CBT Techniques that Help with Addiction

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a key component of many addiction treatment plans. CBT techniques are used to help identify self-defeating thoughts and change them. Many individuals with substance abuse disorders suffer from negative thoughts and destructive emotions. CBT is used to change harmful thought patterns so that the client can maintain their sobriety. At Beaches Recovery, CBT is one form of psychotherapy or talk therapy we offer to individuals to help them recover and heal from the disease of addiction. When used in individual or group settings, cognitive-behavioral therapy and other therapies can give individuals the tools they need to lay the foundations for a sober life.

What Are the Benefits of Using CBT Techniques?

Whether a person is struggling with addiction or not, they can often have a negative self-image or erroneous thoughts and feelings about how others see them. This will influence the decisions a person makes and usually for the worse. When addiction takes hold of someone, it can be especially difficult. The strain of these negative conceptions or the effect of drugs or alcohol on perceptions can enflame issues causing serious mental health issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy works to turn this back and aid the individual in cultivating positive mental habits and actions.

CBT techniques are used to explore these behavior patterns and change them for the better. With a therapist, clients work toward identifying harmful patterns. Afterward, they work to change the way they think and act actively. These useful skills help clients handle triggers, stress, and negative emotions after they have left rehab.

Using Therapy to Overcome Cognitive Distortions

In psychology, a cognitive distortion is when someone has a misconception or a flawed perception. During an addiction, patients often suffer from this type of outlook. They may generalize events and think of their past attempts at sobriety as a pattern of failure. Some patients think that their life can only be viewed in clearly defined, all-or-nothing categories. Other people suffer from a cognitive distortion where they focus too much on the negatives in life.

All of these thought patterns can be changed through conscious effort. The CBT techniques used in psychotherapy allow patients to recognize their negative thoughts consciously. Through these techniques, patients can learn how drug abuse played a role in their life and their motivations. At Beaches Recovery, cognitive-behavioral therapy isn’t the only therapeutic option available. Some of our other therapies include:

• Equine-assisted therapy
• EMDR therapy
• Family therapy
• Mindfulness-based treatment
• Nutrition therapy
• Trauma therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Yoga therapy

Techniques for Conquering an Addiction

Other than CBT, rehab centers may also use other techniques to support the patient’s recovery. Some of these therapeutic options include:

• Assertiveness training to help with relationship
• Addiction education to help spot triggers and cravings
• Relaxation training to reduce stress, anxiety, and negative emotions.
• Dual diagnosis treatment to care for co-occurring disorders
• Cognitive restructuring to help change thought patterns
• Yoga, music, or art therapy to help improve coping skills

Many people use drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with negative emotions. When they become sober, it is important to find new, healthy ways to handle negative emotions. Treatment options like yoga and meditation help to provide an outlet for stress and anxiety.

Do Rehab Centers Offer Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

As one of the leading therapy treatment options, CBT is offered by rehabs across the country. Before entering a facility, patients can discuss the types of treatments that they would like to have. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a common treatment because of its effectiveness in treating addiction.

In addition to a drug problem, some patients also have a mental disorder. For these patients, dual diagnosis treatment can help. Once the patient has a diagnosis, CBT can be used for treating the addiction and the co-occurring disorder.

Discover How Beaches Recovery Can Help

While conquering an addiction is not always easy, you can do it. With the right support, you can begin your journey toward sobriety. At Beaches Recovery, we offer therapeutic approaches like CBT across all our programs, which include:

• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Outpatient treatment
• Sober living program
• Aftercare program
• Alumni programs

All of our programs are designed to meet the specific needs of clients. So take the first step on your journey, call Beaches Recovery now at 866.605.0532, or contact us online.