Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction

What is cognitive behavioral therapy? Having emerged in the 1960s, it works on a variety of mental health concerns, both psychiatric and non-psychiatric: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, personality disorders, and more. When used in combination with psychotropic medications, cognitive behavioral therapy can reinforce the benefits of those prescription drugs. 

CBT works on so many conditions because it targets thought processes. With the help of a therapist, the patient is able to modify their thinking to move in a healthier and more positive direction. It also gives the patient actionable strategies for creating a productive daily routine. 

Although it can’t cure chemical imbalance, CBT gives patients the ability to live with a mental or emotional disorder. 

How Therapy Works On Addiction 

Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches patients healthy coping mechanisms. If addiction is the unhealthy coping mechanism, CBT can target the reasons for using drugs in the first place. 

Similar to treating a virus using antibiotics rather than treating the symptoms using a decongestant, therapy for addiction targets the underlying cause of the addiction. However, since CBT is relevant in so many different cases, it can apply to many different struggles and life experiences. 

Thought Examination 

One of the central concepts behind CBT is that the therapist can coach a patient toward deeper self-reflection so they can better understand their belief system and to more easily put feelings into words. This thought examination opens the door to the potential for behavioral reprogramming.

By assessing and evaluating thoughts and emotions, those suffering from substance use disorder are able to reframe their day-to-day life, reducing the need for coping mechanisms like drugs or alcohol.

Behavioral Modification

CBT helps patients replace maladaptive coping strategies with new ways to react to painful situations. 

In therapy, patients work with their therapists to achieve a healthier and more positive self-concept. This is important because it allows patients to be prepared in the event of a slip or relapse. 

A therapist can guide SUD patients to the right solutions given their circumstances. Just as importantly, the therapist holds the patient accountable for using the tools learned in therapy. 

Adjusting Routine 

People with mood disorders usually have poor coping skills. For these individuals, cognitive behavioral therapy is a path to healthier habits. 

For example, a therapist might suggest making more time for hobbies since this could afford an occasional reprieve from anxiety or other emotional difficulties. This often allows the subject to curb his or her compulsion to self-medicate. 

Why Use CBT for Addiction Treatment? 

Contrary to common belief, cognitive behavioral therapy can be applied to much more than mood disorders. Time and again, CBT has proven to be just as effective for combating addiction. 

Targeting the Source of the Behavior 

If it’s not clear by this point, cognitive behavioral therapy is a very goal-oriented, or solution-focused, form of psychotherapy. With substance abuse treatment necessitating a more individualized approach to support, CBT provides that much-needed flexibility and versatility.

Using CBT, a therapist works with the SUD patient to identify the root cause(s) of the alcohol or drug-seeking behavior. From there, the goal is to develop strategies for the patient to be able to divert his or her own drug-seeking behavior to more productive alternatives.

Consistency

According to a study, 60 percent of addiction patients who receive CBT are still sober one year later. Considering data also indicates that as much as 60 percent of patients relapse after treatment, one must conclude that CBT is a powerful weapon in any drug rehab’s arsenal. 

Comorbid Disorders

Since it’s proven effective for mental disorders as well as substance use disorder, it should come as no surprise that CBT is frequently used to treat SUD patients with comorbid, or co-occurring, diagnoses. 

Depression, anxiety, and trauma can all lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like over-drinking. Similarly, substance abuse changes the brain’s chemical and hormonal composition. Thus, CBT is a lot like hitting two birds with a single stone. 

Specialized Therapy for Addiction 

There are many ways that therapists can adjust their treatments to suit their patients. and drug recovery facilities can adapt the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to better benefit their programs. 

Relapse Prevention Training

Cognitive behavioral therapy facilitates reflection and introspection so that patients can more easily recognize signs of an impending relapse triggers. From here, the patient can leverage an existing plan or strategy to overcome the temptation. 

For example, a patient might diligently avoid environments in which there are opportunities to drink alcohol. Through coaching and other techniques, the patient is able to practice distancing themselves from drugs and alcohol. 

Social Support

Support groups attract thousands of people each year for a reason; these programs, including SMART recovery, emphasize emotional management and the development of cognitive tools to steer the internal monologue in a healthier direction. 

Some people learn coping mechanisms better one on one. Others learn better from a group. 

Plans like these combine CBT methods with popular peer support programs to create tailored systems meeting unique needs. 

SoberMind Recovery Gets Patients the Support They Need

There are plenty of inpatient programs in Los Angeles, but there’s only one SoberMind Recovery. 

Whether you or a loved one needs group or solo therapy, medication or thought processing, or just more information, we have you covered. Help us in our continued campaign against the destruction of addiction by staying up-to-date with SoberMind on social media.