapy for addiction takes into consideration the many factors that can trigger an addiction, such as stress, boredom, depression, anxiety, and peer pressure. The treatment process for substance abuse is often gradual. While it starts with detoxification, the therapist will move on to addressing the psychological and emotional causes. Once the therapy has been completed, the individual will be well on their way to recovery. These include: withdrawal symptoms, relapse prevention, and relapse control. After the initial step of detoxification, the therapist will help individuals learn new behaviors that help them avoid the triggers that originally initiated their addiction. The first step towards addiction treatment is finding a therapist who specializes in your specific type of problem. The therapist will likely have extensive training in drug and alcohol abuse and rehabilitation. Many therapists are able to perform individual and group therapy and can refer you to outside agencies or medical professionals if needed. It’s a good idea to find a counselor who is also trained in addiction rehabilitation, as there are several types of therapy. The program will vary depending on the type of substance abuse problem, but most programs take about a year to complete. The most important thing to remember is that an addiction treatment is an individualized one, based upon the individual.