Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a common form of talk therapy that generally produces results in a few weeks to a few months. It is a short-term therapy, but it has long-lasting results because it helps solve everyday problems in the real world. 

For people working through substance use and mental health problems, CBT is beneficial. People with these issues generally have poor coping skills and turn to substances to cope. Learning effective CBT techniques can help identify harmful behaviors that must be changed 

Awakenings Treatment Center believes in CBT – we see great results with it! Below are the common CBT techniques our therapists use during our sessions. 

1. Stress Reduction 

Stress is a common motivator for using drugs or alcohol, and a major risk factor for relapse. Therefore, getting stress under control is key. In CBT, you will learn various relaxation and stress reduction techniques, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation and guided imagery. These practices are used to lower stress and improve your sense of control. 

2. Cognitive Reframing 

Cognitive reframing involves looking at your negative thought patterns and restructuring them to make them healthier. For instance, do you tend to overgeneralize or assume the worst will happen? If you do, reframing these thoughts can help you look at things more positively and helpfully. 

3. Exposure Therapy 

If you struggle with fears and phobias, exposure therapy can be useful. You’ll work with your therapist to be slowly exposed to the things that cause you anxiety and fear. As you confront your fears in a safe environment, your therapist will teach you how to cope with your emotions. Eventually, you’ll feel more confident in coping with these stressors. 

4. Role Playing 

Role playing is another helpful strategy that lets you work through different behaviors in difficult situations. You can play out various scenarios and work on improving communication skills, assertiveness, problem solving and social skills. You’ll also gain confidence in handling stressful situations. 

5. Guided Discovery 

With guided discovery, your therapist will get to know your way of thinking and then challenge it. You may be asked to share supporting evidence of why you think and feel the way you do. The goal is to help you see things from other perspectives and realize that your hurtful thinking is not necessarily reality. 

6. Journaling 

We strongly encourage our clients to write out their thoughts and feelings. Journaling is an excellent tool that can help you get in touch with your thoughts and behaviors. This way, you can change your behaviors to be more helpful. Journaling also lets you track how far you’ve come over time. 

Start Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Today! 

These are some techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is a type of therapy offered at Awakenings Treatment Center, in addition to other evidence-based and alternative therapies, such as neurofeedback, family therapy, mindfulness meditation, alpha-stim, hemi-sync and many, many others. Contact our admissions department to learn more about our holistic treatment center and how we can support a healthy and complete recovery.