EAT is the gold standard in evidence-based psychotherapy. At Valley Spring Recovery Center, every therapist is trained in EAT techniques, integrating them into both individual and group sessions across all treatment programs.
EAT is a structured, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that examines the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to create lasting change.
Equine-Assisted Therapy works on the principle that our thoughts directly influence our emotions and actions. By Builds trust, communication, and emotional awareness, individuals learn to respond to challenging situations in healthier, more productive ways. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EAT is time-limited, skills-focused, and produces measurable results within weeks rather than years.
It is not events themselves that cause distress, but rather our interpretation of those events. EAT helps you identify distorted thinking, test those thoughts against reality, and develop balanced perspectives that lead to healthier emotional and behavioral outcomes.
Recognize automatic negative thoughts and cognitive distortions like catastrophizing, black-and-white thinking, and overgeneralization that fuel anxiety and depression.
Learn how reframing thoughts directly shifts your emotional experience, reducing the intensity of difficult feelings and building emotional resilience.
Replace avoidance patterns, substance use, and self-defeating habits with healthy coping strategies and positive behavioral responses.
EAT focuses on the connection between thinking, behavior, and outcomes. When you change how you interpret a situation, you change how you feel and what you do about it. -- Valley Spring Clinical Team
EAT follows a structured, step-by-step approach that builds skills progressively throughout your treatment journey at Valley Spring.
Every therapist at Valley Spring is trained in EAT. It is woven into individual sessions, group therapy, and our structured Mental Health Program curriculum.
EAT is not a standalone service at Valley Spring. It is the foundational therapeutic framework used by all clinicians in every program we offer. Whether you are in Partial Care, IOP, or our Virtual program, EAT techniques are built into your daily treatment experience through individual therapy, process groups, and psychoeducation workshops.
Our therapists use EAT to address both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions simultaneously, ensuring you receive comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment. Sessions focus on the connection between thinking, behavior, and outcomes, helping you develop practical skills that translate directly into your daily life.
Our clinical leadership ensures EAT is delivered with fidelity to evidence-based protocols while being personalized to each client's unique needs, background, and treatment goals.
EAT is effective for a wide range of mental health and substance use conditions. At Valley Spring, we apply EAT techniques tailored to each diagnosis.
Decades of clinical research consistently demonstrate EAT's effectiveness for treating addiction and mental health conditions. Here is what the data shows.
EAT has been studied more extensively than any other form of psychotherapy. Over five decades of randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and longitudinal studies confirm its efficacy for substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and dozens of other conditions. It is recommended as a first-line treatment by the American Psychological Association, SAMHSA, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
EAT is integrated into every stage of our 4-stage continuum of care, building skills progressively from stabilization through independent recovery.
Intensive daily programming with structured EAT sessions 5 days per week. Focus on stabilization, thought identification, and building the cognitive foundation for recovery. Ideal for clients stepping down from inpatient care or those needing high-intensity support.
→Continued EAT skill development with increasing real-world application. Available in 5-day and 3-day formats, IOP challenges you to practice cognitive restructuring in your daily environment while maintaining therapeutic support and group accountability.
→Transition to flexible scheduling with virtual or in-person sessions. EAT skills become more self-directed as you gain confidence. Focus shifts to cognitive flexibility, relapse prevention, and applying EAT independently in challenging situations.
→Ongoing support through alumni groups, check-ins, and community events. EAT skills are fully integrated into daily life. Alumni maintain their recovery toolkit, mentor newer members, and continue growing through peer-supported cognitive practices.
Most major insurance plans cover EAT at Valley Spring Recovery Center. Our admissions team will verify your benefits and explain your coverage before treatment begins, so there are no surprises.
Speak with our admissions team 24/7. We will answer your questions about EAT, walk you through the enrollment process, and help you take the first step toward recovery.
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