Learning how you can stop abusing drugs and alcohol is important. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is just one tool that you can use to achieve sobriety and to stay sober. At Insight Recovery Centers, our counselors and therapists use CBT, among other approaches, to help clients identify, cope with, and eventually overcome their mental health issues.

pair in cognitive-behavioral therapy programUnderstanding Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often associated with the development of skills training as well. Cognitive behavior is just that, it teaches you to focus on thought (cognition) before you act (behave). As simple as that sounds, many people are not familiar with the path between thinking and behaving. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is widely used in substance-abuse treatment as well as alcohol abuse treatment. It is also used in mental health treatment. As a result, it is effective for those with co-occurring disorders. Individuals who have a dual diagnosis have a substance abuse issue along with a mental health issue. Using cognitive-behavioral therapy will help with both.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used for many issues, such as:

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD
  • Eating disorders
  • Sleep disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
  • Various anxiety disorders
  • Bipolar disorder

How CBT Works

In the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy, there is a great concentration on negative thinking. These negative thoughts are typically automatic. You are not trying to think negatively; it’s just something that happens. Some of these automatic thoughts are not based on reality. They are feelings that have been internalized over time. They may occur as a result of a painful memory of childhood. Often, individuals use excessive drugs or alcohol to “get rid” of these negative feelings and thoughts. In cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT, the individual learns how to review these thoughts and make them less painful. Once the painful memories are reviewed and discussed, you can learn how to explore the memory and learn new and positive ways to deal with it. These new positive behaviors are the skills that are also learned in CBT. These new positive behaviors will ultimately replace substance abuse or alcohol abuse.

Managing the triggers for alcohol or drug abuse is how you walk out of this process.  It includes recognizing the reasons that led to you abusing drugs or alcohol in the first place. At the beginning of CBT, it’s important to avoid the triggers at all cost., As you develop coping skills to reduce the strength of the trigger, you will be able to deal with them better. Being able to look back on the past in a different way is the main goal of CBT. As your skills develop, you will be able to confront your feelings without abusing drugs or alcohol. You will be able to master alternative coping skills to deal with the remembrance of past trauma.

Insight Recovery Centers Uses CBT And Other Therapies

Gaining appropriate insight is the method that CBT uses to manage your feelings without abusing drugs or alcohol. First, you gain insight; then you begin recovery. Insight Recovery Centers is a quality resource to turn to when you need help. Located in Ashburn, VA, we encourage you to reach out and learn how our CBT program works. The use of CBT is a component of all of the programming we offer. Here is a shortlist of some programming choices you will find at Insight Recovery Centers:

Our program started due to our founders’ disappointment with the treatment field.  Both worked in substance-abuse treatment and were dismayed at the lack of success they noticed in other programs. As a result, they came together to offer a new treatment choice for their clientele. 20 years later, Insight Recovery Centers offer cutting-edge treatment options to individuals who need to learn how to live drug and alcohol-free. Contact us at 703.592.6946 to learn how CBT and our other therapy and treatment options can help you today.