Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, puts you in the driver seat of your recovery. This addiction treatment approach focuses on reversing negative patterns and harmful thoughts. Besides substance use disorders, it can also address depression, anxiety and other disorders. Below, we discuss how CBT works to break your addiction’s hold on you. At Hickory Recovery Network, we use this methodology as part of our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs.
How Does CBT Work?
Over time, cognitive behavioral therapy can actually change the way you think and feel, However, it doesn’t happen overnight. Many studies indicate the effectiveness of this approach to addiction treatment.
Here’s a step-by-step look at how CBT works:
- Identify troubling elements in your life. This can include recent events such as the death of a loved one or a divorce or the cumulative effects of illness or mental health disorders. You will work with your therapist to identify goals to focus on during your recovery.
- Gain aware of your emotions and thoughts, as well as your beliefs. By finding problem areas to work on, you can learn how to think and act in a more positive manner. A lot of this involves how you conduct internal conversations, referred to as self-talk. Your therapist may suggest art therapy or journal keeping as a way to record your progress.
- Identify inaccurate thinking. By recognizing how you think and relating that to your behavior, you can identify erroneous thought patterns. By paying attention to your emotional and physical state, you gradually discover how they affect your behavior.
- Reshape negative thinking. This is a critical step, in which you work with your therapist to record inaccurate perceptions. This is also one of the hardest parts of cognitive behavioral therapy. You may have longstanding habits and deep-rooted beliefs that you will have to shake up in order to support your recovery.
Advantages of CBT
Research indicates that CBT gives you skills that you can use to continue your long-term recovery. By combining CBT with medication and other therapies, you can increase your chances of lifelong sobriety and clean living.
The skills you learn in cognitive behavioral therapy will help you in all aspects of your life. Most importantly, they will help you deal with cravings and triggers so that you can remain true to your reclaimed life.
CBT for Addiction Treatment in Indiana
Hickory Treatment Centers has many locations in Indiana to enable you to find the right program for you. Isn’t it time to focus on what’s really important and learn how to avoid a relapse by replacing drugs and alcohol use with something more positive?
Contact us today for more information on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Indiana.
