Experiential Therapy | Alpha Behavioral Health

For those struggling with substance use disorder or addiction, experiential therapy can be the key to recovery. Addiction and substance abuse treatment has progressed greatly from its initial conception. Now, mental health professionals understand the importance of therapy designed to get you moving and doing instead of simply talking. This allows for therapies that can fill in much-needed gaps in treatment. Gaps of these can exist due to difficult-to-treat trauma and other underlying mental health disorders. 

That’s why Alpha Behavioral Health utilizes experiential therapy as part of our treatment plans. Experiential therapy is not only effective for addiction and substance use disorder. These therapies also help clients struggling with other mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Including these therapies offers the comprehensive and well-rounded treatment required for total healing and recovery.

Unfortunately, not many people know exactly what experiential therapy is. One may surmise that it has something to do with experiences but not much more. Educating the public about these therapies doesn’t just inform them of what experiential therapy is. It also tells them how they can utilize these therapies to help themselves or their loved ones.

What Is Experiential Therapy?

As the root word entails, experiential therapy involves bringing clients into an experience instead of just talking about it. Experiential therapy is conducted by having the client use expressive activities and tools to re-experience emotional events or relationships from their past or present. Clients may use tools such as role-playing or acting to help them process their experiences when simply talking about it is too difficult. This is especially important for survivors of trauma who may have difficulty expressing their feelings and experiences in words.

Other tools used in experiential therapy involve recreational activities, arts and crafts, music, guided imagery, animal care, and adventures. Some of these tools have evolved into more extensive therapies, such as art therapy, music therapy, and adventure therapy. Although they are considered separate therapies, they are still experiential therapies. Experiential therapy is considered a holistic therapy and, as such, can be found in many mental health and addiction treatment centers. 

How Experiential Therapy Supports Recovery

Experiential therapy is useful during and after treatment. This is because the goals of experiential therapy apply to all parts of the recovery process. The goal of experiential therapy is to:

• Help clients process emotions and feelings 
• Give clients a means of healthy self-expression 
• Build confidence and improve communication skills in clients
• Assist clients in taking back control from previous experiences that have harmed them
• Reduce stress and encourage healthy habits through physical activity 
• Provide treatment assistance when traditional psychotherapy and medication are not enough 
• Create a safe place to practice coping skills while interacting with peers
• Give clients something fun and joyful to participate in that they can continue to utilize after treatment

For example, a therapy like art therapy can serve several functions during the recovery process. It can help a client process their emotions related to trauma or substance abuse. Creating art provides a healthy outlet for stress release and relaxation, which can prevent recovery burnout. Sharing art among peers helps boost communication skills and facilitates the creation of a peer support network. Over time, a client may become more confident in their creations and receive a boost to their self-esteem. Finally, art therapy can provide a fun hobby that a client can enjoy post-treatment that encourages them to remain in recovery. 

Like other holistic methods, these therapies are designed to encourage healing for the whole of the person, not just the mind. This philosophy allows clients to find healing through all steps of the recovery process, not just the end. 

Experiential Therapy and Traditional Methods

Traditional methods such as psychotherapy and medications are often used in substance abuse treatment. Addictions to substances like alcohol require clinical applications, such as medical detox, to achieve successful recovery. However, these traditional methods are sometimes not enough to help a client recover. Alcohol, for example, is commonly used for self-medication. One of the common reasons for such is trauma. If a person cannot talk about their trauma in psychotherapy, there is little chance for them to recover if that is their only option. Experiential methods are then used to fill in the gaps that traditional methods cannot meet. 

To further the example, a person with trauma may be more comfortable expressing themselves through art, music, or role-play. Adventure therapy especially gives clients the chance to overcome an event or emotion that is causing them pain by allowing them to feel powerful and accomplished. Inspiring courage and expression helps those who feel like they don’t have a voice communicate beyond words. 

Experiential treatments don’t replace traditional methods. Instead, they are used to enhance the abilities of said traditional methods. Experiential therapies are conducted with evidence-based principles, which all originate from traditional therapies. As a result, clients will have a mix of traditional and experiential therapies as part of their treatment plan. 

Treating Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis can be tricky as both mental health disorders must receive treatment at the same time. Attempting to treat the addiction without also addressing the underlying mental health disorder wastes time and discourages the client. It can take time to complete a dual diagnosis treatment plan, time for a teen or young adult that may feel like forever. Experiential therapies assist dual diagnosis treatment by:

• Breaking up the monotony of traditional treatment
• Giving clients a feeling of hope
• Allowing clients to address their disorders at the same time 
• Preventing treatment burnout by providing stress relief and recreation
• Addressing parts of substance abuse treatment that are resistant to traditional methods

Doing so allows for a swifter and more comfortable treatment process that encourages clients, not discourages them. 

How Alpha Behavioral Health Integrates Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapies are integrated into all parts of treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health. Our individual counseling program has providers that utilize art and music therapy as methods of healing. Outpatient treatment and our Alpha Launch aftercare programs help clients find continued support through experiential methods. For young men, our Alpha 180 Transitional Living program also utilizes exciting adventure therapy sessions that teach self-confidence and comradery. All our methods of healing, from family therapy to our aftercare services, integrate experiential therapies alongside traditional methods. This way, we can ensure that each client has access to quality therapies to help them recover. 

Overcoming Challenges in Addiction Recovery

There are many challenges clients must face in addiction recovery. Teens and young adults are at a precipice in their lives. School, work, and figuring out how to be an adult can complicate the recovery process for this age group. They must also recognize that they need professional help and be open to accepting it. It’s difficult, especially when they feel like nobody understands them. This can push them into more entrenched habits of substance abuse as they struggle to process both the need for recovery and independence. 

Experiential therapies bridge this gap and help foster communication and understanding between the client, their families, and treatment providers. Though not every challenge can be overcome this way, this method helps clients feel seen, heard, and validated. Once this is accomplished, they are more open to professional assistance. 

Benefits of Experiential Therapy

The benefits a client receives from experiential therapy do more than help them recover from addiction and other mental health disorders. It helps them to become healthier and more balanced people. Teens and young adults are experiencing rapid brain development at this time. This is the time to help them establish healthy skills and habits that they can utilize for the rest of their lives. These skills are essential for a healthy person, regardless of whether they are in recovery or not. Experiential therapies can help anyone improve their:

• Self-awareness and understanding of others 
• Emotional expression and regulation
• Coping skills and healthy habits
• Self-esteem and self-confidence 
• Relationships with their peers and loved ones 
• Mental resilience 

Clients who receive these benefits can remain in recovery because of their ability to resist common difficulties that may trigger a relapse. They can resist peer pressure because they have the self-confidence to not use the opinions of others to determine self-worth. Building healthy relationships with others becomes easier and helps them recognize toxic influences that can harm them. Using healthy coping skills allows them to turn to self-care methods to reduce stress instead of substance abuse. They won’t need to rely on the masking and numbing effects of substances like alcohol, as they will have methods to regulate their emotions productively. 

Overall, experiential therapies help clients recover from substance use disorder and addiction – with the benefits of being guided into healthy adulthood. 

Why Alpha Behavioral Health Is the Right Choice

For teens and young adults in Austin, Texas, there is no better place to go for premier addiction treatment than Alpha Behavioral Health. We are committed to providing quality and comprehensive treatment provided by compassionate and understanding professionals to help all young people recover from substance abuse. Paired with a safe and supportive environment for healing, anyone can find a solution at Alpha Behavioral Health. It’s not just substance abuse treatment – but a place to figure out who you are without being defined by pain and addiction. Don’t believe us? You can check out our testimonials to read real stories of clients and their families who have found success and healing through Alpha Behavioral Health. 

The only way to find out for sure if Alpha Behavioral Health is right for you or your loved one is to reach out today and talk to one of our qualified staff. There is always a solution, no matter how big the problem is. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Experiential Therapy

Is experiential therapy evidence-based?

For now, experiential therapy itself varies on which is considered evidence-based due to the lack of current research. Most are classified as alternative therapies. The more well-studied therapies, such as art therapy and adventure therapy, still have yet to have the large-scale randomized control trials needed to be considered evidence-based. However, practitioners of experiential therapies will utilize evidence-based techniques in therapy, which still gives clients the foundations needed to be confident in its effectiveness.

What is an example of experiential therapy?

Some examples of experiential therapies include:

• Art therapy
• Adventure therapy
• Music therapy
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Psychodrama (therapeutic role-playing)

Does experiential therapy help treat substance use disorder?

Yes, experiential therapy is commonly used to help treat substance use disorder as well as addiction. Those in addiction treatment use experiential therapy to help them reduce avoidance behaviors and see their situation from other perspectives. Some experiential therapies give clients an outlet for expression that helps preserve their sobriety.

Are experiential treatments covered by insurance?

Experiential therapy may be partially or fully covered by health insurance if the providers are in-network. Alpha Behavioral Health works with most major insurance providers, such as BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Tricare, Magellan Healthcare, and Aetna. However, Alpha Behavioral Health will work with other insurance providers when able. To verify insurance information, contact Alpha Behavioral Health today. 

Experiential therapy is a safe and effective tool for treatment, especially when psychotherapy isn’t enough. To learn more about experiential therapy at Alpha Behavioral Health in Austin, TX, call (833) 257-4218 today.