It is a courageous decision for people with addiction disorders to seek treatment. Furthermore, it is a remarkable achievement when these same people complete their addiction treatment program and return back to the “real world.” However, returning to a daily routine can invite the temptation to relapse into the downward spiral of addiction. If you have completed an addiction treatment program, congratulations on retaking control of your life. However, you may be concerned about the real possibility of relapse after treatment. Fort Behavioral Health wants to help.
Our team wants to set you up for success in recovery for years to come. That’s why we offer cognitive-behavioral therapy for addiction, but we also use this type of therapy as a relapse prevention measure.
What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Addiction?
In treatment at Fort Behavioral Health, you learn to attack negative thinking cycles. One of the most effective therapeutic approaches to achieve this goal is cognitive-behavioral therapy for addiction. This helps you realize that you might not be able to control these thoughts but that you can control how you react to them.
Part of using CBT to actively recover is recognizing that perception is “reality” and that people react to the perception of whether or not it is objectively true. Addiction twists perception in a variety of ways because we project our own lack of esteem onto others, thinking that they hate us or it can be as severe as psychosis, especially under the influence and in detox from certain substances. CBT helps you find objective reality by addressing the core issues behind your distorted thinking and helps you replace those unhealthy coping mechanisms, like addiction, with skills that further a healthier, more productive life.
Reconceptualizing or rethinking a situation is key, and CBT helps people with addiction grow awareness of their situation and thinking. It helps them realize that just because you think it doesn’t mean it is real but that a thought or feeling might be based on fear or trauma or simply habit- it challenges you to see the world factually. So instead of taking something at face value and reacting to it, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches you to ask yourself, “What is really happening here?” and rather than simply reacting emotionally, you can take positive action.
Benefits of CBT for Relapse Prevention
Our Fort Behavioral Health team believes that there are many benefits of using CBT for relapse prevention. Some of these benefits include:
- Goal setting – You will work with one of our therapists during cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions to set goals to avoid relapse. These goals will act as benchmarks to ensure that you are maintaining your recovery.
- Problem-solving – You will also team with your therapist to develop problem-solving skills to give you the tools you need to prevent a relapse.
- Continuing support – Once you have completed your treatment program at Fort Behavioral Health, we want you to continue to feel supported. So, our team provides ongoing cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions to keep up the work that you have done in treatment.
There are many other benefits of CBT for relapse prevention, as well. To experience the benefits of a structured therapeutic approach, contact our Fort Behavioral Health team today.
Set Yourself Up for Success with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Relapse Prevention
Please remember that relapse is part of the recovery and not a reason to feel shame or guilt. In fact, sometimes, a relapse helps people refocus and immerse themselves further in their recovery journeys. If you are interested in learning more about how our cognitive-behavioral therapy program can help prevent a relapse, call us at 844.332.1807 or contact us online today.
