Are you or your loved one preparing to enter a drug or alcohol treatment program? If so, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the methods used to support recovery. No matter the nature of the substance problem, these methods may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This option is well-studied, useful in many different situations, and can quickly produce benefits.
Want an in-depth explanation of how our cognitive-behavioral therapy program works? We’re happy to explain what happens in CBT and how you can benefit from it. We’re also your source of outpatient PTSD treatment in the context of substance recovery. Contact us today at 813.686.6306 or online to learn more.
What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is both a method and a category of treatment options. As a method, it’s based on essential principles such as:
The ways you think and behave can harm your mental health
- Your core beliefs about yourself, other people, and the world can have the same effect
- You can get better by learning how to cope with these harmful influences
CBT is also considered its own treatment category because it comes in multiple forms. Each form follows the same basic CBT principles, but it uses these principles in distinct ways to help individuals recover.
Understanding Your CBT Options
These types of CBT are used in substance recovery:
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Exposure therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
The goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy depends on the form of the therapy you receive. For example, DBT has a series of goals. First, you learn how to become mindful of your present situation and tolerate unsettling emotions. Next, you learn how to regulate your emotions and communicate better with others.
Exposure therapy helps you confront situations that you find threatening, distressing, or frightening. By doing this repeatedly with a therapist’s guidance, you can decrease those situations’ control over you. In ACT, you learn how to accept challenging or upsetting situations instead of avoiding them.
These methods are beneficial for drug and alcohol recovery because they undercut the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that often motivate substance use. As a result, they can help individuals understand themselves better and increase their chances of staying sober.
How a CBT Program Works in Practice
Given these facts, you may wonder how a cognitive-behavioral therapy program works. Here’s what you can expect:
- You and your treatment team will choose the best CBT option for you
- Your therapist will explain that option to you
- You’ll participate in treatment under your therapist’s guidance
- Your therapist will provide feedback and track your progress
One of the keys to understanding cognitive-behavioral therapy is its practical focus. Unlike some therapies, CBT isn’t meant to be open-ended. Instead, it’s relatively short-term and designed to produce tangible results sooner rather than later. While enrollment times vary, most people complete the therapy in three to five months.
Explore CBT Today at Sophros Recovery Tampa
Need an outpatient source of CBT during substance rehab? You’ll find it at Sophros Recovery Tampa. We can use this therapy to help you overcome substance problems, as well as the mental health issues that often accompany such problems. To begin your enrollment in one of our customized programs, just call us today at 813.686.6306. You can also reach us through our secure online form. Take the first step toward improved mental health today.
