Addiction counselling

Last Updated:

June 20th, 2025

What is addiction counselling?

Addiction counselling is a type of therapy that helps you work through your relationship with drugs, alcohol or certain behaviours that feel hard to control. It’s a space where you can talk openly, without judgement and start to make sense of how things got to this point.

Whether you’re just starting to think about change or already in recovery, addiction counselling can help you move forward in a way that feels manageable and tailored to your own pace.

Is addiction counselling different from regular therapy?

While addiction counselling and regular therapy share some common ground, they’re designed with different focuses in mind. Regular therapy helps with a wide range of emotional and mental health challenges, whereas addiction counselling is more specialised. It’s tailored to support people through the specific struggles that come with substance use or behavioural addictions.

Here’s a clear breakdown of how the two differ:

Aspect	Addiction counselling	Regular therapy
Main focus	Helps you understand, manage and recover from addiction	Explores a broad range of mental health or emotional issues
Typical concerns addressed	Substance use, behavioural addictions, relapse prevention, withdrawal, cravings	Anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma, stress, grief, self-esteem
Therapist training	Often includes addiction-specific training, relapse management and recovery strategies	General psychotherapy training, may not specialise in addiction
Structure	Can be more goal-driven with tools like CBT or motivational interviewing	Often open-ended and exploratory, depending on the therapist’s approach
Use of recovery tools	May include structured plans, support group integration and coping techniques	May not focus on addiction-specific tools unless requested
Suitability	Best for people struggling with addiction or in recovery	Best for people seeking support for general emotional or psychological issues

Addiction counselling can absolutely be combined with regular therapy too, especially if you’re managing both addiction and other mental health concerns.

What types of therapeutic methods are used in addiction counselling?

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s go a little deeper. One of the best ways to understand how addiction counselling works is to look at what’s actually happening behind the scenes: the methods that shape each session, guide conversations and help people move forward.

These methods form the skeleton of addiction counselling. They’re not random chats or surface-level advice. They’re tried-and-tested approaches designed to help with different aspects of addiction, from managing cravings to rebuilding trust with loved ones.

Here are some of the most common ones you might come across:

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts that lead to destructive behaviours. For example, thoughts like “I’ve already messed up today, I might as well drink” can be replaced with something more constructive. CBT is especially useful for:

Alcohol addiction
Drug dependency
Gambling and other compulsive behaviours

It’s structured, practical and focuses on breaking the cycle between thoughts, feelings and actions.

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

DBT is a more emotional version of CBT. It helps people learn how to regulate intense emotions, cope with distress without using and improve relationships. It’s especially helpful for:

People with a history of self-harm or trauma
Addiction combined with strong emotional swings or mental health conditions

DBT introduces skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance and emotional regulation, which can be life-changing during early recovery.

Motivational interviewing (MI)

MI is a gentler method focused on helping you find your own reasons for change. Rather than being told what to do, you’re asked questions that make you reflect. It works well for:

People unsure about quitting
Those in the early stages of recovery
Individuals with mixed feelings about their substance or behaviour use

MI is often used to kick-start motivation when someone feels stuck or conflicted.

Family therapy

Addiction rarely happens in isolation. Family therapy brings loved ones into the process, helping to heal damaged relationships, build support networks and open up communication. It’s particularly useful when:

Addiction has impacted the whole household
There’s enabling behaviour or unresolved family conflict
A loved one wants to help but doesn’t know how

Sessions can involve partners, parents, children or whoever plays a key role in the person’s life.

What progress looks like in addiction counselling

When you’re deep in addiction recovery, it can be hard to notice the wins. You’re dealing with heavy emotions, challenging conversations and the mental load of simply trying to stay on track. So it’s no surprise that the positives can sometimes fade into the background.

That’s why it helps to know what progress actually looks like in addiction counselling.

It won’t come with balloons dropping from the ceiling or a big achievement unlocked badge flashing across the room. Most of the time, it shows up quietly, meaning it can be beneficial to know what these progress milestones look like.

Below, we take a look at just a few examples of what progress looks like in addiction counselling.

Saying something instead of nothing

Imagine someone sits in silence for their first three sessions. Then, in the fourth, they quietly say,

“I almost used last weekend.”

To the outside world, this might seem like a small comment. But in the counselling room, it represents:

A sign that trust is starting to build
A willingness to stop hiding
A move from shame into honesty and reflection

This kind of openness is a turning point. It marks the beginning of emotional engagement with recovery.

Starting to question automatic behaviours

Another strong sign of progress is when a person begins to pause before acting on impulse. Addiction often operates on autopilot, so moments of reflection suggest something deeper is developing. You might hear questions like:

“Why did I feel like drinking just now?”
“What was I really trying to escape?”
“Could I have done something different?”

Even if their choices don’t change right away, the act of pausing shows that therapy is working.

Returning after missing a session

Missing therapy is common, especially when things feel difficult. But returning the following week and talking about why they missed it is a valuable shift. It shows:

A growing respect for the process
A realisation that missing a step doesn’t mean giving up
An understanding that consistency matters

Staying in the room

Progress sometimes looks like not walking out. It looks like sitting with discomfort, facing painful emotions and still deciding to show up the next week. These moments of staying put, even when everything feels hard, often signal the strongest internal changes.

Addiction counselling progress isn’t measured by perfection. It’s measured by presence, reflection and a slow return to self. One honest sentence, one paused reaction, one decision to stay – these are the real milestones of healing.

Does Oasis Runcorn use addiction counselling in rehab programmes?

At Oasis Runcorn, we believe counselling is the cornerstone of every addiction rehab programme we offer, whether it’s for substance use or behavioural addiction. Our goal is to help you get to the root of what’s driving your addiction and guide you towards lasting change.

We use a variety of therapeutic methods tailored to your needs, and counselling can begin as early as the detox stage if required. It continues throughout your stay in rehab and plays a vital role in your aftercare too, so you always have support when you need it most.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, don’t wait. Reach out to us today, and let’s talk through your options. Getting help is a brave first step, and we’re here for you every step after that.