Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Addiction

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

CBT is a form of psychotherapy which is structured in a way that helps you to change unhelpful behaviours, thoughts and/or feelings. Addiction is a set of behaviours and actions which see the addict engaging with behaviours which cause pain, suffering, and harm.

CBT aims to restructure the way you think and perceive things to help you move past your addiction.
CBT can help you to change the reward and motivation centres of your brain to no longer prefer the addictive substance or behaviour.
CBT can help you overcome the powerful reinforcement which is being provided by drugs or alcohol.

When you are addicted to something, your brain receives a huge amount of reinforcement when you engage in addictive behaviour. CBT can help to reshape your addiction and works to restructure your mental programming to get you focused on other rewards that are not based around your addiction.

How CBT helps patients overcome addiction

It is very common when you are struggling with addiction to be plagued by destructive and negative self-talk and thoughts. People who are living with addiction often feel guilt and shame around using, which then feeds into the negative feelings which can perpetuate the compulsion to use.

When you engage with CBT you will:

Explore the patterns of behaviour which lead to using or engaging with addictive behaviour, and then work to unpair those patterns and triggers
Work together with your therapist to identify those thoughts which are harmful to you, and also focus on how to modify your thinking to achieve a more helpful way of thinking
Engage in self-led work to help you achieve a positive and meaningful change
Do both individual and group-based therapy sessions to achieve a good outcome
Discover skills and methods of coping with difficult times, and learn helpful strategies to ensure you are most likely to succeed

CBT is a hugely successful method of treating addiction, and when used in combination with other therapies and support you will enjoy a greater change in your behaviours and move towards a life free from addiction.

What to expect with CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as the name suggests, refers to a therapy that is aimed at shifting thoughts and actions. When you engage with CBT you might work to develop strategies so that you can tackle difficult thoughts or situations in a more helpful way.

Your CBT treatment is focused on building a non-judgmental relationship with your therapist, and is managed in such a way that you actually take a key role in your own treatment. You are actively involved, and are encouraged to take ownership over your own recovery, with therapeutic guidance. In engaging with CBT in this way, you are empowered with the knowledge that you have the capacity to create real change in your life.

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

There are many emotional benefits for patients seeking treatment via CBT, including:

Happier, more relaxed, and less anxious demeanour
Thorough treatment of mood-based disorders
Developing an understanding and response to emotional triggers

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

There are many emotional benefits for patients seeking treatment via CBT, including:

Happier, more relaxed, and less anxious demeanour
Thorough treatment of mood-based disorders
Developing an understanding and response to emotional triggers

Patients receiving CBT treatment report a range of social benefits, including:

Improved and more engaged relationships with family and friends
Better emotional tools to engage in society without the need for substances
Better responses and approaches to challenging and triggering social situations

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

CBT can have a range of physical benefits for patients receiving treatment by:

Reducing the effects of insomnia to promote better sleep
Addressing the physical side effects of anxiety, like racing heart rate or heavy breathing
Generally helping people relax and focus on a more rational thought process

There are many emotional benefits for patients seeking treatment via CBT, including:

Happier, more relaxed, and less anxious demeanour
Thorough treatment of mood-based disorders
Developing an understanding and response to emotional triggers

Patients receiving CBT treatment report a range of social benefits, including:

Improved and more engaged relationships with family and friends
Better emotional tools to engage in society without the need for substances
Better responses and approaches to challenging and triggering social situations

Cognitive behavioural therapy can have positive spiritual effects, including:

Giving patients more hope about their condition and the future
Helping patients develop a renewed sense of self-esteem, and a better relationship with the self
Offering peace, stability, and a greatly improved quality of life

Lasting results

CBT is proven to have lasting positive effects on physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual health.

Genuine psychological change

Comparable results before and after CBT will show a drastic improvement in the life of addicts.

Mental tools to help you as your life moves forward

CBT gives addicts tools and strategies to assist them in managing potentially triggering situations.

A true, tested benefit for addiction treatment

As one of the best addiction treatment therapies, CBT forms part of a holistic treatment model.

1

28-Day Withdrawal & Detox Program

This initial residential rehab program is the first critical step towards long term recovery. All patients at The Hader Clinic begin with a 28-Day Withdrawal & Detox Program that initiates detox and manages the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Patients also begin group and individual therapy, and learn to enjoy recreational activities.

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2

Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

The aim of this 60 to 90-day residential rehab program is to introduce patients to a life free from addiction, and offer them independence. This program offers a range of therapies, counselling sessions, and other activities for inpatients.

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3

Outpatient Relapse Prevention

Recovering addicts often need ongoing support as they reintegrate with society. Outpatient Relapse Prevention is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program that offers this service in the world outside of our treatment facilities.

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4

Support Services

Support services exist for recovering addicts after they return to the outside world. These services are similar to the residential rehab treatment services the addicts received at The Hader Clinic.

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We work with private health funds to support our patients.

Learn about private health insurance

What does CBT involve?

CBT is a treatment where you and your therapist will identify what you need to work on. It may be big picture stuff, like how to stop using drugs or alcohol, or it may be smaller, like how to deal with anxiety around using, or how to cope with negative self-talk as you progress on your journey out of addiction.

You and your therapist will work out how you can structure your sessions and will go through exercises where you challenge your thinking in a structured way. You will also have self-work to do which can take the form of exercises or activities.

Do I have to do CBT?

Every person is different, and you may find that CBT is a helpful tool for you to have as you work through your addiction. In other cases, CBT might not be as effective as another type of therapy. You will not be forced or made to do certain types of therapy, and your treatment approach will be varied depending on what will work best for you.

I have tried CBT before and I did not like it. Why will this be different?

CBT is a different experience depending on the therapist you have and how they engage with you. While you may have tried CBT in the past and found it unhelpful, you may have a different experience this time around. We encourage you to try every tool at your disposal to ensure you have the best possible chance of a good recovery. We can discuss your options with you in a free one hour consult where you can tell us a bit more about your addiction and find out what we can offer to help you.

What other types of therapies do you offer?

We have a wide range of therapists and treatment options, including dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) which is used in situations where people present with personality disorders in combination with addiction, psychological treatments targeting dual diagnosis patients, group therapy, exercise programs, and a range of other treatment options to ensure you have a broad range of options for your treatment.

Cognitive behavioural therapy can give you the tools you need to find a way out of addiction. The best time to get started is today.