Behavioral therapy is essential for anyone who is struggling with addiction or other mental health disorders. One of the most widely used types of behavioral therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. Using CBT for addiction is one of the best ways to treat addiction, and it has a long track record of helping people make positive changes in their lives.
At Evoke Wellness, we welcome individuals who abuse drugs and alcohol and want to stop the abuse before causing irreparable harm. Our full-service center includes day and outpatient treatment programs that combine behavioral therapy with medical support and holistic life-skills training. This combination has proven to be very effective in treating all types of addiction, no matter how severe their symptoms are.
To see if our cognitive-behavioral therapy program is right for you or a loved one, call 866.276.1920 today to speak with our knowledgeable team.
What Is Addiction and How Can Behavioral Health Counseling Help?
Addiction is a mental health disorder that affects millions of people’s lives each year. Even those who self-medicate or say things like, “I have everything under control,” are at risk of forming a serious addiction if the abuse is allowed to continue. While there is no permanent cure for addiction, there are several types of behavioral therapies that can teach people how to manage their symptoms and triggers better.
Behavioral health counseling is a form of counseling that helps individuals manage and overcome behavioral issues like substance abuse. It allows therapists to assess and diagnose patients accurately and create a treatment plan that includes group and private therapy sessions.
Behavioral health counseling also includes:
- Crisis interventions
- Addiction education and prevention
- Patient advocacy and support
- Family counseling
One of the best forms of behavioral counseling is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This method involves talking about the underlying issues behind the abuse and focusing on the behaviors it creates. Therapists help patients recognize what triggers their negative behaviors and find new ways of coping. Some coping skills include repeating a personal mantra or going for a run to burn off pent-up frustrations or energy.
The team at Evoke Wellness has experience working with individuals from all walks of life who are struggling with addiction. In addition to using CBT for addiction, treatment programs can include other behavioral therapies, holistic therapy, and medication-assisted treatment.
Using CBT for Addiction
Using cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat addiction is one of the preferred methods for treating all types of addiction, including sex and gambling addictions. If this is your first time participating in behavioral therapy, here is what you can expect when using CBT for addiction recovery:
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Identifying the Problem
One of the first steps in a CBT program is understanding the reasons behind the abuse. In many cases, people don’t know what led to the addiction. Often, it takes working with a trained professional to uncover the original reasons. Some common causes that lead to addiction include:
- Family history of addiction
- Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Peer pressure
- The sudden loss of a loved one
- Poor communication skills
CBT therapists are experts at diving deep into a person’s past and helping them process how past experiences and traumas make them feel and behave.
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Recognizing Triggers
Another important part of building a sober lifestyle is recognizing what triggers cravings for more drugs or alcohol. Therapists will work privately with patients to experience triggering situations or feelings. Consequently, they can develop healthier behaviors to replace the negative ones that are triggered.
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Developing Coping Mechanisms
The final step in using CBT for addiction is to develop healthy coping skills to prevent cravings and triggers from consuming them. While focusing on triggering events, therapists help patients find new ways of coping with those feelings. These coping skills can be anything from talking with a sponsor or close friend, hitting the gym, taking the dog for a walk, or attending a therapy session.
Addiction is a complex disorder to treat. Why? Because each person has different reasons behind the abuse and unique triggers that cause them to continue abusing. If you have tried quitting on your own and relapsed, joining an addiction treatment program can give you the support and confidence you need to reach your recovery goals.
Begin a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program Today at Evoke Wellness
Evoke Wellness in Massachusetts is a full-service addiction treatment center. We use CBT and other behavioral therapies to treat addiction and other mental health disorders. Each treatment program is based on the person’s unique symptoms and causes. It will include medical support to ease withdrawals and cravings. We also teach patients healthy life skills that will promote better mental and physical health along with increasing their desire to stay sober.
Call 866.276.1920 today or use our online content form to start a conversation with our staff about enrolling in our addiction treatment programs.
