Addiction is far more than a physical condition. Behind the impulse to use is a collection of false beliefs, thoughts and values about yourself and the world around you. To break free from substance misuse, you need to confront these misconceptions and learn vital coping skills. That’s the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy. At Gateway Foundation in Springfield, IL, we offer cognitive behavior therapy services as part of our holistic addiction treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychological treatment often used to help manage addiction and other deep-seated issues. During patient sessions, a trained therapist examines problematic and self-destructive behaviors, like substance misuse, and determines their link to underlying thoughts and feelings. CBT is more than talk therapy. It’s actionable and goal-oriented, ensuring patients take a more active role in their recovery.
The goals of CBT are:
Addiction is a serious disease that impacts the brain both structurally and functionally. Substance addiction has a physical component, such as a strong dependence on that drug and intense cravings to use it. However, addiction also has a behavioral component. Those struggling with the disease know it’s healthier and safer to give up drugs or alcohol. They may even deeply regret their addiction — but they engage in the behavior anyway, sometimes without really understanding why. This is where cognitive behavioral therapy can help.
To understand compulsive substance misuse, individuals need to examine the inaccurate thoughts and subsequent negative feelings behind addiction. CBT helps clarify how thoughts and emotions interact to change the automatic processes that sabotage an individual’s efforts to get sober.
At Gateway Springfield, we offer cognitive behavioral therapy to many of our patients because it’s incredibly effective in treating addiction. CBT works by:
At Gateway Foundation in Springfield, IL, we ensure each person who walks through our doors is treated as an individual with their own unique background and needs. Along with CBT, we offer a wide range of evidence-based programs and therapies that we implement into a customized treatment plan. Along with medical care and peer support, your addiction recovery program may include:
To understand addiction’s hold over your life, you may need to take a deeper look at the thoughts, emotions and behaviors that have driven your substance misuse to this point. The team at Gateway Springfield can help. If you would like to learn more about CBT and our other addiction recovery services, contact us today.
