Therapy is an excellent tool for healing and self-discovery. It’s a transformative experience where you get to explore challenges, develop coping strategies and promote personal growth. When you’re in treatment for a substance use disorder, you’ll spend a lot of time in therapy understanding why you turned to drugs and alcohol in the first place.

However, when you’re new to therapy, it’s natural to wonder if your hard work is truly making a difference in your life. Are you really changing your way of thinking? Are you developing coping skills that are actually effective? And will the time spent in therapy keep you away from drugs and alcohol?

Since there is no objective tool that measures success in therapy, you’ll have to look for other signs that therapy is working for you. It’s also important to remember that things often get worse before they get better. This happens because many feelings emerge in therapy, and you have to work through them in order to reach healing.

Let’s look at some of the signs that therapy is actually having a positive impact on your life and helping you heal from your addiction.

1. Increased Self-Awareness

One of the primary goals of therapy is to enhance self-awareness. As therapy progresses, you may find yourself gaining a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions and behaviors. This is especially important in addiction recovery, as addiction separates you from your true self.

Now that you have been in therapy, you’ve hopefully become more attuned to the patterns or triggers that influence your well-being. Having this level of self-awareness will help you make more conscious choices and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Increased self-awareness is a clear sign that therapy is working and helping you make positive changes in your life.

2. Improved Emotional Regulation

Therapy can help you develop effective strategies for managing and regulating your emotions. As you engage in therapy sessions, you may notice improvements in your ability to identify and express emotions in a healthy manner, as opposed to bottling them up and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

For instance, you might find that you’re better equipped to navigate challenging situations, handle stress and maintain emotional balance. Improved emotional regulation is a positive outcome of therapy, indicating that you are learning and applying new skills to manage your emotions more effectively.

3. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills

Therapy equips individuals with valuable problem-solving skills that can be applied to various areas of life. Over time, you may notice an improvement in your ability to identify solutions, think critically and approach challenges with a more proactive mindset.

Therapy helps you develop resilience and resourcefulness, allowing you to tackle problems in a more constructive and empowered manner. Again, this is a far better approach than turning to drugs and alcohol to deal with your problems. The next time you’re faced with a situation, take note of how you handle it today versus in the past.

4. Positive Shifts in Relationships

Addiction takes a toll on relationships. Fortunately, therapy often addresses the dynamics and patterns within relationships. As you engage in therapy, you may start to observe positive shifts in your interactions with others.

Individual, group and family therapy all help to improve communication, set healthy boundaries and increase empathy. These sessions provide an opportunity to explore and develop healthier relationship patterns, leading to more fulfilling connections with loved ones. Therapy will also make you more aware of negative relationship partners, such as codependency.

5. Reduction in Symptom Severity

If you sought therapy to address specific mental health concerns, a reduction in symptoms shows that therapy is working for you. Whether you’re experiencing a decrease in anxiety, depressive symptoms or other mental health challenges, noticing a tangible improvement is a positive sign that therapy is making a meaningful difference in your life.

In fact, research shows that therapy can be more effective in treating depression and anxiety disorders. This doesn’t mean that medication doesn’t work, but it does show the significance of having therapy in your treatment regimen. Medication helps with symptoms, but it doesn’t address the underlying thoughts and feelings leading to your behaviors. Only therapy can do this.

6. Increased Sense of Empowerment

Therapy aims to empower individuals by providing them with the tools and support they need to take charge of their mental health. As therapy progresses, you may start to experience a greater sense of empowerment over your life. This can manifest as increased confidence, assertiveness and a stronger belief in your ability to navigate challenges. Feeling empowered and taking proactive steps towards personal growth are strong indications that therapy is positively impacting your life.

Evidence-Based Treatment Services in Santa Rosa CA

So how long does it take for therapy to start working? While each person is different and follows their own unique timeline, research shows that people tend to report feeling better after about three months. Substance use disorders are complex, so you can expect the healing process to take longer. This is why your treatment center will likely include therapy as part of your aftercare plan.

Pura Vida Recovery is a treatment center that offers detox services, outpatient care and aftercare. We offer a wide range of evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about our approach to treating substance use disorders and the types of therapy that you or a loved one will receive.