Tori Conner-Hearn Therapist in Hoover, Alabama, specializes in helping people overcome their difficulties with their relationships. She is a certified...
In the United States, addiction treatment is offered by an extensive variety of agencies and professionals, from psychiatrists to addiction specialists, to psychologists to counselors. While most programs have some common elements, each individual program may vary as much as 50 percent in approach. One of the important differences between an alcohol and drug addiction treatment center and a substance abuse treatment center is the kind of treatment offered. This means that, while one may offer a “one size fits all” approach, another may encourage individualized care, including group or family-based activities.
Cognitive Behavioral Health Psychology is highly utilized in addiction treatment today. CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, was originally developed for depression. It works to address the underlying cause of the addiction and not just the symptoms. Counselors help patients identify their inner conflicts, which in turn lead to distorted thinking patterns. These distorted thoughts lead to behavior patterns, and a person suffering from an addiction often feels frustrated and rejected when his or her behavior does not conform to the distorted way they view themselves. CBT also helps patients develop healthy relationships that are based on honesty, integrity and a sense of responsibility. This type of therapy helps a patient overcome the need to use substances because the therapist helps them to realize that their use of substances does not make them whole.
There are several types of CBT, including individual counseling, couples counseling, family counseling and group therapy. Each one of these methods is used in many different treatment programs, and the combination of therapy offers the best chance of recovery. A successful treatment plan requires careful consideration of each patient’s unique needs, whether he or she is in need of residential treatment or outpatient treatment, if it is an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, and whether the patient is trying to quit the use of substances or just get better.