Treatment Modalities
Different treatment programs may use one or several of these evidence-based approaches to help people reduce or stop substance use and build long-term recovery.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
A mindfulness-based therapy that helps individuals accept difficult thoughts and emotions while committing to actions aligned with their personal values.
Abstinence-Based Recovery
An approach that views addiction as a chronic condition and supports long-term recovery through complete abstinence from alcohol, drugs, and other psychoactive substances.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A structured, goal-oriented therapy that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to substance use.
Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA)
A behavioral treatment model that helps people replace substance use with healthier and more rewarding activities, relationships, and life goals.
Contingency Management (CM)
A behavioral therapy that provides tangible incentives or rewards to reinforce sobriety and treatment participation.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
A skills-based therapy that teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help reduce substance use and relapse risk.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
A psychotherapy that helps people process traumatic memories that may contribute to cravings and addictive behaviors.
Harm Reduction
A public health approach that focuses on reducing the negative consequences of substance use without requiring immediate abstinence.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) / Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
The use of FDA-approved medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapies to reduce cravings, prevent overdose, and support long-term recovery from opioid use disorder.
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)
A therapy that combines mindfulness practices with relapse prevention strategies to help individuals recognize triggers and respond to cravings in healthier ways.
Moderation Management (MM)
A harm-reduction approach that helps some individuals with mild-to-moderate alcohol problems reduce their drinking rather than abstain completely.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
A collaborative counseling approach that helps individuals explore and resolve ambivalence about substance use and strengthen their motivation for change.
Peer Support / Mutual Help Groups
Peer-led recovery meetings that provide community, accountability, and shared lived experience (such as 12-step groups or other recovery support programs).
Relapse Prevention Therapy
A structured approach that helps individuals identify high-risk situations and develop coping strategies to maintain recovery.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
An approach that recognizes how past trauma can influence substance use and focuses on creating safe, supportive environments for healing.