Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a time-tested and well-studied method of mental health counseling that has proven successful in the treatment of substance use disorder disorders and mental health management. CBT stresses the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. It is based on the belief that an individual’s thoughts, rather than people or events, cause our negative feelings. Ultimately, clients learning CBT develop skills to prevent mood problems, intrusive thoughts, and problematic behaviors from diminishing their quality of life.
The goal of CBT is to control and change thinking, actions, and feelings with the help and guidance of a therapist. The therapist assists the client in identifying, and testing the reality of, and correcting dysfunctional beliefs underlying his or her thinking. The therapist then helps the client modify those thoughts that flow from them. CBT has been clinically proven to help clients experiencing depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder and addiction to gain mental strength within themselves to overcome addiction and the compulsions that come with it. CBT is not faith-based, and instead relies upon the patient’s own cognitive abilities to consciously overcome psychological motivations toward drug and alcohol abuse.
The goals of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is:
- Help patients learn how to self-manage emotional conflicts, stress, mental illness, and trauma
- Help patients achieve greater understanding of their behaviors
- Help patients become aware of negative or unhealthy behavior patterns
- Help patients understand how life experiences can be learning experiences
- Help change patient behavior by increasing understanding of the reasons behind such behavior
- Help patients deal with trauma and modify negative beliefs and areas of low self-esteem
- Help patients prevent relapse by understanding areas of temptation and stress
- Help families learn how to work together and achieve clearer communication
Our therapists, counselors, and support staff will help you address the underlying issues behind addiction. We help you gain a better understanding of the addiction cycle and how it impacts your life. You can uncover the negative things in your life that you can change. Through CBT you will learn how to cope with difficult emotions and how to gain better control over your own future. You will learn to identify and set clear boundaries against unhealthy situations, people, and patterns of action. More importantly, CBT can help you learn to feel good about yourself again. CBT helps you uncover the root causes of your addiction so that you can make changes that can create a happier future. CBT can help you understand yourself in a new light and help you gain the confidence to move forward and begin working on the life you always wanted.
Medical disclaimer:
Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance use disorder, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.
