22 Jul 2025
Counselling plays a vital role in overcoming addiction by addressing its psychological roots, fostering healthier behaviour patterns, and providing long-term support. Research shows that those who receive counselling as part of addiction treatment are more than twice as likely to maintain long-term recovery.
This article is informed by insights from two leading voices at Rehabs UK: Lester Morse, Director and addiction specialist with over 30 years of experience, and Jakana, a BACP-qualified therapist who facilitates Rehabs UK's aftercare group and online family support. Jakana brings a nuanced, professional, and trauma-informed approach to addiction counselling, shaped by both clinical expertise and real-world recovery experience. Having been diagnosed with ADHD herself, Jakana is also a strong advocate for the benefits of therapy for individuals who are neurodivergent.
What is addiction counselling?
Addiction counselling is a specialised form of psychotherapy that supports individuals in understanding and recovering from addiction, whether related to substances like alcohol, or behaviours such as gambling, pornography, or compulsive eating.
According to Jakana, “Addiction counselling is distinct in that it carries a unique therapeutic value through shared lived experience. Unlike conventional counselling, where practitioners typically avoid disclosing personal history, addiction counselling can benefit from the counsellor’s openness about their own recovery.”
This honest and experiential dynamic helps build trust, offering a level of resonance and solidarity that traditional approaches may not provide. It also reduces stigma and promotes hope, which is essential in the early, vulnerable stages of recovery.
Why is counselling important in addiction recovery?
Counselling provides a structure for healing that goes beyond abstinence. It empowers individuals to process trauma, reframe self-defeating beliefs, and develop tools to manage emotions constructively.
Addiction is deeply psychological. While detox addresses physical dependence, counselling tackles the emotional and cognitive roots that often fuel addiction, such as trauma, shame, denial, or mental health challenges. Clients participating in relapse prevention therapy have up to 45% lower chance of relapse compared to those who do not
“People seeking help for addiction often struggle with entrenched denial and maladaptive thought patterns,” says Jakana. “To disrupt this cycle, they need consistent support from someone who understands these patterns intimately and can guide them toward clarity.”
Benefits of counselling for addiction
- Reduces shame and guilt
- Builds emotional resilience
- Supports relapse prevention
- Increases personal responsibility
- Promotes self-awareness and accountability
- Helps regulate emotions and manage mental health
- Provides structure and external motivation
- Improves relationships with self and others
How counselling helps at each stage of addiction recovery
Pre and early recovery
Early recovery can be a challenging, as individuals often face intense internal conflict and a persistent urge to use substances. Adjusting to life after rehab takes time and ongoing support. Jakana explains, “At this point, they haven’t yet developed the psychological resilience needed to resist compulsions. Willpower alone isn’t enough. Support, structure and therapy are crucial.”
Counselling in this phase focuses on:
- Establishing trust and safety
- Motivating the client to change
- Challenging denial and promoting self-honesty
- Managing the emotional turbulence of early abstinence
Mid-recovery
This stage focuses on identifying triggers, building coping strategies, and cultivating healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
“Tools such as self-reflection, practising gratitude, and quieting the mind become part of everyday thinking,” says Jakana. “Clients also learn to observe their thought patterns, staying vigilant to distortions that could derail progress.”
Group counselling becomes particularly valuable here, providing external perspectives that help challenge internal delusions.
Long-term recovery
In later recovery, deeper psychological issues may emerge, some of which existed before the addiction began. Jakana notes, “Unresolved trauma or dysfunctional patterns can persist beyond abstinence. Ongoing counselling provides tools and insight for deeper healing.”
Long-term therapeutic support can:
- Prevent complacency
- Deepen emotional growth
- Strengthen healthy identity and relationships
- Support reintegration into life, work, and purpose
Types of counselling services for addiction treatment
Many therapeutic approaches fall under the umbrella of addiction counselling. The most effective method depends on the individual’s personality, history, and stage of recovery.
“Experience is often the best teacher,” says Jakana. “People need to commit to therapy long enough to see its value. Resistance is normal in the beginning, but the benefits become clear through engagement and identification with others.”
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a goal-oriented therapy that teaches clients to recognise and reframe negative thought patterns. Jakana notes its importance in targeting personal challenges and managing emotional triggers.
Group therapy
Jakana highlights group work with peers as “crucial for helping individuals break isolation. It fosters a sense of connection, belonging, and accountability, directly counteracting the loneliness of addiction.”
According to Rehabs UK Director Lester Morse, “Addiction thrives in isolation. Group therapy gives people a sense of connection and shared purpose. It’s one of the most powerful tools in recovery.”
Coaching
Often used alongside other therapies, coaching helps clients set and achieve goals, manage day-to-day stress, and stay focused on recovery outcomes.
Psychodynamic counselling
Psychodynamic counselling is a deeper form of therapy that explores childhood experiences, relational patterns, and emotional defences. Jakana recommends it later in recovery, once individuals are stable and ready for deeper reflection.
Family therapy
Family therapy can be used to address family dynamics, can reduce conflict, improve communication, and provide loved ones with the tools to support recovery.
Family-centred approaches (e.g. CRAFT) improve outcomes: research shows a 35% reduction in substance use and around 70% success in motivating treatment-refusing relatives into care
What to expect from counselling for addiction
Starting counselling can feel intimidating, especially for those carrying years of shame or mistrust. Jakana acknowledges this:
“Many people entering recovery are terrified of opening up. But they’re often surprised by how quickly they feel understood, not judged. That’s because they’re with someone who truly ‘gets’ them.”
Common experiences during addiction counselling include:
- A sense of relief at being heard
- Insight into personal behavioural patterns
- Reduction in anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation
- Clearer thinking and improved self-worth
- Development of healthy daily routines
Counselling also helps dispel myths around recovery groups like AA or NA. “Many people think the Twelve Step model is religious,” says Jakana. “But it’s not. It’s a set of life principles, like honesty, gratitude, and humility, that support emotional growth.”
Participation in mutual support groups (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous) is linked to a 50% lower relapse risk .
Taking the first step towards recovery
Recognising a problem and seeking help is a powerful first step toward healing. Whether you're battling addiction yourself or supporting someone else, professional counselling can provide the structure and hope needed for change.
Get in touch with Rehabs UK to explore personalised support options. Our team is here to walk with you through every step of recovery—with empathy, expertise, and lived experience.
Bibliography
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Principles of Effective Treatment
NHS – Drug addiction: Getting help
BACP – Addiction counselling
Rehabs UK – Addiction Services