CBT therapy can be conducted in individual and group sessions, making it very flexible, unlike some other psychotherapies. Patients can apply the practical skills and coping strategies they learn during these sessions to everyday life. Cognitive behavioral therapy examples differ from other psychotherapies in several vital ways. First, unlike psychodynamic therapy, it does not try to get to the bottom of a person’s subconscious to determine their actions or behavior.

How and for Whom Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for AOD Work?

• From the two review studies considered and the subsequent 15 studies of mediators of CBT effects, coping skills, self-efficacy, and reduced craving show promise, but there is minimal evidence to suggest these processes are uniquely important to CBT and are more likely processes that are broadly relevant to AOD behavior change.
• One of the distinguishing features of CBT has been its relative durability of effects, with significant treatment effects persisting through a follow-up period, in some cases with individuals showing greater improvement after treatment ends (i.e., ‘sleeper effect’) (e.g., Carroll et al., 2000; Carroll et al., 1994b; Rawson et al., 2002).
• If your health insurance company determines that a particular service is not reasonable and necessary, or that a particular service is not covered under your plan, your insurer will deny payment for that service and it will become your responsibility.
• On the other hand, feelings or emotions influence a person’s thoughts and behaviors.
• Addiction Resource team has compiled an extensive list of the top drug rehabilitation facilities around the country.

For example, cognitive therapy can be woven into a comprehensive program in which patients (for example) take suboxone, and also attend 12SF meetings. Similar to advancements in the treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, where promise has been shown in combining cognitive therapy with pharmacotherapy, the study of best practices for alcohol and substance use disorders will probably involve more instances of coordinated care. For example, the strength of medication-based treatments that diminish the patients’ subjective desire for their drug(s) of choice can be paired with the strengths of cognitive therapy in modifying faulty beliefs and maximizing skill-building. CBT therapy is a type of short-term psychotherapy usually conducted over 6-20 sessions. During these sessions, a therapist focuses on helping the patient understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

These effects have been observed in trials targeting alcohol use with co-occurring depression, cannabis use, and cocaine use. However, the additive effect of these combined interventions, despite clinically intuitive expectations of their compatibility, and even synergy, has not received conclusive support. This article will break down the clinical conditions that CBT addresses, how it helps those struggling with substance use disorders and other mental health conditions, and who this type of treatment might be right for.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Addiction

• The first step in finding cognitive behavioral therapy near you might be to discuss your situation with your doctor so you can have an evaluation and ask for referrals to rehabs that offer CBT.
• CBT addresses coexisting mental health problems that frequently accompany substance abuse.
• CBT and integrative forms of CBT have potential for flexible application such as use in a digital format.
• While the development of effective, individual components demonstrated to address a single core feature of addiction (e.g., attentional bias, craving, delay discounting) may have limited impact if delivered alone, it has the potential to lead to strategies that allow us to more efficiently tailor treatments for complex and heterogeneous disorders like the addictions.
• CBT therapy is a flexible low-risk therapy and has a good reputation for being effective in substance abuse recovery.

Cognitive behavioral treatments are one of the most frequently evaluated psychosocial approaches to treating substance use disorders. CBT teaches those in treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD) to find connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions and increase awareness of how these things impact recovery. ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

CBT Group Activities Essential for Substance Abuse Recovery

It can be a convenient option for people who travel or prefer the privacy of at-home counseling sessions. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. By better understanding the difficulties that contribute to substance use, people can then look for ways to better manage difficult thoughts, emotions, or situations. By clicking “Submit,” you certify that you have provided your legal name and phone number, agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and authorize Addictionresource to contact you. You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Addictionresource.

Is CBT Effective for Substance Use Disorder?

Second, CBT therapy does not take a patient-centered approach where the therapist passively listens, allowing the patient to resolve the issues independently. In other words, a recovering addict will do more than just talk, and a cognitive-behavioral therapist will do more than simply cbt interventions for substance abuse listen during the session. CBT therapist serves both as a teacher and a teammate and discusses the client’s stressors, irrational thoughts, and negative emotions. The exercises involve challenging negative thinking and developing positive coping skills for present and future use.