Updated on 8/10/2021
People of all ages have common addictive habits that they wish to break free from — smoking, nail-biting, alcohol addiction, and substance abuse, among others. Some people are able to stop these habits with just a strong resolution to do so, but for many others, dropping an addictive behavior can be a struggle.
People have employed countless measures while trying to break free of their addictions. If you’ve tried most of the more common approaches and found them to be ineffective, there are other reliable options worth considering. One of these options is aversion therapy.
What IsAversion Therapy?
Talkspace therapistCynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, LCSW-C, CMHIMP, EMDR says, “To support my clients, I prefer to use simple activities such as wearing an elastic band, where the person snaps the band to create a slightly painful reminder or holding an ice in their hand for a few seconds; this helps them to recondition their thoughts and behaviors.”
Who Is Aversion Therapy For?
Since aversion behavioral therapy is used to eliminate unwanted habits, it has more limited uses than other types of psychotherapy. It is most frequently recommended for people who are dealing with:
Although aversion therapy can be used to help eliminate almost any type of undesirable behavior and assist behavior modification, this treatment method is more commonly applied at drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.
Talkspace therapistLiz Kelly, LICSW says, “For my clients who are working on limiting their alcohol consumption, our work together will often involve visualizing the undesirable impact of drinking alcohol like looking sloppy, feeling out of control, and being hungover and anxious. This helps my clients manage their cravings and create new habits.”
How Does Aversion Therapy Work?
During aversive therapy, the client may be asked to engage in the undesirable habit or behavior while simultaneously being exposed to an unpleasant stimulus such as a bad taste, a foul smell, or even mild electric shocks. In some cases, the behavior doesn’t necessarily have to take place before the stimulus is applied. The therapist may have the client think of themselves engaging in the behavior while the stimulus is administered.
For instance, aversion therapy for clients who wish to deal with alcohol addiction involves aprescriptionof specialty tryptophan metabolites, under the supervision of a of an in-person oronline psychiatrist. When taken regularly, the metabolites prevent regular processing of alcohol within the body, causing a bout of digestive issues and other side effects. Similarly, individuals who constantly bite their nails may eventually drop the habit if they experience an awful taste from a topical formula applied to their nails.
Is Aversion Therapy Effective?
The type of behavior to be corrected also plays a role in the effectiveness of aversion therapy, as it tends to be more effective with some behaviors than others. The stimulus used in therapy is another factor, as the use of electric shockstends to be less effectivethan the use of nausea-inducing chemicals.
Aversion Therapy Criticisms and Controversies
Aversion therapy has not gone without its own fair share ofcriticism and controversyover the years. One frequent argument made against this aversion treatment is that it focuses on behavior only, ignoring the psychological factors behind the unwanted behavior. Critics of aversion therapy argue that this often makes the treatment short-lived.
Aversion therapy has also been criticized for the use of unpleasant stimuli in the course of aversion treatment. Some argue that this practice isn’t just unethical, but downright cruel and can be traumatic as well.
There is also a lack of thorough research material that supports the effectiveness of aversion therapy. A lot of the research that has been done over the years shows mixed results compared to othertypes of therapy, and it’s simply not enough to deter valid criticism about how successful it is.
What to Know Before Starting Aversion Therapy
After you’ve made the decision to try traditional aversion therapy, the next step is to consult your provider to make sure you’re comfortable with the course of treatment before therapy begins — there can be several unpleasant side effects from the aversive stimulation used in the course of treatment.
It is advisable to go through a medical exam in order to make sure that the stimulus being used is safe for you. For instance, if you have a heart condition, it may be inadvisable to involve the use of electric shocks in your treatment. So too, a person with a gastrointestinal illness may also not respond favorably to nausea-inducing chemicals.
Note that your therapist is required to educate you on how aversion therapy works and inform you about the methods to be used in treatment so you know exactly what to expect. Most importantly, your consent is essential before you begin treatment. You’ll be required to sign a consent form stating that you’re aware of the procedure involved, and that you agree to participate fully in the treatment.
If you’re interested in getting rid of an unwanted habit through aversion therapy, it’s important to work only with a licensed mental health professional who has the necessary training and experience in this field. Once you find a qualified expert, you can speak to them about what you’re looking for in your treatment plan and express any concerns you may have. This process will help you figure out if aversion therapy is the best option for you.
Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.
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