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What Is Contingency Management?

At Genesis Recovery and Wellness, we understand that addiction is a complicated disease to recover from. The physical and mental side effects are difficult to work through. In addition, each patient has a different experience and circumstance when it comes to their addiction and recovery journey. However, we know that with the right combination of treatments and therapies, patients can heal and go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives free of substances. We provide a variety of addiction treatment programs and therapies to help our patients as they go through recovery and adapt to a sober lifestyle. One of the programs is contingency management therapy, which is an effective form of treatment for substance use disorder. Contact us today at 216.331.2998 for more information.

What Is Contingency Management?

If you are unfamiliar with addiction treatment programs, you may be asking yourself, “what is contingency management?” Contingency management is a treatment approach based on a principle called operant conditioning. This principle states that a person’s behavior is shaped by its consequences. These consequences can be positive or negative such as receiving a reward for positive behavior or being withheld a reward for negative behavior. So, what is contingency management when it comes to addiction treatment? In a contingency management program, patients will receive a reward for positive behavior, such as meeting a treatment goal. They may also receive a negative consequence for not meeting a treatment goal or for another type of negative behavior. Some examples of the type of reward a patient may receive include a small prize, voucher, or gift card. The types of or the number of rewards a patient receives can increase as they continue meeting new treatment goals. The goal of contingency management is for patients to consistently act in ways that are healthy and positive for their recovery, especially if they face challenges or difficulties. Contingency management can be an effective form of treatment for patients by holding them accountable for their behavior and helping them stay committed to their recovery.

Contingency Management Techniques

Different contingency management techniques can be used in treatment. Each patient is unique in their recovery, and the techniques they use may be different as well. Patients work with staff to create their own sobriety goals, and contingency management therapy can help them achieve them. Some contingency management techniques are:

  • Attending counseling sessions
  • Participating in group therapy sessions
  • Taking prescription medication regularly
  • Learning healthy coping strategies
  • Negative results on drug tests or screenings

In contingency management, the emphasis is on rewards rather than punishment. Patients are incentivized to behave in ways that positively impact their recovery. When people are rewarded, they are more likely to continue the positive behavior. Over time, patients will become accustomed to this behavior and develop healthy habits that will help them maintain their recovery in the long term. When contingency management techniques are used alongside other forms of treatment, they can be very effective. To maintain lifelong sobriety, patients must learn positive habits they can easily implement in their daily lives. Contingency management therapy can help with that.

Discover Contingency Management Therapy at Genesis Recovery

So, what is contingency management therapy? It is an effective form of treatment used in addiction recovery. Patients receive a reward for positive behavior throughout their recovery. This helps incentivize patients to remain dedicated to their recovery while going through treatment. At Genesis Recovery, contingency management therapy is used in combination with other treatments and programs. The other treatments and therapies we offer patients are:

  • Dual diagnosis program
  • Intensive outpatient program
  • Outpatient addiction treatment
  • Partial hospitalization program
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Group therapy

If you are ready to begin your recovery journey, our team can help. Contact Genesis Recovery and Wellness today at 216.331.2998 or fill out our online form to get started.