Central Valley Addiction Center
(209) 722-8791
17 East Main Street
Merced CA 95340

Rehab and Insurance Services

Substance abuse treatment services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups: Adolescents, Persons with HIV/AIDS, Gays and Lesbians, Seniors/older adults, Pregnant/postpartum women, Women, Men, Criminal justice clients

Behavioral Couples Therapy

Behavioral couples therapy is a therapy for drug abusers with partners. Behavioral couples therapy uses a sobriety and abstinence contract and behavioral principles to reinforce abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Behavioral couples therapy is additional therapy to individual and group therapy and typically involves 12 weekly sessions, lasting approximately 60 minutes each. Many studies support the efficacy of behavioral couples therapy with alcoholic men and spouses. Four studies support the efficacy of behavioral couples therapy with men and women who use drugs and the significant others. Behavioral couples therapy produces higher treatment attendance, naltrexone adherence and rates of abstinence than individual treatment. Successful behavioral couples therapy also shows fewer legal and family problems after one year. Recent research aims to make behavioral couples therapy more accessible by adapting the delivery of therapy into fewer sessions and in a group format. Research is underway demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and therapy effectiveness according to therapist training.

Start Exercising

Get started! Here are some ideas to help jump start any workout: Take a brisk walk around the block with family, friends or coworkers. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator when it is safe to do so. Mow the lawn. Take an activity break at work or home. Get up, stretch and walk around. Park the car farther away from entrances of stores, movie theaters or home and walk the extra distance when it is safe to do so. Enroll in a level low-impact aerobics or step class.
Build strong muscles and bones with strengthening exercises. Try lifting free weights or using weight machines; using resistance bands; using stability or medicine balls or doing push-ups and abdominal crunches.