Types of Therapies We Use

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a popular addiction treatment modality, designed to help you identify, challenge and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. In the context of addiction recovery, CBT helps you break the cycle of negative thinking that drives substance use. By recognising the triggers and thought patterns that lead to harmful behaviours you can begin to adjust your responses and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Many people struggling with addiction also have underlying mental health issues and CBT gives you the tools to address both at the same time. By focusing on practical ways to manage stress, regulate emotions and replace self-destructive habits with positive behaviours you increase your chances of long-term sobriety and overall mental health.

Example:

Negative Thought:

“I’ve blown it again. I’ll never be sober, so what’s the point of trying? I’m a failure and nothing will ever change.”

This type of thinking is called ‘catastrophising’ or ‘black and white thinking’ – i.e one mistake means permanent failure and no hope of change.

How CBT Can Help:

Step 1 – Identify the Thought

During your CBT session, your therapist will help you spot this negative thought as an automatic and unhelpful one. You will learn to identify the patterns in your thinking that drive your behaviour, such as this sense of hopelessness and self-blame.

Step 2 – Challenge the Thought

The therapist then helps the individual to challenge the thought. For example, is it true that one slip means total failure? Are there examples in their life where they’ve made mistakes and then succeeded later? Is there evidence that change is possible?

Step 3: Replace the Thought

Once the thought is challenged the next step is to replace it with a more balanced thought. For example: “I blew it, but that doesn’t mean I’m a failure. Recovery is a process and I can learn from this to strengthen my sobriety in the future. I’ve done it before and I can do it again.”

Step 4: Action

With this new thought, you are more likely to make better choices. Instead of giving in you will learn to focus on what went wrong and how you can avoid it next time.

Family Therapy

Family dynamics are key to recovery. Addiction affects the whole family unit and negatively impacts relationships, communication and trust. Family therapy is a big part of the healing process as it allows loved ones to come together, understand the impact of addiction and start the journey of recovery as a team.

Through family therapy communication is strengthened and long-standing conflicts are addressed in a safe and supportive environment. Family members are given the tools to express their concerns, emotions and needs in a constructive way. By working through these issues together, families can rebuild trust and create a healthier more supportive relationship.

Family therapy sessions at The Lighthouse involve educating families on addiction and recovery so they can understand how they can best support their loved one’s journey. By having a solid support system the person will feel more encouraged, less likely to relapse and more likely to achieve long-term sobriety.

Relapse Prevention Counselling

Relapse prevention is a key part of addiction recovery, it’s about giving you the tools you need to stay sober long-term. Recovery is not just about overcoming physical addiction, it’s also about learning how to navigate the daily challenges, emotions and triggers that can lead to relapse.

These sessions help you identify your triggers – emotional, environmental or social and recognise the warning signs of relapse. By understanding these triggers you can develop practical strategies to cope with cravings and high-risk situations. This type of counselling helps you manage stress, regulate emotions and build healthier habits to replace the old patterns that led to your addiction.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is an essential part of addiction treatment because it offers a type of support you don’t get with one-to-one therapy. If you’re new to recovery the idea of opening up in front of a group of strangers can be daunting. You may worry about being judged or shamed or feel anxious about sharing your struggles. These are valid concerns but many people find once they get past those initial reservations group therapy becomes one of the most powerful tools in their recovery.

One of the biggest benefits of group therapy is the sense of community it creates. Everyone in the room is struggling with addiction and you’ll quickly realise you’re not alone. The shared experience becomes a safe space where you can talk about your struggles without fear of being judged.

Hearing others talk about their own experiences often puts your own into perspective and helps break down the feelings of isolation and shame that come with addiction. It’s not just about receiving support but also about providing it. Sharing your experience and offering support can help reinforce your recovery as you build connections with others.

At The Lighthouse, our group therapy sessions are professionally facilitated by trained therapists who specialise in addiction treatment. These therapists guide the sessions, ensuring the environment remains safe, structured and productive.

Individual Therapy (One-to-one)

At Step by Step Recovery we understand that while group support is important, individual therapy offers a different kind of healing experience and one that is more personal and tailored to your individual needs. Individual therapy provides a private space where you can work with your focal therapist to explore the personal challenges you face in addiction recovery. It’s a core part of our holistic approach to treatment and many people find it to be the foundation of their long-term recovery.

Individual therapy at The Lighthouse is delivered by one of our experienced and empathetic therapists who specialise in addiction and mental health. You will be assigned a focal therapist at the start of your treatment who will facilitate your one-to-one sessions. All sessions are completely confidential so you can talk about anything without fear of being judged or exposed. 

Your therapist will work with you to uncover and address the underlying causes of your addiction, such as emotional pain, past trauma or co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. By exploring these deeper issues individual therapy helps you understand the root of your behaviours and patterns, leading to more meaningful and long-term recovery.

Ongoing Therapy

Long-term recovery doesn’t stop when your primary treatment finishes and we encourage you to continue with therapy once you leave. Ongoing therapy is essential in maintaining sobriety and providing support as you transition back into daily life. Addiction is a chronic condition and staying in therapy over time helps you manage the challenges that can arise in early recovery.

At Step by Step Recovery, we offer individual counselling at an additional cost. Individual counselling allows you to check in with your key worker regularly, work through any emerging issues and fine-tune coping strategies based on your experiences post-rehab. Support groups provide a sense of community and shared understanding, a safe space to connect with others who are also on the recovery journey.

Holistic Therapies: Healing the Mind, Body and Spirit

Yoga

At Step by Step Recovery, we believe in treating the whole person—body, mind and spirit. That’s why we include holistic therapies like yoga in our recovery programme. Yoga is a powerful way to reconnect with body and mind which is especially important in addiction recovery where many people have experienced disconnection or neglect of their physical and emotional well-being.

Yoga reduces stress which is a common trigger for relapse. Through gentle movements and breath control, you will learn to release built-up tension and calm your nervous system. This practice promotes mindfulness so you can stay present in the moment rather than reacting impulsively to cravings or difficult emotions. Yoga also improves physical strength, flexibility and endurance so your body can recover from prolonged substance use.

By participating in our yoga sessions you will also develop greater body and emotional awareness and tools for self-regulation that can be used long after you leave The Lighthouse. This holistic practice supports physical healing inner peace and emotional resilience, a solid foundation for long-term sobriety.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a nonverbal way to explore and process your emotions in recovery. For many of us, words can be hard to find especially when those emotions are rooted in trauma or pain. Through creative expression art therapy allows you to express your inner experience in a safe and supportive environment.

This type of therapy is the key to emotional healing and self-discovery. By trying creative activities like painting or drawing you can access thoughts and feelings you struggle to put into words, this helps us gain insight into your emotional state and behavioural patterns. Art therapy encourages self-reflection so you can understand yourself on a deeper level and grow as a person.

We have found art therapy is especially good for building self-esteem and emotional resilience. It gives you a healthy outlet for emotions and helps you process the complex feelings around your addiction. By engaging your creative mind art therapy supports emotional and psychological healing alongside the other therapies we offer at The Lighthouse.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a powerful tool in addiction recovery, it’s a great way to release emotions and express yourself in a nonverbal, creative way. Whether through listening to music or creating it, music therapy helps you connect with your emotions in a deep way, an outlet for feelings that may be hard to put into words.

At The Lighthouse music therapy supports traditional and holistic therapies by providing emotional comfort and motivation. Listening to music can evoke positive emotions, reduce stress and give you a sense of safety during difficult moments. It can also tap into memories and emotions so you can reflect on your experiences and process them in a safe environment. Creating music whether through singing, playing instruments or composing gives you a sense of achievement and self-expression, helps you regain confidence and find joy in sober living.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness helps us stay grounded, focused and present. By being aware of our thoughts, emotions and physical sensations we learn to observe without judgment. This awareness is the key to breaking the cycle of automatic, unhealthy responses to stress, cravings or difficult emotions. Mindfulness practices like meditation, breathwork and mindful movement help us stay in the here and now, not the future or past. This allows us to manage cravings, respond to triggers calmly and understand our emotional and mental state.

At The Lighthouse we include daily mindfulness walks to the beach (weather permitting) as part of our programme. These walks are an opportunity to relax in a peaceful, natural environment. The beach setting helps us find calm, reconnect with ourselves and deepen our recovery.

How We Create Your Treatment Plan

We know everyone’s recovery journey is different. That’s why our approach is completely personalised, assessing each client’s needs, challenges and goals. We will work with you to create a treatment plan that addresses your physical, emotional and psychological well-being.

Our treatment plans combine traditional and holistic therapies to give a full recovery experience, treating the psychological as well as the physical symptoms of addiction. Evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention are combined with holistic practices like yoga, art therapy, music therapy and mindfulness.

Get in Touch

If you would like to find out more about our therapies or have any questions about treatment at The Lighthouse please get in touch. Our dedicated team will be happy to help you with your queries. If you’re looking for treatment for yourself or someone you know, they can advise you on the next steps and support you through the process.