Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Review from the Fields of Education and Psychological Counselling

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder is a chronic and recurrent public health condition that adversely affects individuals' physical, psychological, and social functioning. Therefore, adopting comprehensive, biopsychosocial, and evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches is essential for effective treatment and long-term recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate current psychotherapeutic approaches for alcohol use disorder from the perspectives of education and psychological counselling and to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the available scientific evidence. This study was conducted as a narrative literature review. Contemporary research and seminal theoretical literature on the principal psychotherapeutic approaches used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder were critically and comparatively examined, and the available evidence was synthesized through a thematic framework. The reviewed literature indicates that cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement therapy, relapse prevention–based interventions, third-wave psychotherapies, twelve-step and group-based interventions, as well as family and couples therapy make substantial contributions to reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining abstinence, and preventing relapse. However, the available evidence also demonstrates that no single psychotherapeutic approach is universally effective for all individuals. Treatment outcomes appear to be more favorable when psychotherapeutic interventions are individualized according to patients' clinical characteristics, motivational readiness, comorbid conditions, and social support systems. In conclusion, individualized, integrated, and evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions should be regarded as fundamental components of alcohol use disorder treatment. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the integration of evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches into educational and psychological counselling services may contribute to early intervention, psychoeducation, and timely referral processes for individuals at risk of, or experiencing, alcohol use disorder.