Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Addiction Treatment

Helping You Build The Skills To Do Something Different

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been used to treat everything from anxiety to bipolar disorder and is also commonly used to treat addiction. It helps patients recognize how their thoughts and actions can contribute to their behaviors and addiction(s).

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How Does CBT Help with Addiction Treatment?

The goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is to activate behavior change and help you learn to do something different. CBT helps those struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) to find connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions and increase awareness of how these things impact recovery. When harmful behavior patterns are uncovered, you gain the clarity and confidence needed to cultivate new, healthier patterns and build a sober future.

What Does CBT For Substance Abuse Look Like?

Goal-Oriented Talking

Cognitive-behavior therapy is a goal-oriented talking therapy that focuses on the cycle of how our thoughts impact our feelings and, in turn, our actions. By analyzing your beliefs about the world, CBT disrupts catastrophizing and self-sabotaging coping behaviors to develop new thought patterns for positive feelings and healthier actions.

Harmful Pattern Recognition

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on changing the automatic negative thoughts that can contribute to and worsen emotional difficulties, depression, and anxiety. These spontaneous negative thoughts have a detrimental influence on mood.

Creating New Patterns

Through CBT, these thoughts are identified, challenged, and replaced with more objective, realistic thoughts. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, this CBT cognitive restructuring has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications.

Skill Building

During a CBT session, you will participate in practical coping skills training and abstinence strategies to help you manage cravings, cope with stress, improve communication, and build stronger relationships. These are skills that last a lifetime and have the potential to improve every arena of life.

Ready To Do Something Different?

Each new day is a fresh opportunity to make a life-altering change and improve your quality of life. We want to help you identify the underlying challenges to recovery and better understand yourself so you can finally live the life you were always meant to live. Call today to get started and learn more about BHC.

What Are Some Examples of CBT Coping Skills?

People who participate in CBT for substance abuse are learning to find alternatives to replace the time spent on their addiction. For example, after a stressful day, someone with a substance use disorder may turn to alcohol or drug use to relax and take the edge off.

With CBT for substance abuse, you will learn how to reframe those thoughts and habits and seek out healthier alternatives like taking a long walk or playing a video game to relieve stress. Other examples of CBT coping skills include:

Journaling: Writing down your feelings or something that triggered negative thoughts. You can also keep track of how you’re feeling during your addiction recovery.
Activity scheduling: If there’s something that you’ve been avoiding because it’s stressing you out, putting it on your calendar will make you more likely to do it. Once you’re able to accomplish this task, you can remove the stressor.
Meditation: Your counselor can help you learn some techniques to meditate and practice mindfulness when you start feeling overwhelmed, helping to combat addictive behaviors.
Physical fitness: Physical exercise is a powerful tool in recovery. It produces beta-endorphins, dopamine, and other exercise-induced reward pathways, similar to substances.[1] Studies also show that physical fitness practices have the potential to reduce withdrawal and cravings, prevent relapse, and enhance mood.
Relaxation: Different from plopping in front of the TV, CBT relaxation techniques help you physically and mentally relax your mind and your body through deep breathing, grounding exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and more.

How Can CBT For Addiction Help Me?

CBT interventions are considered a first-line treatment for substance or alcohol use disorder and are associated with a wide range of benefits, including the following:[2]

Reduced Substance Use: Treatment programs that incorporate this evidence-based behavioral health psychotherapy have been shown to help others use alcohol or substances less in life.
Long-Term Sobriety: 60% of patients in this study participated in CBT as part of formal substance abuse treatment and provided negative drug screening results 1 year later.
Enhanced Quality of Life: This is one of the strongest benefits of CBT for addiction, the psychosocial improvement in every area of life. As you learn the relapse prevention coping strategies and problem-solving skills associated with CBT, you can apply them to every scenario, not just substance use, and improve how you function every day.

If your counselor determines that CBT would be an effective treatment option, you’ll be able to participate in CBT as part of your inpatient rehab treatment. Our staff will be able to develop a treatment plan using CBT to help with your recovery.

Your Foundation For Lasting Recovery

Brooks Healing Center is just an hour and a half away from central cities like Nashville and Chattanooga. You will be close to city comforts yet separate enough from the real world so you can heal in peace. Our facility is tucked against the meditative and calming backdrops of luscious green fields. You will find yourself in a relaxing and supportive environment that helps you leave the pressures of your life behind as you take your first steps on the road to recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Addiction Treatment

Is CBT Effective for Substance Use Disorder?

Absolutely. CBT is the gold standard of addiction and behavioral health treatment across the board. More than 53 randomized clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy and success of CBT for substance abuse.[3] At Brooks Healing Center, we pair this evidence-based therapy with powerful community support and practical, hands-on guidance from our compassionate staff to offer the best possible experience.

How long does CBT typically take to treat addiction?

The treatment timeline for each person varies based on their unique needs and individualized treatment plans. BHC patients are typically on-site for 30-45 days with weekly or more therapy sessions and access to ongoing treatment resources.

Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques be applied to treat addiction on my own, or do I need a therapist?

Without a therapist, CBT is just isolated information. The intention of rehab and therapy is to build connection, support, and accountability along with practical coping skills. That is the true power of addiction treatment programs.

Sources

[1]Linke, S. E., & Ussher, M. (2015, January). Exercise-based treatments for substance use disorders: Evidence, theory, and practicality. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4831948/

[2]McHugh, R. K., Hearon, B. A., & Otto, M. W. (2010, September). Cognitive behavioral therapy for Substance Use Disorders. The Psychiatric clinics of North America. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2897895/

[3]Magill, M., Kiluk, B. D., & Ray, L. A. (2023, February 19). Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol and other drug use disorders: Is a one-size-fits-all approach appropriate?. Substance abuse and rehabilitation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9948631/

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