When it comes to getting sober, it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Just because your neighbor finds success through one method does not mean that same process will work for you, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Alcohol treatment programs have come a long way in the past few decades, distancing themselves from the idea that there’s one “right” way to get sober.

Many people aren’t aware of just how many treatment philosophies exist until they’re thrust into recovery resources. Some programs are very 12-step heavy. Others are more clinical and focused on behavioral therapy.

Some use holistic methods involving yoga and meditation; others, a medical approach focusing on medication-assisted treatment. It’s a lot to absorb all at once when finding the best way for what might help, but it exists.

The 12-Step Model

This is the quintessential concept most people think of when they think of alcohol treatment. The 12-step method has been around since the 1930s and is based on the idea of coming to terms with being powerless over the substance, making amends, and finding a higher power (the higher power aspect can be largely interpreted through whatever makes sense for the individual).

Those who subscribe to this method typically have many group meetings, a sponsor relationship, and must work through each step in order.

The good thing about 12-step programs is that they’re widely accessible and free through groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. Many inpatient treatment facilities are founded upon this model as well.

For those who connect with the spiritual side and benefit from group accountability, it’s an effective means to sobriety. Unfortunately, not everyone finds it best as some feel the powerless part is degrading or that the religious connotation is too much for something they see as temporary recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Approaches

CBT approaches operate from an entirely different premise. Where the first focuses on the idea of powerlessness and reliance on the group, CBT-based treatments teach you how to recognize thought patterns that lead you to drinking, the triggers that establish these actions, and work in a therapeutic environment to develop coping strategies through response adjustment and planned techniques.

CBT is best for those who seek evidence-based treatment with no spiritual component. It’s like mental retraining for new coping responses to stress, social interaction, and adverse emotional experiences.

Many facilities providing alcoholism treatment in Memphis and elsewhere provide CBT-based programming as it’s often combined with other therapeutic developments to treat the many facets of alcohol dependence.

Unlike one-and-done, CBT sessions are time-limited (meaning you’re not in therapy forever) where you come away with tangible skills you can use in your day-to-day life. Studies suggest that CBT is best for those who are actively involved in their recovery efforts (meaning they’re not just going through the motions) and enjoy tangible tools they can use for practice.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

This is where more medical approaches come into play. Medication-assisted treatment is when FDA-approved medications are introduced into the treatment process to ease symptoms alongside counseling and behavioral therapeutic efforts.

Naltrexone prevents alcohol from having gratifying effects; Acamprosate supports craving prevention; Disulfiram makes someone violently ill if they attempt to drink alcohol.

Many people are very pro or anti-MAT and lean toward believing it’s simply replacing one substance for another but that’s an unlikely assumption – these medications aren’t addictive, and they’re intended for non-addictive adults looking to get their brain’s chemistry back on track after prolonged substance use.

For someone severely dependent, MAT could be the difference between maintaining sobriety or relapsing at week two.

The problem is that not all MAT programs exist – while studies prove MAT effective, specific medical oversight isn’t always possible. If you want MAT, you’ll need to find a facility with prescribers who can help.

Holistic Programs

Holistic programs take alcohol dependence as part of a larger framework of overall well-being. Holistic approaches involve nutritional counseling, exercise programming, mindfulness meditation, acupuncture, and art/music therapy.

The general philosophy is that addiction impacts every facet of life – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – and thus, recovery should incorporate all parts instead.

For those who see this as a new lifestyle change – even with healthier eating habits or resolutions to take more care of one’s body versus just not drinking alcohol – holistic approaches work best as you might be doing morning yoga classes, afternoon group sessions, and evening classes on nutrition and cooking healthy meals.

Some people benefit from treating all facets intertwined as a form of fundamental change over time.

The downside? They can be extremely expensive without insurance coverage – if at all – and they vary drastically in skill level – the better ones have licensed professionals with proper credentials while others are merely wellness retreats that masquerade as treatment centers with little to no clinical expertise.

Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization

Not every recovery program requires you to live at an inpatient facility for 30/60/90 days. Intensive outpatient programs allow participants to continue living at home while attending sessions for treatment several times per week (i.e., three hours a day for five days/week for group settings, educational settings, and individual counseling).

Similar programs include partial hospitalization programs (where you’re at the facility during the day but go home at night). This works best when someone has completed detox – and needs structured support – but doesn’t require 24-hour supervision. It also serves as a more financially viable alternative instead of Inpatient Treatment where bills exceed $30k+.

Unfortunately, these programs operate under the assumption that you still live in your normal environment which could subsequently be a bad thing – especially if it was your living situation that prompted your drinking in the first place – and thus your tendency to relapse sooner than later stresses this approach.

It’s best for someone who has independent living skills and stability outside of treatment before sustaining recovery efforts.

What Works Best for You?

Ultimately, here’s what most will not tell you upfront: regardless of the right plan, it comes down to what works where you’re at – what’s needed at this moment – and which approach is theoretically “the best” doesn’t matter as much as someone’s intent.

Someone with severe physical dependence will need medical detox with possibly MAT, while someone with trauma history might benefit from trauma-informed care as part of the program.

Someone with familial responsibility may need outpatient support while someone whose entire social engagement revolves around drinking might benefit from the total shift in environment offered through Inpatient Treatment.

Additionally, most plans work best when combined – for example, a program offering CBT components might also advocate for 12-step meetings or simultaneously recommend journal assignments while setting up a meeting with a prescriber about possible MAT opportunities all within the same program.

Recovery is complicated; better supported with multiple tools than one advocated philosophy.