Cognitive Behavioral Therapy


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy also commonly abbreviated as CBT is one form of psychotherapy that modifies dysfunctional behaviors, thoughts, and emotions but treating issues and boosting happiness. CBT has been used since creation by Dr. Aaron T. Beck in the 1960’s. The modality is solution focused, and encourages individuals to change their destructive behavioral patterns in order to live a happy and healthy life.

Similar to a mindfulness approach, CBT is based on the idea that an individual’s perceptions and thoughts influence their behaviors. If thought patterns and reactions to these thought patterns are changed, then the outcome to these situations are able to change as well.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be used for all age groups, from children to mature adults.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Addiction Treatment

CBT is not only used in addiction treatment but also has been successful when dealing with a number of different mental health disorders including: anxiety, major depressive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders and more. CBT can be used on a one on one basis and also in group settings.

One of the main goals behind CBT for addiction is to change the way an individual thinks through effectively talking through problems and challenges. At The Best Treatment Center we encourage all of our guests to implement all the ideas they use in any of their therapeutic programs into day to day life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is meant to be continuously used far after their addiction treatment program is complete. This therapeutic method teaches guests to find the connections between their actions, thoughts and feelings by showing them how this can impact their overall mood. We see great success in CBT when it comes to providing guests the tools they need for relapse prevention.

How Does CBT Work in Addiction Recovery?

By having a guest take a look at their thoughts, feelings, and actions under the care of a primary therapist or group facilitator it gives the guest to see sometimes they are not thinking in a logical or rational manner.

CBT was created to show individuals the power that thoughts have. If a guestautomatically turns to negative thoughts, it often comes from a misconception and feelings of fear and self-doubt. When these thoughts, feelings, and actions take over an individual’s mind- their only thought is to self-medicate to reduce the pain that is being associated with the feelings. This is how an addiction can form. In CBT the individual is taught to revisit the painful memory so that in time, it does not trigger those same negative thoughts. There are many new behaviors we teach our guests to encourage a logical and positive reaction to any of the negative thoughts, actions or behaviors. These are the tools they are able to bring with them as they continue life living clean and sober.

Recognize

Avoid

Cope

These are three main ideas that should be taken into consideration when trying to manage triggers. A trigger is a instance where the drug user experiences a craving, triggers can cause drug users or even recovering drug users to return to drug use after they have tried to get sober or have been sober. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is great for helping recovering addicts to work through their triggers by breaking down the situation and using logic.

Recognize:

Know the situation, thoughts, and feelings that cause the want to use drugs or alcohol.

Avoid:

Staying away from anything that could cause a return to use incident.

Cope:

Use the techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to ensure there is no temptation to turn to abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Another great idea that CBT teaches a guest is communication skills. Verbalizing the emotions and reaction to feelings is a great coping mechanism for those who are suffering from negative thoughts.

All the practices associated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be used during a recovering addiction time at The Best Treatment Center, during home-life, and also for the rest of their life. Once we teach guests this method, they can take it with them as they successfully integrate back into society. We see many aspects of our therapeutic programs here at The Best Treatment integrate aspects of CBT in other areas of healing.

To learn more about our Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program here at The Best Treatment Center, give us a call today:

Call us:   1-888-4TBTNOW

Client Testimonials