Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is part of almost every recovery program because the benefits of CBT for addiction treatment are extensive. If you’re searching for addiction treatment that includes a cognitive-behavioral therapy program, call Vertava Health today at 844.470.0410 and learn more about our addiction treatment services.
What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the present, unlike other therapies that delve into a person’s past. When used to treat substance use disorder, CBT seeks to help patients discover the current thoughts and feelings that have contributed to addiction. Once unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving are identified, the patient and therapist work together to transform negative patterns into positive ones. The benefits of CBT for addiction treatment have been well researched, and CBT is an effective, evidence-based treatment for several mental health disorders, including addiction.
CBT has two main components – functional analysis and skills training. Many people turn to substance use as a way to manage stress or negative emotions. CBT provides an opportunity to analyze that behavior objectively and develop the skills needed to change behaviors that are no longer productive.
Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Addiction Treatment
There are multiple benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy when combined with addiction recovery. Five of the most impactful benefits of CBT and addiction recovery are below:
1. Improves Self-Esteem
Struggling with addiction and all of the complications it can bring to a person’s life can wear away their self-esteem. Low self-esteem may even contribute to substance use in the first place. CBT empowers people by teaching them how to take action and find the solutions to their problems. As patients put the skills they learn in CBT into practice, their confidence and belief in their abilities can grow.
2. Replaces Negative Thought Patterns
People who struggle with mental health disorders like substance use disorder are often stuck in negative patterns of thinking and behaving. Replacing those negative patterns with healthy, new, positive patterns is one of the most notable benefits of CBT for addiction treatment. This skill is a powerful component of long-term recovery success and can continue to provide benefits long after treatment is over.
3. Anger Management
Whether it’s anger at themselves, situations, people who harmed them, or simply anger in general because their current life is not what they want it to be, it is common for people with addiction issues to harbor great amounts of anger. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients how to regulate emotional responses and identify the roots of anger instead of automatically reacting to them.
4. Improving Communication Skills
An inability to communicate effectively makes almost every aspect of life more difficult. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients the skills they need to communicate effectively in personal and professional relationships. CBT therapists help patients find the tools they need to communicate without letting anger or shame get in the way of the important things they need to share.
5. Prevents Relapse
CBT and addiction recovery therapies are all designed to help patients avoid a relapse. Once they leave treatment, patients might find themselves in many situations that trigger the desire to return to use. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches people the skills they need to identify triggers and provides the coping strategies that are necessary for handling stressful situations.
Find Addiction Treatment at Vertava Health
Vertava Health offers a variety of alternative and evidence-based therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy in our addiction treatment programs. We understand that every individual’s path to recovery is different. Our programming is personalized to meet each patient’s needs. We’ll provide them with the support they need to be successful in meeting their wellness goals. We offer cognitive-behavioral therapy alongside other treatment options, including:
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Family therapy
- Couples therapy
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Adventure therapy
Call Vertava Health today at 844.470.0410 if you or someone you care about could benefit from addiction treatment.
