What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
On the journey to recovery from addiction and co-occurring mental health concerns, many different therapeutic approaches may be utilized. From group therapy sessions that help clients build a supportive recovery community to individual sessions that focus on one’s own journey, a range of therapeutic approaches can assist individuals in their healing process. One approach that is found to be especially helpful in recovery is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Learning more about what cognitive-behavioral therapy is and how it can help you on your journey to recovery can help you prepare for your treatment.
Early intervention is key to successful recovery, and learning what CBT is right away can help you understand how it will benefit you on your path to healing. Reach out to Tree House Recovery at 910.812.1728 today for more information about cognitive-behavioral therapy and how it can help you in your recovery.
An Overview of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps participants modify their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. It is based on the idea that people can become aware of their thoughts and behaviors, which can be changed in order to achieve positive results. CBT is also an evidence-based therapy, meaning that it has been scientifically tested and proven to be effective in treating individuals with mental health and substance abuse concerns.
CBT is focused on the present and emphasizes problem-solving to help participants learn how to better manage their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. In CBT sessions, participants are taught skills such as:
- Relaxation techniques – Chronic stress and anxiety can be triggers for addiction. CBT teaches participants how to use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, in order to manage stress and anxiety.
- Cognitive restructuring – Cognitive restructuring is a technique used to help participants identify and challenge negative thoughts, or “thinking errors,” and replace them with more positive ones.
- Challenging maladaptive behaviors – Clients learn how to recognize maladaptive behaviors and develop techniques to challenge and change them.
CBT has been found to be especially helpful in treating addiction, as it helps patients understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can help them gain insight into why they act in certain ways, how to recognize and manage triggers, and how to develop new, healthier coping skills.
How CBT Fits into an Addiction Treatment Program
CBT can be an effective tool when used as part of an overall treatment plan. At Tree House Recovery, we believe that a comprehensive treatment program should incorporate individual and group therapies, such as CBT, with other evidence-based practices.
One of the great benefits of CBT is that it can be used both in individual and group therapy sessions. In an individual session, the therapist will work one-on-one with the client to develop and practice skills. In a group session, participants can learn from each other as they discuss their experiences and practice the skills they have learned.
At Tree House Recovery, we understand that recovery is more than just addiction treatment. We believe in taking a holistic approach to healing and use a variety of therapeutic approaches to best meet the needs of our clients. We integrate cognitive-behavioral therapy into our program to help clients learn how to manage their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
Call Tree House Recovery to Get Started
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you heal. Reach out to Tree House Recovery today to find out more about how CBT can help you on your recovery journey. We are here for you and are committed to helping you find the path to long-term recovery. Call us today at 910.812.1728 or reach out online for more information.