Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

A number of different addiction treatment services and recovery processes are available through rehab and are recommended in order to withdraw and detach from addictive stimuli.

Our clients here at Cassiobury Court experience a personalised set of treatment recommendations as a standard part of addiction recovery.

Within those recommendations, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an endorsed method of counselling, standing as a well-recognised therapy in psychological recovery efforts.

Identified as a form of psychotherapy, CBT is recommended to actively treat a variety of conditions, from addiction to depression, eating disorders and anxiety; its effectiveness makes it a valuable step in the rehabilitation process.

In terms of its diversity, if you’re about to embark on a recovery journey, CBT may be recommended for you.

 

The Origins of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT was developed by Aaron T. Beck, an American psychotherapist, in the 1960s as a combination between both ‘cognitive’ and ‘behavioural’ therapy.

Originally designed to treat depression, CBT has come a long way and is now a regularly recommended form of psychotherapy for a range of behavioural and mental health conditions, including addiction.

Beck reasoned that people’s interpretation of events determines their responding behaviour, more so than events themselves.

We are shackled by our interpretations of events, and our thoughts prevent us from deriving alternative meanings.

Our response to events is ‘automatic’ and shaped by our interpretation of similar events which have occurred in the past.

Due to this automatic response, which can in fact cause more harm than good, especially when considering negative events and associated emotions, cognitive behavioural therapy was developed as a part of the psychological rehabilitation pillar.

In order to link thoughts and interpretations with behaviours, CBT provides opportunities for reflection, rational outlooks and self-awareness to examine and replace thoughts with healthier interpretations.

While its origin focused on treating depression, down to the link between negative cognitive emotions and, in turn, negative behaviours, cognitive behavioural therapy now offers significant value within the recovery of habitual, compulsive and behavioural disorders.

 

Key Processes and Features of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

If CBT rehab services are recommended to you, it’s important to understand how it works, its key processes and its features.

Starting at the ‘functional analysis’ phase, clients are encouraged to analyse thoughts and behaviours, with the aim of understanding and processing the causes of such behaviours.

Through this phase, clients are taught to recognise specific situations that trigger negative thoughts for them personally.

Through analysing personal triggers, CBT offers a form of relapse prevention, providing clients with insight into their causes, ultimately the types of reactions to avoid when considering addictive or negative stimuli.

The next phase of ‘skills training’ soon follows, where CBT therapists teach their clients to unlearn behavioural habits and responses, with the intention to replace them with positive coping strategies. This phase ultimately offers ways of coping through high-risk situations, linked to habitual responses.

To condense, the key features of cognitive behavioural therapy surround the promotion of identifying causes of negative behaviours and responses, with the aim of replacing those responses with new, healthy interpretations.

Through CBT for addiction, healthy coping strategies are also communicated and promoted to secure safe interpretations surrounding addiction and mental health symptoms.

 

Implementing CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy will usually be implemented on a regular basis, with weekly or bi-weekly sessions recommended.

Offered in 30- and 60-minute sessions, between 5 and 15 sessions will be encouraged as exposure to CBT.

However, it is important to remember that addiction treatment services and their necessary stance will vary for each client, meaning that your exposure to CBT may be reduced or increased beyond average.

One way CBT is implemented is through written tasks, either individually or in a group setting.

Clients are asked to imagine or enact a situation that promotes their addictive behaviours. Through that vision, thoughts and feelings should be digested and noted down, ready for the analysis phase.

By acknowledging these emotions and reactions, the skill-training phase of CBT can begin, where clients learn to manage these reactions and adapt their outlook and its influences.

In between each session, our therapists will set out a plan for you to follow, utilising your new skill of CBT to work through potential triggers, helping to highlight the value of cognitive behavioural therapy within your everyday recovery process.

Over time, adapting to the processes of CBT will be possible, helping you control and reason with your emotions.

 

Pros and Cons of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

While CBT is highly recommended, there are both pros and cons of the therapy, which indicates its suitability for each individual client.

Pros include its strong ability to adapt outlooks, its ability to support recovery without medication, and its complementary role alongside medical addiction treatment services.

Cons include the time it can take to respond to CBT, its influence of resurfacing raw and sometimes difficult emotions to experience, and the degree of commitment that it demands.

Ultimately, we at Cassiobury Court will evaluate whether cognitive behavioural therapy is suitable for you throughout your residential rehab stay, by using your needs as a benchmark against both pros and cons.

Through suitable recommendations, CBT is a prominent addiction treatment service, also in place to treat mental health issues and cognitive vulnerabilities.

 

CBT in a Nutshell

Cognitive behavioural therapy helps clients figure out:

• Their thoughts arising from situations
• Their resulting emotions which direct their behaviours
• Their capabilities to challenge such thoughts and aim to change emotions/behaviours for the better

Summing up cognitive behavioural therapy and its processes, clients work to backtrack the steps which led to a particular addictive behaviour. They then begin to understand that behaviours are directed through emotional and cognitive processes.

When thoughts and beliefs change, so do emotions and behaviours, highlighting the aims of CBT. Ultimately, our therapists help our clients to challenge negative thoughts so that new, healthy emotions and behaviours arise.

 

Other Therapies and Approaches at Cassiobury Court

Within a personalised therapeutic programme that is built around their individual needs and long-term recovery goals, we often use other therapeutic avenues.

Our range of therapeutic approaches includes:

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Schema Therapy
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Motivational Enhancement
• Relapse Prevention
• Coping Skills Development
• Meaningful Daily Activities
• Psychoeducation
• Recovery Planning
• Legal and Discharge Planning

 

Contact Us Today

In tandem with many other addiction treatment services, cognitive behavioural therapy will likely help you through your recovery journey.

Experience your journey here at Cassiobury Court. Call us on 01923 369 161.