Originally posted on https://www.boardpreprecovery.com/rehab-blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-techniques/

CBT stands for cognitive behavioral therapy. This is one of the most powerful and effective types of therapies available to you if you are suffering an alcohol or drug addiction. BoardPrep Recovery Center offers CBT techniques as part of our cognitive behavioral therapy program in Tampa FL.

CBT is a type of talk therapy that aims to redirect your thought patterns, beliefs, or attitudes in the hopes of ultimately changing your behavior and lifestyle. When combined with other types of therapy, CBT offers a more structured and well-rounded approach to addiction recovery.

Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques is a short-term type of therapy that is designed to help you get to the next level. Most sessions last 50 to 60 minutes and occur once or twice a week. Total duration can last up to ten months. After that, you are ready to go into your next phase of treatment and look at more long-term alternatives.

Hands-On Therapy

The central technique that a therapist uses is to engage you to participate in the therapy sessions actively. It includes more than just talking about your problems. Your therapist will ask you to engage in a wide range of activities to help stimulate positive thinking and looking at your life and your addiction from a different point of view.

Identifying Cognitive Distortions

Your cognitive behavioral therapy program in Tampa, FL will first consist of identifying distorted or inaccurate thoughts, patterns, or emotions that either triggers your alcohol addiction or hinder you from recovering. Cognitive distortion may include:

• Filtering (ignoring the positive, focusing on the negative)
• Black-and-white thinking
• Overgeneralization (coming up with broad conclusions based on a single event)
• Jumping to conclusions
• Magnifying or minimizing the impact of something that has happened
• Making everything personal

Other cognitive distortions may include playing the blame game, playing the victim because you think that life is unfair, or creating rules about how others should act or ‘understand’ you. All of these distortions in your thinking can cripple you and cause you to fall deeper into addiction or come up with reasons why you can’t stop drinking or using drugs.

Effective CBT Techniques That Work

Now that you have identified the cognitive distortions that create negative thinking or behavior patterns that can lead to depression, it is time to replace them with CBT techniques that fill your mind with positive thinking, strategies, and ideas. Some of these techniques include:

• Journaling
• Identifying your cognitive distortions
• Cognitive restructuring of your mind
• Exposure and response prevention (good for OCD)
• Interceptive exposure
• Nightmare exposure and rescripting

This is just the beginning. There are numerous other techniques that you can participate in. To find out more about these techniques, ask your therapist to explain them and go over your options.

Find Out More About CBT Techniques Today

If you are interested in finding out more about CBT techniques and dual diagnosis treatment, then contact BoardPrep Recovery Center today. We offer a wide range of treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Start your treatment today by calling us at 866.796.4720. We can help you get on the road to recovery.