Experiential Therapy

What Is Experiential Therapy?

Experiential therapies are hands-on, engaging activities that can help those struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) to process and cope with past trauma.

Some may be uncomfortable talking to therapists in a traditional counseling setting. Experiential therapies put patients in environments where they feel comfortable, such as the outdoors or in an art or music studio.

Common experiential therapies include:

• Sculpting
• Rock climbing
• Ropes courses
• Music therapy
• Wilderness therapy
• Recreation therapy
• Adventure therapy

Experiential therapy is designed to help those in recovery develop a stronger sense of self by coming to terms with buried emotions and past traumas. Through experiential therapy, a person in treatment can learn how to face these issues without turning to drugs for an escape.

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Therapies And Techniques In Experiential Therapy

During an experiential therapy session, therapists guide individuals through several treatment exercises, tailored to their specific treatment needs.

Experiential Therapy In Addiction Treatment

Physically demanding activities like rock-climbing and hiking help simulate real-world stress in a setting that makes this stress easy to overcome. Experiential therapy can teach those in treatment how to cope with everyday stressors like cravings and substance abuse triggers.

Experiential therapy has also proven effective in treating many disorders that co-occur with addiction. Treating these disorders alongside addiction can help decrease mental health-related stress and triggers, reducing the likelihood of relapse.

Experiential therapy can be used to treat a number of co-occurring mental health conditions, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Common techniques used in experiential therapy include:

• Equine-assisted psychotherapy

  Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) includes the use of horses during therapeutic recovery exercises. Patients may groom, feed, harness, and walk them throughout the session.

  The different ways recovering addicts interact with the horses can reveal insights about their emotional and mental states. EAP can help to process negative feelings or traumas that might not otherwise be recognized or addressed.

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  EMDR is a therapy where patients visualize a traumatic event while a therapist leads them through specific eye movements. EMDR has been proven effective in helping those in recovery alleviate negative emotions and feelings of distress that can lead to substance abuse.

• Adventure Therapy

  This therapy consists of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, biking, rock climbing, or white-water rafting. Adventure therapy helps individuals develop personal responsibility, communication skills, and problem-solving skills while working within a group setting.

• Art Therapy

  Art therapy allows those in treatment to express themselves through the use of art or music. By creating art, patients can work through distressful and negative emotions and process them in a healthy manner.

Experiential Therapy And Other Treatments

Because withdrawal from many drugs causes uncomfortable or even dangerous symptoms, it’s important to begin any treatment program with a medical detox. Both inpatient and outpatient recovery programs can treat withdrawal symptoms during detox. After this, several therapies may be used in conjunction with experiential therapy to properly treat the person in recovery.

Experiential therapy pairs well with other psychotherapy techniques like motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to focus on changing self-destructive behaviors. These activities allow recovering addicts to apply the life skills they’re taught during psychotherapy sessions in practical, hands-on environments.

Find Treatment You Deserve

If you are having problems with substance abuse, contact a treatment provider to talk about rehab options. Some drug rehab centers specialize in experiential therapies, with obstacle courses, rock climbing walls, and art studios on their premises.