Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: An Effective Tool in Addiction Treatment (Gorav Gupta)

Thousands of cases of substance abuse and alcoholism come to notice every year across the world, access and prolonged use of alcohol or drugs become fatal in many cases. Fortunately, health science has found medications and holistic ways to treat addiction. The treatment goes long as per the severity. It includes medications, personal development and cognitive behaviour therapy. Only medications cannot treat addiction as a diseased mind pushes you to become addicted again. CBT is one of the finest treatments for both alcoholism and drug abuse.

It has been practiced for years and the results have been impressive. In other words, the success rate of the therapy for addiction treatment is remarkable. Cognitive behaviour therapy works on a person's behaviour by keeping unhealthy thought patterns at bay and increasing positive thoughts. CBT involves collaboration between the client and therapist, they work together to determine the goals of therapy. It is an educational process in that the therapist teaches the client how to challenge and change maladaptive thought processes and reactions and develop more adaptive ones in order to reach his or her goals.

It is correct that people may not able to change their circumstances, but they can change how they think about them. This is how the CBT therapists consistently working on the addicted behaviour pattern. They teach how to recognize situations in which they could relapse and how to cope with these situations intelligently and boldly.

How Long Does CBT Take?

It is tough to tell how long cognitive behaviour therapy can go but it is usually over in 12 to 16 sessions. It is a goal-oriented educational process that may take more time until the patient is confident that he/she can cope with the craving independently.

Key Components of CBT

To effectively treat substance abuse and alcoholism, there are two prime components of CBT:

Functional Analysis

Both the therapist and the patients work together, by deep analysis of the reasons for addiction. Before and after the use of substance or alcohol, situation is analysed in order to determine the risks leading to craving.

Skills Training

Inculcating healthier habits and skills is the prime aim of CBT at the time. It works on educating the addicts to make changes in the way they think about their drug abuse or alcohol.

The Salient Benefits of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

A Crucial Network of Support

Therapy provides great network support to depend on while recovering. The support works as strength to fight a relapse by providing positive encouragement.

Self-Esteem Enhancement

This is a first big thing that an addict loses that can make addiction severe. Under CBT, improvement of self-esteem has been found. Constant reinforcing of self-worth encourages thinking about the value of self-esteem and how to regain it.

Learning to Cope with Peer Pressure

Addicts are usually vulnerable; peer pressure can turn them to addiction again. But CBT complete session helps them to resist pressure from peers.

Positive Thoughts and Fast Recovery

Major changes in the thought process are noticed after the successful cognitive behaviour therapy program. It ultimately provides fast recovery and encourages health living.