Reviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated September 2026.
Intro
Individual therapy for addiction is a one-on-one treatment in which a licensed therapist works directly with you to understand your substance use history, find the causes underneath it and build the skills to sustain recovery.
At iRely Recovery (DHCS License #191516AP) in Los Angeles, individual therapy is the clinical core of every treatment plan, private and confidential, structured around your goals and adapted as your recovery progresses.
Key Points
- Uninterrupted time with your therapistPrivate, confidential sessions built around your personal history and goals.
- Eight evidence-based modalitiesCBT, MI, DBT, EMDR, ACT, contingency management, narrative therapy and MBRP.
- The main setting for dual diagnosisOne therapist can address addiction and co-occurring conditions together.
- Insurance verificationWe verify benefits at no cost. Call 818-869-2112.
In Short
Individual therapy at iRely Recovery is private, one-on-one treatment with a licensed therapist using CBT, motivational interviewing, DBT, EMDR, ACT and other evidence-based approaches, built around your history and any co-occurring conditions. Most insurance is accepted. Call 818-869-2112 for a free consultation.
What Is Individual Therapy for Addiction?
Individual therapy for addiction, also called one-on-one counseling, is a structured, private treatment in which a licensed therapist works directly with you to understand your substance use history, identify the causes underneath it and build the skills you need to sustain recovery. It is distinct from group therapy, which involves several clients at once, and from medical detox, which addresses physical dependence.
Unlike group sessions, individual therapy gives you uninterrupted time with a therapist who knows your story. Sessions are confidential, built around your goals and adapted as your recovery progresses. Whether you are working through trauma that preceded your substance use, learning strategies for cravings or processing the weight of early sobriety, this is where the most personal and lasting work happens.
Behavioral therapies delivered in individual sessions are among the best-supported components of substance use treatment, and NIDA’s Principles of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment list counseling and behavioral therapies as central. A 2023 systematic review found CBT for substance use disorders meets the Society of Clinical Psychology’s criteria for empirical support. At iRely Recovery (DHCS License #191516AP), individual therapy is the clinical core of every treatment plan, and it is offered across our levels of care with session frequency matched to your clinical need.
8 Types of Individual Therapy We Use for Addiction
Different people respond to different approaches. Your plan integrates the modalities best suited to your history, substance of use and co-occurring conditions.
1. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
CBT is the most researched individual therapy for substance use disorder. You learn to identify the thoughts and emotional triggers that precede use and replace them with healthier responses, using thought records, functional analysis and relapse prevention planning.
2. Motivational Interviewing and MET
MI is a collaborative, person-centered style that uses reflective listening and open questions to help you explore ambivalence and find your own reasons for change. Motivational Enhancement Therapy applies it in a structured format and is especially useful early, when resistance is highest.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT has strong evidence for substance use with emotional dysregulation, self-harm history or trauma. Individual sessions review a weekly diary card of urges, emotions and skill use, then target the highest-priority behavior.
4. EMDR
EMDR uses guided bilateral stimulation while you briefly focus on distressing memories so the brain can reprocess them. It suits PTSD, childhood trauma and acute traumatic events, and it is delivered in individual sessions.
5. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT teaches you to accept difficult thoughts and emotions instead of fighting them, and to commit to actions that fit your values. It addresses the pattern of using substances to escape uncomfortable feelings, and helps if fighting cravings directly tends to amplify them.
6. Contingency Management
Positive behaviors, such as negative drug screens or attending every session, are reinforced right away with rewards. It has strong evidence for stimulant use and for improving treatment retention, and it is run through a transparent behavioral contract.
7. Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy separates you from the problem and helps you re-author a life story dominated by substance use into one shaped by your values, relationships and strengths. It helps when an addict identity has become deeply internalized.
8. Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention
MBRP combines mindfulness practices with cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention, teaching you to observe cravings with non-judgmental awareness instead of acting on them. It was developed for people moving from initial treatment into ongoing recovery.
What to Expect in Individual Therapy Sessions
Your First Session: Intake Assessment
Your therapist asks about your substance use history, current patterns, previous treatment, co-occurring symptoms, family and social support and your goals. There is no pressure and no judgment, and it lets your therapist understand your situation before building your plan.
Ongoing Sessions
A brief check-in on the past week, a review of homework or skills practiced, focused work on that day’s priority target and a closing plan for the week ahead. Your therapist documents progress and adjusts your plan as you change.
Private and Confidential
Sessions take place in a private office. Everything you share is confidential, with the standard legal exceptions: imminent danger to yourself or others and child or elder abuse reporting.
Coordinated Care
Your individual therapist coordinates with group facilitators and your medical team so your treatment has consistent clinical direction.
How Often Should You Attend Individual Therapy?
Recommended frequency depends on your level of care and where you are in recovery.
Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
Individual sessions several times a week during early stabilization, when clinical support needs are highest.
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Individual sessions once or twice a week, alongside group therapy several days a week.
Outpatient and Early Recovery
Most clients continue with weekly or bi-weekly individual sessions for many months after PHP or IOP. Longer engagement is associated with better long-term outcomes.
Your therapist recommends a schedule after your intake assessment, and frequency can go up or down as your needs change.
Individual Therapy vs. Group Therapy for Addiction
Both are evidence-supported parts of comprehensive treatment. They serve different functions and work best together.
| Dimension | Individual Therapy | Group Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Fully confidential, one-on-one | Shared group setting |
| Personalization | Tailored entirely to your history and goals | Structured curriculum for all participants |
| Peer support | Not present in session | A core element, through shared experience |
| Trauma processing | Deep trauma work is possible, such as EMDR and DBT | Focused on skills practice rather than processing |
| Best for | Trauma, co-occurring disorders and complex histories | Social skills, peer accountability and CBT skills practice |
At iRely, individual and group therapy are integrated into one coordinated treatment plan.
Treating Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
Most people seeking addiction treatment have at least one co-occurring condition, most commonly depression, anxiety, PTSD or ADHD. Individual therapy is the main setting for dual diagnosis care because one therapist can address both conditions within a single coordinated relationship.
If you arrive with an undiagnosed condition, your therapist completes a formal assessment and coordinates with our medical team for evaluation and, if appropriate, medication management. Treating the substance use disorder and the co-occurring condition together produces better outcomes than treating either alone.
Insurance Accepted for Individual Therapy in California
California SB 855, effective January 2021, requires commercial health plans to cover substance use disorder treatment, including individual therapy, at the same level as other medical and surgical care. Your insurer cannot apply stricter limits to it than to other medical conditions. Coverage depends on your plan, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
Call 818-869-2112 and we will verify your benefits at no charge and explain what your plan covers before treatment begins. If you have no insurance coverage, ask about self-pay options.
How to Find an Individual Therapist for Addiction in Los Angeles
Licensing and Credentials
Look for a licensed therapist with addiction-specific training, such as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC or certified alcohol and drug counselor. Ask for their California license number and verify it with the state.
Specialization
General therapists may lack substance use training. Ask whether they have experience with your specific substance.
Evidence-Based Modalities
Ask whether they are trained in CBT, motivational interviewing, DBT or EMDR for addiction, not just general talk therapy.
A DHCS-Licensed Facility
In California, addiction treatment facilities should hold a current DHCS license, which sets standards for clinical staffing, protocols and client rights. iRely holds DHCS License #191516AP and is Joint Commission accredited.
Insurance Verification
Confirm the facility can verify your benefits before you commit to a program.
You can call 818-869-2112 at any time to speak with a licensed intake counselor who can assess your needs, verify your insurance and schedule your first appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Therapy for Addiction
What types of individual therapy are used in addiction treatment?
The most commonly used types include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Contingency Management, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP). The right approach depends on your substance use history, co-occurring conditions and recovery goals.
How effective is individual therapy for substance abuse?
Individual therapy is among the best-supported approaches for substance use disorder. A 2023 systematic review found CBT for substance use disorders meets the Society of Clinical Psychology criteria for empirical support, and NIDA’s Principles of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment place counseling and behavioral therapies at the core of effective care.
What happens in individual therapy for addiction?
You meet one-on-one with a licensed therapist. Sessions involve reviewing your substance use patterns and triggers, setting recovery goals, learning coping skills such as thought records or mindfulness exercises, processing underlying trauma and updating your relapse prevention plan. All sessions are confidential.
How often should you attend individual therapy during addiction treatment?
It depends on your level of care. Higher levels of care, such as PHP, involve individual sessions several times a week, IOP involves one or two a week alongside groups, and in ongoing recovery weekly or bi-weekly sessions are common for many months. Your therapist recommends a schedule after your intake assessment.
What is the difference between individual therapy and group therapy for addiction?
Individual therapy offers more privacy and treatment planning tailored to your history. Group therapy provides peer support and social accountability. Most effective programs combine both, and at iRely they are integrated into one coordinated plan.
What qualifications should an addiction therapist have?
Look for a therapist licensed in California with credentials such as LCSW, LMFT, LPCC or certified alcohol and drug counselor. Specialization in substance use disorders and training in evidence-based modalities such as CBT or Motivational Interviewing are further indicators of quality.
Does insurance cover individual therapy for addiction in California?
Yes. California SB 855 requires commercial health plans to cover substance use disorder treatment, including individual therapy, at the same level as other medical and surgical care. iRely Recovery (DHCS License #191516AP) can verify benefits with most major plans. Call 818-869-2112 to check your coverage.
What should I expect in my first individual therapy session for addiction?
Your first session is an intake assessment, not a treatment session. Your therapist asks about your substance use history, any co-occurring conditions, your goals and your support system, with no judgment and no pressure. By the end you have a preliminary treatment plan and a schedule for ongoing sessions.
How long does individual therapy for addiction last?
It depends on your treatment level and recovery goals. During active treatment it runs for the length of the program, and many clients continue with weekly or bi-weekly sessions for months in early recovery to build relapse prevention skills and address underlying trauma. Your therapist will discuss a recommended timeline at intake.
Can individual therapy treat co-occurring mental health disorders with addiction?
Yes. Individual therapy is one of the most effective settings for treating co-occurring mental health disorders alongside addiction, known as dual diagnosis. Our licensed clinical team is trained to provide integrated treatment through evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT and EMDR.
Sources
[1] National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Psychotherapies. Www.nimh.nih.gov; National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies on May 21, 2025
[2] Opland, C., & Torrico, T. J. (2024, October 6). Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Relationship. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK608012/ on May 21, 2025
[3, 4] Yue, H., & Pena, E. (2022). Addiction Psychotherapeutic Care. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587365/ on May 21, 2025
Start One-on-One Therapy for Addiction
Individual therapy is where the most personal and lasting work happens. Call 818-869-2112 to speak with a licensed intake counselor, ask your questions, verify your insurance and schedule your first appointment. We serve the greater Los Angeles area, including the San Fernando Valley, Woodland Hills and Chatsworth.
