Cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy used to treat mental health and substance use disorder (SUD). It is a type of talk therapy, meaning you’ll work alongside a therapist to discuss thoughts and behaviors. But, for those who have never gone through a CBT session, it can seem a bit overwhelming.
At Iron Bridge Recovery Center, we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss your specific needs. For many, CBT will be a part of that process, and you can expect it to be a positive experience. Here’s what you should know.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is a behavioral therapy that’s been used for decades. It focuses on cognition, or how your thought processes influence your mood and ultimately your behaviors. This is a type of goal-oriented therapy, which means that it works with you over a period of time to change thought processes.
It’s a fully customizable therapy. That means your therapist can use the foundation of CBT to treat a wide range of conditions. That includes maladaptive thinking, dysfunctional automatic thoughts, as well as underlying core belief concerns. Developed in the 1960s, CBT has a long history of providing successful support to those with SUD. It’s a safe and trusted treatment. It is often a component of SUD treatment and dual-diagnosis treatment.
Why Does CBT Work?
To work, CBT focuses on several specific principles:
- Psychological disorders are at least in part based on inaccurate thinking.
- Psychological disorders are based on learned patterns of negative behavior.
- Those who have these psychological disorders can learn new ways to cope and reduce their symptoms, thus leading to better outcomes.
To do this, your therapist needs to help you recognize your negative or inaccurate thoughts, understand them, and then learn to correct them before they have an impact on your behaviors. Ultimately, you’ll develop healthier ways to deal with stress, work through trauma, communicate, and behave.
How CBT Sessions Happen
Every session is a bit different, but you can expect a structured process in which you’ll work directly with your therapist for around 45 to 60 minutes. Here’s what you can expect in most situations.
- An open conversation. Initially, you’ll talk about what you are facing right now. You’ll discuss your mood and thought processes. You’ll then have a goal set for the session.
- Exploring problems. The next step will be to discuss a challenging situation. You’ll talk about what that situation is, as well as how it impacts your thoughts and the way you feel. You’ll then make the connection between that thought process and your behaviors.
- Looking for patterns. Your therapist will guide you in exploring this pattern. The goal is to understand the link between unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. You’ll see how those actions contribute to your problems, such as your SUD.
- Skill learning. In the next part of the therapy session, you’ll work to build some skills. That may include cognitive restructuring or behavioral experiments. Problem-solving is also a strategy you may learn more about during therapy. And, you’ll touch on the importance of mindfulness.
Most often, you’ll review the accomplishments of your session and have some homework to do. That could include reviewing your new skills and working to place them into your life where they fit. That may include trying out new ways of coping with stress or questioning yourself on why you are feeling the way you do.
Over time, these sessions build highly impactful and beneficial skills. They build over time, becoming more prominent and providing you with more clarity and control over your actions.
What’s most important to remember is that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches you how to better understand how your thoughts lead to actions and how you can control that from happening. You are never told what to do or what to think, but rather given information and resources to better understand what’s guiding the thought processes and actions you have.
Does CBT Work?
CBT is a very effective strategy because it approaches the source of your SUD and helps you to find a way forward. One of the ways that Iron Bridge is so different from other treatment centers is our goal to provide you with the most advanced and effective treatments available. At the same time, we are sure to provide you with multiple ways to heal and recover.
Every person’s treatment path is a bit different. You are likely to see some benefits from CBT, provided by a licensed professional. You may also learn more about yourself in other treatment options we offer.
Schedule Some Time to Chat With Our Admissions Team
Iron Bridge Recovery Center wants to help you recover in your own way. Our drug and alcohol treatment program in Richmond, VA, provides access to the highest level of care available. Contact us to learn more.
