Therapy and buprenorphine treatment in Fort Lauderdale.
What is therapy?
Therapy and buprenorphine treatment in Fort Lauderdale. When we are talking about addiction treatment, therapy refers to psychological therapy. There are different kinds of licensed psychotherapists. What they have in common is that they talk to people in a private setting. The conversation is guided to uncover the root of the problem and to come up with solutions.
What is group therapy?
Group therapy is different from private, one-on-one therapy. You are in a group of people with a similar problem in common. The group can be moderated by a licensed therapist or a trained group leader. Or, in what are known as 12 step programs, the moderator may be a volunteer member of the group. During the group session, members share with the group about their problems or their solutions. On many levels, there are benefits to sharing and getting problems out in the open in a group. There is also much to learn from solutions that members have found to deal with their situation.
Which type of therapy is better, private or group?
If you are taking buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction, both forms of therapy are important. Each has something to offer. The medication is the part that works on its own, and it does not stop working because a person declines therapy or meetings. Private therapy and group support add to it for many patients, but they are not required for the medication to do its job.
How do I find a private therapist?
Look for a psychologist who specializes in treating addiction. If you are not sure where to look, ask the doctor who prescribes your buprenorphine.
How do I find a group?
Two excellent programs are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). While AA is mainly for people who are addicted to alcohol, in many groups, opioid addicts are also welcome. The two addictions have much in common.
Which group is better for me if I plan to keep taking buprenorphine?
AA may also be a more welcoming setting for people who take buprenorphine long term for maintenance to prevent cravings and relapse. Groups will vary. If you have a negative experience at one group, try other groups. Going to many different groups in the beginning is a good idea.
What if I want to get off of buprenorphine by tapering. What group might be better for me?
NA asks its members to strive for complete abstinence from all drugs, and some NA groups do not regard a person taking buprenorphine as abstinent. For someone who has already decided, together with their doctor, to taper, that can be a comfortable fit. For others it becomes pressure to taper before they are ready, and coming off buprenorphine too soon is a common road back to relapse. Whether and when to taper is a medical decision made with the prescribing doctor. A therapist or sponsor can support you through a taper, but the timing should not be set by a group.
What if I feel fine with just buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine works on its own. Taking it as prescribed lowers the risk of relapse and overdose whether or not a person is in therapy or attending meetings, and there is no longer any federal rule tying the prescription to counseling. Your doctor may recommend therapy and groups, and many patients find them worthwhile, but they are your choice. Nobody should be taken off a medication that is working because they said no to a meeting.
What if I don’t have time for all of this therapy?
If you are tired of spending your life obsessed with drugs and you don’t want to risk serious illness and death anymore, consider starting buprenorphine, and adding private therapy and group support if and when they help you. Give yourself a chance. Prove your friends and family wrong. Show them that you can get better and turn your life around. It takes work and it takes time, but you can do it.
What if I live in Fort Lauderdale and I want to start buprenorphine treatment?
Call Dr. Leeds at 954-776-6226 in Fort Lauderdale for more information on how to start buprenorphine and how to get involved with therapy. Therapy and buprenorphine treatment in Fort Lauderdale.
This article is educational. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Decisions about starting, continuing, or tapering any medication should be made with your own physician.
