Dealing with addiction is hard. When an individual is fueled with self-sabotaging thoughts, it is important to seek treatment to change those dangerous patterns. A cognitive behavioral therapy program (CBT) focuses on the massive impact that negative thinking can bring on one’s life and physical health. The experts at Fresh Start Recovery Center use this talk therapy treatment and other addiction treatment therapies to help individuals return to and maintain health.
What Is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program?
Developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, CBT is a program that aims to prevent people who suffer from addiction from having a relapse. Initially, therapists used cognitive behavioral therapy to treat addiction for various substances. However, it has also been used to treat other mental health disorders like anxiety, phobias, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The principles of CBT derive from two approaches of cognitive and behavioral therapy. It uses cognition theories geared towards understanding how participants feel, think, and understand themselves through people and situations around them. Included in this is how they hear, feel, and see. This talk therapy also makes use of behaviorism principles, which highlight how one’s behavior can be modified. Additionally, it is an effective therapy for women in rehab.
Throughout the duration of the program, the therapist’s goal is to help participants identify negative thoughts based on the immediate reaction or impulses from internalized feelings or false beliefs about self-doubt and fear. All these painful feelings can drive someone to abuse alcohol or drugs.
CBT works effectively for addiction since it is considered a pattern behavior that goes against what a person wants to do. While participants trying to overcome this struggle say they want to change their destructive behaviors and genuinely want to quit their vices, it is challenging for them to do so.
How Can a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program Help?
A cognitive behavioral therapy program in Maryland can aid clients in identifying specific feelings and challenges they are dealing with through a structured process that only requires a few sessions.
CBT is beneficial for people who want to address different emotional challenges and uses learning techniques to deal with hard life situations, cope with grief or loss, and prevent relapse. A cognitive behavioral therapy program can also help with a variety of needs, including:
- Overcoming abuse, violence, or trauma
- Treating mental illness without medication
- Resolving conflicts in relationships
- Managing emotions
- Learning how to communicate effectively
- Managing pain and physical symptoms
How CBT Works
There are two main components of CBT. The first step is a functional analysis in which a person discovers and learns about situations that led to their condition. This provides participants a detailed look at the past, which is not intended to shame. Instead, its goal is to let the participant find a way to get out of their destructive pattern.
When the person has identified their reasons for addiction, the therapist will begin skills training. Here, a person develops healthy ways to deal with issues that caused their addiction. Some of these techniques include:
- Assertiveness
- Stress management
- Relaxation
Aside from these purposes, CBT also aims to let the participant understand the negative consequences of alcohol or drugs and teach them ways to monitor themselves. This way, they can identify cravings before they become a problem. When cravings occur, clients will know how to cope with these urges. Therapists also help the participant to avoid high-risk situations and identify what may trigger a relapse.
What You Can Expect from CBT
A cognitive behavioral therapy program in Maryland begins by asking the participant what they want to work on. Typically, they will probe for details about their past and present physical and emotional health so they can better understand the situation. This query will also include the types of medications and therapies the participant has tried in the past and how it has helped them.
Achieve Your Recovery Goals with CBT at Fresh Start Recovery Center
During the entirety of the cognitive behavioral therapy program, it is important to feel comfortable. A Fresh Start Recovery Center ensures participants are paired with a good match helping them maximize the huge potential of this therapy. Contact us today at 833.625.0398 to learn how clients can build the skills they need to succeed.