Top Benefits Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

If you have sought addiction treatment, you have probably heard about the importance of therapy. Addiction affects not just your body but also your mind — and moreover, it stems from both mental and physiological factors.

You may have heard the term cognitive behavioral therapy when researching different therapies. Cognitive behavioral therapy — often abbreviated to CBT — is a unique therapy method designed to help people change their thoughts and habits. To do this, therapists work with individuals to help them understand their motivations, identify their triggers, and make intentional changes.

CBT has become an effective method when it comes to treating addictive behaviors. Read on to learn about cognitive behavioral therapy in addiction treatment and how it may benefit you!

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychological method designed to help people rework their thought patterns. While it is often used to help individuals work through depression, anxiety, and negative self-image, it has also increasingly been used for those with substance abuse disorders.

It is usually used in tandem with other therapies as a way to support them. While there was initially some skepticism about CBT, more addiction experts are accepting it now as an effective supporting therapy method in treating addiction.

CBT is based on teaching patients to relearn unhealthy or unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. In many ways, it places power in the hands of the person receiving therapy. Attendees are encouraged to work with their therapist as a member of a team rather than a patient receiving instruction.

How Does It Work?

Cognitive behavioral therapy works through a few key insights. To start, your therapist will break the process down into small parts so you can focus on one at a time. This aims to help seemingly overwhelming challenges become more manageable.

Secondly, you will work to identify negative thoughts or behavior patterns. Your therapist may help you process why you react to a situation in a certain way. The goal is to understand why something triggers you and what negative behavior tends to be the response.

Lastly, you will develop more positive lines of thinking to “replace” the negative ones. The goal is to “retrain” your thought patterns by deliberately identifying negative self-talk and replacing it with something healthier and more productive.

What Are The Benefits?

There are several key benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy, especially when it comes to treating addiction. Some of these will vary from person to person. It’s important to remember that everyone has different experiences. For this reason, this therapy may work for one person and not another.

It Puts Power In The Hands Of The Person Receiving Therapy

Many people develop addictive behaviors as a way of coping with a lack of control. They might feel depressed, powerless, or unable to cope with certain situations in their life. Abusing drugs or alcohol can help give them a temporary sense of being in control.

Of course, this feeling isn’t sustainable or healthy. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps provide that same sense of control and power in a productive and healthy way. In other words, individuals get to make their own decisions about how they respond to old thought patterns that once controlled them.

It Is Highly Adaptable

Many people have cited cognitive behavioral therapy as a helpful tool to avoid relapses. CBT, by its nature, is designed to change thought patterns by identifying negative habits and intentionally changing them. In this way, it’s a very versatile therapy. It can be used in a wide variety of situations. Many people find that it helps them navigate back toward healthier thinking when they are tempted to relapse.

It Can Be Used Alongside Other Therapies

If you’re trying to navigate sobriety, you might feel overwhelmed by the number of therapy options. Some people try a holistic method, while others use medication to assist their emotional health during recovery. The truth is that there are many good therapies out there, and it’s all a matter of finding the one that works best for you.

One of the top benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy is that it is made to be used as a support for other therapies and treatments. Because it is so versatile, it can be one helpful tool among many — providing extra support when needed. In fact, most people find CBT beneficial when used in conjunction with other treatments. However, it has also been shown to be helpful as a standalone treatment, too.

Learning About Yourself

Cognitive behavioral therapy is all about learning why you are drawn to negative behaviors and how to change them. You’ll need to understand your thought patterns, triggers, and coping mechanisms to do this.

But it’s not all about reliving traumatic experiences — it’s also an opportunity to learn about yourself in more hopeful ways. CBT aims to replace destructive behaviors with good ones, which means learning about coping mechanisms that speak to your strengths.

Identification of Risks

CBT helps people identify the risks to their sobriety by noticing patterns in their thoughts and behaviors. By identifying risky scenarios, such as spending time with friends who use drugs, people can more easily avoid them. CBT also encourages not just avoiding bad thoughts or patterns but replacing them with healthy ones. This helps provide individuals with an “action plan” when they are feeling vulnerable.

Long-Term Benefits

Because of how cognitive behavioral therapy adapts to various situations, it can provide long-term benefits. In other words, there is no end date. You can use the tools you learn in CBT to help you for many years, regardless of how your circumstances change!

Will CBT Help You Stay Sober?

This is a broad question for a complex topic. CBT might help you stay sober by adding a tool to your arsenal of coping mechanisms. It might be a helpful, supportive therapy in addition to other methods.

Ultimately, there is no way to give a universal answer to such a question. We can only say that some people find CBT very helpful in teaching them new thought patterns. If it is a therapy method that speaks to you, it may very well provide support in your journey to long-term sobriety.

Choosing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Your Addiction Treatment

There are many benefits to CBT, and these can help people in countless different scenarios. At Inner Voyage Recovery, we offer CBT alongside many other therapy options. We’ll help you find the plan that’s right for your needs — no matter where you are on your journey to sobriety. Contact Inner Voyage Recovery at (470) 523-4606. We can meet with you for a free, confidential consultation at our Woodstock, GA, location to verify your insurance and determine the best course of action to help you overcome your addiction.