Relapse Prevention Therapy in Wakefield, MA

Relapse prevention therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to help individuals maintain the progress they made during treatment and avoid falling back into harmful habits or behaviors. The therapist works with the patient and focuses on the dynamics of relapse, helping patients to identify triggers and high-risk situations, as well as develop effective coping strategies.  

Relapse is commonly segmented into three distinct stages: emotional relapse, mental relapse, and physical relapse.  

1. Emotional relapse  – The first stage is characterized by changes in emotions, attitudes, and behaviors that make a person vulnerable to relapse, but the individual is not yet consciously thinking about using. Emotional relapse is marked by behaviors and feelings that indicate a person’s mental health may be worsening. These might include anxiety, mood swings, isolation, poor sleeping habits, and a lack of self-care. These negative emotions and behaviors might create a domino effect, leading to mental relapse if not addressed. 
2. Mental relapse – During this stage, there’s a battle happening in the patient’s mind. This stage can be characterized by constantly thinking about people, places, and things associated with past substance use. There might be glamorizing past use, bargaining, lying, and the beginning of planning relapse. 
3. Physical relapse – This is the stage where an individual starts using the substance again. It usually starts small, but once the substance is reintroduced, it’s extremely challenging to stop the cycle, leading to a full-blown relapse. 

Relapse prevention therapy utilizes a wide range of therapeutic approaches including cognitive restructuring and mindfulness techniques to equip individuals with a toolbox of resources and skills they can use when facing potential triggers or high-risk situations.