What is cognitive-behavioral therapy? How does it work? Read on to learn more about CBT for addiction therapy at Ripple Ranch Recovery Center.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is one of many types of psychotherapy. You may also know about it as a type of talk therapy. This is because CBT sessions focus on the open conversation between the patient and their therapist. CBT for addiction can be a great asset in recovery.
CBT for addiction is centered around one main idea: the relationship between thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. This type of therapy aims to improve the connection between thoughts and actions to create healthier behaviors and mindsets. It encourages the patient to take a new perspective regarding their mental health.
This means understanding negative self-talk and its harms while fostering better, mind-safe habits. One of the main results of CBT for addiction, as a result, is a healthier mindset and new coping techniques that can be beneficial for addiction.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy has a long history of being studied. As a result, we better understand whether it’s effective. As of now, studies have concluded that CBT for addiction is highly effective.1 One study showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy could lead to a decrease in substance use in as many as 79 percent of patients.2
Recovering from a substance use disorder and addiction is a monumental task. It requires support, willpower, and a desire to recover. This does not, however, change the fact that addiction is a mental disorder. This means there is no single formula for recovery, which will look different for everyone. Slip-ups, mistakes, and even relapses are not uncommon.
This is where relapse prevention becomes important. While all types of treatments focus on preventing relapse, there is a specific treatment called Relapse Prevention (RP). This type of psychotherapy focuses on learning the signs of relapse and triggering situations to continue recovery. Relapse Prevention goes beyond the typical focus of addiction treatment to prepare the patient for life after therapy and rehabilitation.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is regarded as one of the most efficient types of psychotherapy. This includes when dealing with relapse prevention for addiction and substance use disorders. As one of the older types of talk therapy, several hundred studies have been conducted on understanding the benefits of CBT for addiction and how it works.4
Often, when relapse occurs during addiction treatment, it is a coping mechanism that occurs as the result of a trigger. CBT is designed in such a way to help manage these triggers more healthily by reframing past belief patterns. As a result, it can be beneficial in preventing relapse by providing other options for dealing with stress and triggers.
The main goal of CBT is to help cultivate a healthier mindset that better assists you in meeting your goals, whether that’s anger management or relapse prevention. Here are some of the ways that CBT works to make that possible:
As mentioned above, there are several methods utilized in cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, there are also several techniques. Some of the techniques used in CBT for addiction include:
One of the main reasons CBT is so utilized is its many benefits. Some of these may include:
Although CBT is effective, it is still a type of therapy. This means it’s not perfect, and it comes with its pros and cons. While it can be a beneficial treatment option for many people, some may benefit more from a different type of treatment.
Starting cognitive-behavioral therapy can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with the therapy process. However, you won’t need to do it alone with Ripple Ranch Recovery. Our team of certified healthcare professionals is prepared to guide you along your entire CBT journey, from your first session to your last.
Contact us today to learn more about CBT for addiction at Ripple Ranch Recovery or our other services.
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