Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is intended to prevent relapse to drug addiction while in recovery. The therapeutic technique has been in use for many years and focuses on exploring, learning, analyzing, and understanding the psychology and behavioral patterns of oneself. Its aim is to help a recovering addict find new perspective on his own addictive behaviors in order to understand why he behaves the way he does. Once an addicted patient fully understands his own behavior and motives, he can learn to identify and anticipate future triggers in order to avoid succumbing to cravings.
CBT gets to the root of the issue preventing an individual from achieving permanent recovery and appeals to their own logic to take them there. The recovering addict in rehab already realizes that he no longer wants to be controlled by drugs. Some know exactly what they want for their lives going forward and have the frame of mind to get themselves there; others do not. CBT recognizes this and works to assist those that need help navigating their own minds to find the right frame of logic on which to base their future behaviors; behaviors that keep them moving in the direction of their goals.
Some specific strategies which CBT employes include developing healthy coping mechanisms to deal with previously identified triggers. This builds up the recovering addict’s self-control and confidence. Carefully considering the positive and negative outcomes of one’s own behavior is heavily emphasized as well; specifically as it pertains to continued drug use. CBT teaches self-monitoring as a tool to remain self-aware of one’s internal emotional and mental states. The idea is the more aware we are of ourselves, the more opportunity we have to develop strategies to control our behavior.
Research is proving that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy results in the long term retention of the skills necessary to govern oneself after drugs have released their grip. This is primarily the result of the individual learning about himself and then using that information to teach himself how to exercise self-control. CBT simply guides a patient through a mental process that illuminates previously hidden motivations, hangups, and imperatives in the patient’s psyche, essentially introducing himself to him for the first time. Its effectiveness is enhanced with practice and rehab helps establish this therapy regimen early on, in the hopes that it will continue in aftercare.
LEAD Treatment Center is committed the lasting recovery of each and every patient that comes through our doors. If you’re ready to get back on your feet and kick drug addiction for good, contact our staff at 800.380.0012 to make an appointment. Today’s as good a day as any.