Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Addiction

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Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Addiction

Cognitive behavior therapy most often comes to mind in conjunction with the treatment of mental disorders, anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression. However, it has also proven valuable as part of a treatment and recovery plan for addiction. The same coping principles used to treat other disorders are also effective in helping the recovering addict learn to abstain from alcohol or drugs.

How Cognitive Behavior Therapy Works

Cognitive behavior therapy focuses on a person’s thought processes. It is structured around the idea that a person’s thoughts are the cause of certain feelings and behaviors, rather than the environment they live in. Thus, behaviors such as alcohol or drug addiction are not influenced so much by people, events, or situations. With this being the case, cognitive behavior therapists believe that you can overcome drug or alcohol addiction by changing your thought process.

Those struggling with alcohol or drug addiction and using cognitive behavior therapy as a part of their treatment plan are taught to recognize triggers. These triggers are the situations and circumstances in which they are most likely to indulge in addictive behaviors. By learning to avoid these circumstances and also to cope with other problems, addicts are able to abstain.

Cognitive behavior therapy consists of two essential components – functional analysis and skills training. During functional analysis, you will work with your therapist to determine what thoughts, feelings, and situations were present both before and after you indulged in alcohol or drug abuse. It helps to identify risk factors that may lead to a relapse while also giving you insight into why you might abuse drugs or alcohol.

Skills training is used to help you unlearn unhealthy habits while developing new healthier habits that will help you to abstain from drug or alcohol abuse. The ultimate goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach you to new ways to cope with situations and circumstances that triggered destructive behavior in the past.

In most cases, cognitive behavior therapy is a goal oriented process and usually only lasts from 12 to 16 sessions with a therapist.

Is Cognitive Behavior Therapy Effective?

Studies have shown that cognitive behavior therapy is most effective when used in conjunction with other treatment methods for alcohol and drug abuse, such as support groups. Since cognitive behavior therapy focuses on eliminating destructive thought patterns and habits, it will likely be beneficial in helping to overcome drug or alcohol abuse, even if only in some small way. It is definitely more effective than no treatment at all. However, it may not work well for everyone. For this reason, it is important to work with a professional to develop the most effective course of action for dealing with alcohol or drug addiction.

Copyright 2010 C.King, M.Ed. Sober Sources Network