What type of therapy is best for addicts?

Imagine a person named John who has developed a drinking problem. He drinks every night after work, and his drinking has gradually increased over time. Despite knowing that drinking is harmful to his health, he cannot seem to stop. He begins to experience physical health problems such as liver damage, high blood pressure, and depression. He also experiences financial problems, as he spends more and more money on alcohol. He starts missing work and his relationships with family and friends suffer. He becomes isolated and lonely, and his once-happy life has become filled with negative consequences. This is just one example of how addiction can harm a person's physical, mental, and social well-being, and why it is important to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction.

Addiction is a chronic brain disease characterised by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences. It is characterised by changes in the brain's reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry that leads to persistent drug seeking and use. Substance addiction refers to addiction to drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs, while behavioural addictions refer to addictive behaviours such as gambling, sex, or eating. Substance or behavioural addiction can lead to physical, psychological, and social problems, and can be difficult to overcome without treatment.

Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) is a form of therapy that aims to quickly identify and address the root cause of addictive behaviours. It combines elements of hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming (NLP), and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). RTT therapists use hypnosis to help patients access their subconscious thoughts and emotions, and then use NLP and CBT techniques to help patients re-frame negative thought patterns and beliefs that may be contributing to their addiction. The goal is to help patients break the cycle of addictive behavior and develop new, healthier coping mechanisms.

During an RTT session, the therapist guides the patient into a state of deep relaxation through hypnosis. This allows the patient to access their subconscious thoughts and emotions, which may be contributing to their addiction. Once the root cause is identified, the therapist uses NLP and CBT techniques to help the patient reframe their negative thought patterns and beliefs. The therapist may also provide the patient with positive affirmations and suggestions to help them develop new, healthy coping mechanisms.

RTT typically follows these steps to help addicts:

• Initial Consultation: The initial consultation is an important part of RTT, as it allows the therapist to assess the patient's needs and gather information about their addiction. During this session, the therapist will ask questions about the patient's history of substance abuse or addictive behavior, as well as their current situation and goals for therapy. This information will help the therapist tailor the RTT experience to the individual needs of the patient.

• Hypnosis: During hypnosis, the patient is guided into a state of deep relaxation. This allows the patient to access their subconscious thoughts and emotions, which may be contributing to their addiction. The therapist will use various techniques, such as visualisation and guided imagery, to help the patient relax and focus.

• Identification of Root Causes: The next step is to identify the root causes of the patient's addiction. This may involve exploring the patient's past experiences, emotional stressors, or negative thought patterns. The therapist will help the patient access their subconscious mind to identify the root causes of their addiction.

• Reframing: Once the root causes have been identified, the therapist will use NLP and CBT techniques to help the patient reframe negative thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing to their addiction. For example, if the patient believes that they need alcohol to cope with stress, the therapist may help them reframe this belief by teaching them healthier coping mechanisms.

• Positive Affirmations and Suggestions: The therapist will then provide positive affirmations and suggestions to help the patient develop new, healthy coping mechanisms. These may include affirmations such as "I am in control of my addiction" or "I am capable of breaking this cycle of behaviour." The therapist will also provide suggestions for how the patient can break their addiction and develop a healthier relationship with the substance or behaviour they are addicted to.

• Re-emergence: After the therapy session, the patient is brought back to a waking state. This process is called re-emergence, and it allows the patient to process their experience and integrate the new insights and coping mechanisms into their daily life.

• Follow-up: Finally, the therapist provides follow-up support to ensure that the patient continues to make progress towards their goal of breaking their addiction. This may include additional RTT sessions, or referral to other resources such as support groups or addiction treatment programs.

These steps are designed to help the patient break the cycle of addictive behavior and establish a new, healthier relationship with the substance or behavior they are addicted to. RTT sessions are typically brief and results are often seen after just one or two sessions.