Toolbox — For Training and Youth Work
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Manual
Experiential Therapy - A brief guide for professionals
A professional guide for using experiential therapy in addiction treatment, offering theory, practical techniques (e.g., art, role-play, psychodrama), and session examples.
Aims of the tool
- Understand core principles of experiential therapy and how they apply to addiction recovery.
- Identify and apply various experiential techniques (e.g., Gestalt therapy, psychodrama, creative writing, mindfulness, and adventure therapy).
- Develop practical skills through scenario-based examples for individual and group therapy sessions.
- Tailor interventions to specific cultural contexts
- Enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience in clients through experiential methods.
- Critically assess misconceptions and barriers to using experiential therapy.
- Integrate experiential therapy effectively into broader treatment plans alongside conventional methods (e.g., CBT).
Description of the tool
This tool is an educational guide for professionals using experiential therapy in addiction treatment. Developed within the EU-funded AddictionSTOP project, it offers both theoretical frameworks and hands-on tools to help therapists integrate experiential approaches, such as art therapy, role-playing, guided imagery, animal-assisted therapy, and other creative or action-based modalities, into their practice. It provides an in-depth understanding of how experiential therapy can address the emotional, psychological, and relational roots of addiction, offering adaptable techniques for both individual and group settings. This tool equips psychologists, social workers, and addiction professionals with comprehensive resources to enrich therapeutic practice, foster emotional healing, enhance client engagement, and support sustainable recovery through embodied, emotional, and interactive experiences.
Available downloads:
Disclaimer
SALTO cannot be held responsible for the inappropriate use of these training tools. Always adapt training tools to your aims, context, target group and to your own skills! These tools have been used in a variety of formats and situations. Please notify SALTO should you know about the origin of or copyright on this tool.
Tool overview
http://toolbox.salto-youth.net/4981
This tool addresses
Social Inclusion
Behind the tool
The tool was created by
World Society Builders gGmbH, GESEME, Union of Women Associations of Heraklion
The tool was published to the Toolbox by
Thomas Savvakis (on 30 June 2025)
and last modified
29 June 2025
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