The link between emotions and substance use
Many of our clients at Turning Point achieve better outcomes, when they spend time and effort understanding how their emotions affect their drug and alcohol use. We work with our clients on a one-to-one and group basis to develop coping strategies to help manage emotions. Our team support people to achieve a more balanced and manageable emotional state, conjointly with one-to-one support with their goals around stopping or reducing alcohol and drug use.
Rhea, one of our clients told us:
“For me, getting support was more than removing substances from my everyday life, I wanted to clean up the mess around me and most importantly the mess inside me. Turning Point helped me understand my triggers around strong emotions and how trauma affects my emotional regulation. I’d use if I was angry, sad, disgusted, or feeling guilty. I’d also use when I was really happy, I’d try to get that happy to the highest point!”
Turning Point’s programmes: helping you to understand your emotions
We encourage and empower our clients to try new ways of thinking to understand their substance use and to improve their wellbeing. You could benefit from one-to-one support, as well as attending our evidence-based group programmes with others making positive changes around their drug and alcohol use.
Group work is a form of counselling that takes place in a group setting over the course of several sessions. It is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Many of our clients are nervous about the prospect of attending a group. We know it may seem daunting but the impact we see on our clients is outstanding. John, Turning Point’s Group Work Advanced Practitioners says,
“Group work can offer a way to connect with and draw inspiration from others, as well as share personal struggles and successes in recovery. It can also be a space where you can learn skills, supportive coping strategies, improve communication skills, and build self- confidence. Addiction in substances can be very isolating and so the groups can offer a safe space for people affected by substance use to find social support and connect with others who can relate to their experiences.”
We offer various different programmes for those using different kinds of substances and at different stages of recovery. Your key worker at Turning Point will explore your goals and motivations and may support you onto one or more programmes throughout your journey with Turning Point. These are some of the programmes you could benefit from:
Reclaim programme
This programme is unique, in that you either do it in a group setting or on a one-to-one basis with your key worker. Reclaim involves six sessions based on evidence-based strategies, covering topics such as reducing harm and risk, tracking substance use, goal setting, recognising and dealing with cravings and urges, and planning systems for change and pleasurable activities outside of drug using.
Recovery skills workshop
This group is based on developing skills around on social and behavioural principles. It consists of 12x 2-hour sessions. The underlying theoretical model is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This is a model used across many problem areas, which is based on identifying personal values and finding ways of behaving which take us towards those values, rather than away from them.
Throughout the programme there is an emphasis on living with rather than avoiding difficult thoughts, on learning to be with cravings rather than distract from them. We ask you to commit to developing and practicing skills learnt between sessions.
Mindfulness-based relapse prevention workshop
The group programme has been developed for those who have managed to become abstinent from alcohol or illicit drugs but may still be on prescribed medication such as methadone, low doses of benzodiazepines or anti-depressants/anti-psychotics.
The objective of this group is to teach and practise skills aimed at maintaining abstinence and dealing more effectively with stress. It is an integration of cognitive-behavioural-based relapse prevention treatment with mindfulness/awareness practices.
As stress management is fundamental to maintaining abstinence, the course is based on a proven treatment for recurring depression and high stress levels, focussed on the practice of mindfulness.
Surviving emotions workshop
Surviving Emotions is a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) based skills training to support you to tolerate distress arising from life challenges and crisis situations. The strategies implemented in talking therapy can support the achievement of a more balanced and manageable emotional state. It’s particularly useful for those who have difficulties managing mood and impulses and would like to learn practical strategies to restore a balanced physiological and emotional state.
Preparing for rehab workshop
This is a drop-in workshop that helps you to understand if detox and rehab are right for you. We cover specific topics around what to expect, what rehab is like, and the cycle of change. You can come with any questions you have to help take away the worries and uncertainty you may have around detox and rehab.
Managing alcohol programmes (Hammersmith & Fulham only)
We have two programmes to support you to manage drinking, one is more for people who feel they are dependent on alcohol, and one is for people who would like to reduce their alcohol consumption. Both consist of seven sessions, where we will cover alcohol and your health, harms and risks of alcohol, detox and rehab and mindfulness.
Women’s and LGBTQ+ groups
We have weekly social drop-in groups at our different hubs across central and west London. Some of these are tailored to those who identify as women only and some for those who identify as LGBTQ+. You can expect refreshments, activities such as yoga and art therapy and workshops on topics such as self-esteem and emotions. This is a chance to meet likeminded people who are also making positive changes around drugs and alcohol.
Want to better understand how your emotions link to your drinking or drug use?
Get in touch with Turning Point now for free, confidential support
Call us: 0330 303 8080
Email us: [email protected]
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