Evidence-Based Therapies: The Foundation of Effective Treatment

What is Evidence-Based Therapy?

Evidence-based therapy, also sometimes referred to as evidence-based practice, means that the therapy is a proven approach, offering scientifically-validated methods that have demonstrated real results for countless people on their recovery journey. It is grounded in scientific research and clinical expertise and involves using therapeutic methods and interventions that have been rigorously tested and proven effective through well-designed studies. 

Rather than relying on tradition or personal preference alone, mental health professionals who practice evidence-based therapy draw on the latest research to inform their clinical decisions, ensuring that their patients receive the highest standard of care.

This approach combines three essential components: the best available research evidence, the clinician’s professional expertise, and the client’s unique values and preferences. By integrating these elements, evidence-based therapy offers a personalized yet scientifically sound path to recovery. 

Whether treating anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, or other mental health conditions, this method prioritizes what works—backed by real-world outcomes and peer-reviewed data.

Our treatment center offers a comprehensive suite of evidence-based therapies designed to address the multifaceted nature of addiction and mental health disorders.

What sets our approach apart is how we integrate these proven therapies into a holistic treatment model. Rather than treating addiction or mental health issues in isolation, we address the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. This comprehensive approach recognizes that lasting recovery requires healing across multiple dimensions of wellness.

Our clinical team conducts thorough assessments to determine which evidence-based therapies will best serve your specific needs. We consider factors like your substance use history, co-occurring mental health conditions, previous treatment experiences, and personal preferences to create a truly personalized treatment plan.

Below are examples of evidence-based therapies that may be used to help you on your recovery journey. Keep in mind that the approaches your therapist chooses will be based on your unique situation – not all therapies are appropriate for everyone.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is one of our most powerful therapeutic tools for people struggling with emotional regulation challenges, which often underlie addiction and mental health disorders.

Developed initially for treating borderline personality disorder, DBT has now been shown to help a spectrum of conditions, including substance use disorders and others.

At its core, DBT helps you develop four essential skill sets:

1. Mindfulness: Learning to be fully present in the moment, observing thoughts and feelings without judgment
2. Distress Tolerance: Building capacity to withstand difficult emotions without resorting to harmful behaviors
3. Emotion Regulation: Identifying, understanding, and managing intense emotional responses
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Communicating needs and boundaries while maintaining self-respect and relationships

For those in addiction recovery, DBT offers particularly valuable tools. The mindfulness and distress tolerance components help you recognize and ride out cravings without acting on them. Meanwhile, emotion regulation skills address the emotional triggers that often lead to substance use, and interpersonal effectiveness techniques help repair relationships damaged during active addiction.

Our DBT program includes both individual therapy sessions and group skills training. In individual sessions, you’ll work one-on-one with a trained therapist to apply DBT principles to your specific challenges.

In group settings, you’ll learn and practice DBT skills alongside peers facing similar struggles, creating a supportive community of growth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most extensively researched therapeutic approaches for addiction and mental health treatment. At We Level Up Lake Worth, CBT forms a fundamental component of our evidence-based treatment program.

CBT operates on a simple but powerful premise: our thoughts influence our feelings, which in turn drive our behaviors. By identifying and modifying distorted thinking patterns, we can change harmful behavioral responses—including substance use.

In practical terms, CBT helps you:

• Recognize the negative thought patterns that contribute to your addiction or mental health challenges
• Challenge these thoughts and replace them with more realistic, constructive alternatives
• Develop healthy coping strategies to deal with triggers and cravings
• Build problem-solving skills to navigate life’s challenges without turning to substances

Research consistently demonstrates CBT’s effectiveness in treating substance use disorders. For example, a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that CBT significantly reduced drug use and related problems, with benefits extending well beyond the treatment period.

At our facility, CBT sessions typically follow a structured format. Your therapist will help you identify specific situations that trigger problematic thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

Together, you’ll examine the accuracy of these thoughts and develop more balanced perspectives. Between sessions, you’ll practice applying these new thinking patterns in real-life situations.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing is another evidence-based technique. It is a collaborative, person-centered approach that strengthens your internal motivation for change. Unlike more directive therapies, MI meets you where you are in your readiness for recovery, helping you resolve ambivalence and move forward on your own terms.

At We Level Up Lake Worth, our trained clinicians use MI to help you explore and strengthen your own reasons for changing problematic behaviors. This approach recognizes that genuine, lasting change must come from within—not from external pressure or mandates.

The core principles of MI include:

• Expressing empathy: Your therapist seeks to understand your perspective without judgment
• Developing discrepancy: Helping you see the gap between your current behavior and your broader goals and values
• Rolling with resistance: Working with reluctance rather than confronting it directly
• Supporting self-efficacy: Building confidence in your ability to make positive changes

MI proves particularly valuable during the early stages of treatment when ambivalence about recovery is common. Through skillful questioning and reflective listening, your therapist helps you articulate your own motivations for recovery. This process often reveals personal values and aspirations that can fuel your commitment to change.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful, evidence-based treatment primarily used to help people recover from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—often through guided eye movements—to help the brain reprocess distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. This allows you to move past traumatic experiences without having to relive them in detail.

Extensive research supports the effectiveness of EMDR. Studies have shown that EMDR can significantly reduce trauma-related symptoms, sometimes in fewer sessions than conventional therapies. By helping the brain “unstick” painful memories and reframe them in a healthier context, EMDR offers a path toward lasting emotional healing.

At We Level Up Lake Worth, EMDR is offered as part of our comprehensive approach to trauma-informed care. Our trained therapists use this method to support clients dealing with past abuse, combat-related trauma, grief, and other deeply rooted emotional wounds. EMDR can be particularly helpful for clients who have struggled to find relief through other types of therapy.

For many, EMDR opens the door to healing that once felt out of reach—helping them regain a sense of safety, control, and hope for the future.

Some holistic therapies that may help you on your road to recovery include:

• Mindfulness meditation: Cultivating present-moment awareness to reduce stress and prevent relapse.
• Yoga therapy: Combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to promote physical and mental well-being.
• Recreational therapy: Using physical activities to build confidence, reduce stress, and develop healthy leisure skills.

The synergy between evidence-based and holistic approaches creates a powerful healing environment. For example, the mindfulness skills learned in DBT complement and enhance meditation practices. Similarly, the emotional regulation techniques from CBT support the body-mind connection developed through yoga.