First, we all know that addiction is a complex disease that carries the weight of many factors, including trauma. Many individuals start using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate as a response to a traumatic experience. Estimates believe that around 35% of men and 25% percent of women with PTSD meet substance abuse criteria. Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT) is a psychotherapy treatment that hopes to resolve trauma less aggressively.
The Basics of Rapid Resolution Therapy
Overall, Rapid Resolution Therapy is relatively new. Developed by Dr. Jon Connelly, RRT was initially designed for combat veterans and women who suffered sexual abuse. However, today it’s used to treat many behavioral conditions.
RRT uses symbolic images and metaphors for different types of trauma healing and emotional recovery. Unlike traditional therapy, RRT is a brief form of treatment that can improve as little as one to six sessions. The idea is to help the person clear the mind to fill their thoughts with positive ones while slowly removing their traumatic events. These are short interventions in which the therapist provides step-by-step directions.
However, the goal of RRT is to help people overcome the adverse effects of trauma and remove psychological suffering that stems from their painful experiences.
What Can RRT Help With?
For some individuals, their traumatic experiences are noticeable and specific. For example, war combat, sexual abuse, death of a loved one, and limb loss. Some struggle with past traumatic experiences that are stuck in their childhood. Both individuals can struggle with trauma for years, sometimes without realizing it. People who struggle with sleep problems, anxiety, substance abuse are all likely to have unresolved trauma.
Rapid Resolution Therapy can help with:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- PTSD
- Childhood abuse
- Depression
- Behavioral issues
In addiction treatment, we incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other therapy types that help with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How RRT Can Help with Trauma
By working with an RRT specialist, this form of therapy can help with different trauma effects that can linger in someone’s life forever if not addressed.
- Emotional learning takes place during times of distress, and RRT can help us re-address those learnings to ease the effects of the trauma.
- Our mind creates a model of how the world works based on our trauma; RRT helps people see the actual reality instead of what our mind wants us to see.
- RRT can eliminate unwanted emotional learning. While people still remember the experience, they no longer struggle with an emotional response to those memories.
The Role of Trauma in Addiction Recovery
Estimates are that anywhere between 12-34 percent of those in substance abuse treatment have PTSD. At the same time, about one-third of people exposed to trauma develop PTSD. When someone seeks addiction help, not dealing with co-occurring disorders like the trauma is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound.
However, unlike other evidence-based therapies, RRT is still a relatively new type of treatment. As of right now, there’s a study trying to see the effectiveness of this form of therapy in PTSD patients and sexual assault survivors. But, his analysis is still waiting for results.
Addressing past trauma is paramount in drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Trauma can lead to a myriad of mental health issues that disrupt addiction recovery and treatment. Addressing addiction and trauma simultaneously is key for treating both conditions at the source and managing any behavioral conditions stemming from the relationship between trauma and substance abuse.
Finding Help Near Me
Lighthouse Recovery Institute is one of Florida’s best dual diagnosis treatment centers for its unique approach to treatment. From the first assessment, our team of addiction specialists and psychotherapists draft a comprehensive plan that adapts to your needs, and it’s built to be readjusted whenever needed as you make progress throughout the treatment.
Because of our unique approach, we’re able to treat people with co-occurring disorders in a completely different way. Our team understands that a simultaneous treatment approach is critical to help you get the most out of rehab.
If you or someone you know is struggling with previous trauma that has led to a substance use disorder, please know there’s help available. We encourage you to reach out to an addiction treatment center near you to learn more about the different treatment options available. A comprehensive treatment plan that addresses co-occurring disorders is the secret for long-term recovery and healthy life free of drugs and trauma.
