Chapter 4 Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse NCBI Bookshelf

This involves tracking behaviors, symptoms, or experiences over time, providing valuable insights into patterns and triggers. Self-monitoring helps individuals and their therapists identify areas for improvement and track progress throughout the therapy process. Early intervention and education are essential in mitigating risks, offering support to those at higher risk of developing co-occurring disorders. By addressing both mental health and substance use collectively, communities can reduce the prevalence of these intertwined issues. Such cases can lead to significant public health challenges, given that individuals with dual diagnoses usually have poorer health outcomes than those with only one type of disorder. They are often less likely to seek treatment and more likely to abandon therapy, leading to a cycle of worsening symptoms and increased reliance on substances.

• CBT generally follows a structured approach where patients and therapists collaboratively set goals and work on identifying specific problems.
• Finally, this leads to the formation of Effective new beliefs, which support healthier coping mechanisms and promote long-term recovery.

Risk of bias assessment

There are many challenges that may arise in the treatment of substance use disorders that can serve as barriers to successful treatment. These include acute or chronic cognitive deficits, medical problems, social stressors, and lack of social resources. In addition, certain populations, such as pregnant women and incarcerated patients, may present particular challenges. In each of these circumstances, the use of functional analysis to arrive at strong case conceptualization and the flexibile utilization of treatment components is important. For example, among individuals with low levels of literacy, the use of written homework forms may need to be replaced by alternative means of monitoring home practice (e.g., using simplified forms or having the patient call to leave a phone message regarding completion of an assignment).

Challenges with Treatment Adherence

Clients reflect on their journey and the skills they have cognitive behavioral therapy learned, which fosters a continued application of these strategies in their daily lives. Through this holistic approach, CBT not only addresses existing behaviors but also empowers individuals to create lasting change. CBT is generally considered a short-term therapy, often involving between 5 to 20 sessions. However, the number of sessions can vary based on the individual’s specific needs, the complexity of their mental health condition, and their progress throughout the treatment.

Find Your Healthier WithTherapy

Whereas the internal, global, andstable attribution for the use of alcohol is likely to lead to feelings ofhopelessness and a return to drinking, the external, specific, unstableattribution is likely to lead to greater efforts to cope with similarsituations in the future. Near the end of the initial session the therapist reviews with the clientthe procedure for filling out the self-monitoring records. Homework assignments can include such things as keeping ajournal of behaviors, activities, and feelings when using substances orat risk of doing so. In the brief behavioral model designed by Phillipsand Weiner, techniques such as programmed therapy and writing therapy(see Figure 4-6) make whatis typically thought of as “homework” the central concern of the therapysession (Phillips and Weiner,1966).

Why Self-Care is Essential in Substance Abuse Recovery

The rate of the exposure is calculated to be at a level thatcan be handled by the client. The accomplishment of these homework tasksserves as a point of discussion to reinforce the client’s growing sense ofself-efficacy. The approach developed by Beck and colleagues to achieve the goal of asubstance-free life is referred to as cognitive therapy (Beck et al., 1993; Beck and Liese, 1998), while Ellis’ approach is known asrational-emotive therapy (Ellis et al.,1988). Generally, the therapist takes a more active role in cognitivetherapy than in other types of therapy, depending on the stage of treatment,severity of the substance abuse, and degree of the client’s cognitivecapability. Brief behavioral therapy might also involve the client’s spouse orsignificant others, who may attend several of the therapy sessions.

Things You’ll Learn

Reframing these thoughts helps improve self-esteem and build confidence in one’s ability to maintain sobriety. To learn more about rebuilding self-esteem, visit our article on how therapy can rebuild self-esteem after addiction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often covered by insurance, as mental health parity laws require that mental health services are covered comparably to physical health services. On average, a single session of CBT can range from $100 to $200 or more in the U.S., though prices may be lower or higher based on where you live and the therapist’s expertise.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) derives, in part, from both behavioral andcognitive theories.
• The client and the significant other may develop acontingency contract that will encourage reinforcement of her positivebehaviors.
• The therapist must beprepared to move from topic to topic while always adhering to the majortheme–that how the client thinks determines how the client feels and acts,including whether the client abuses substances.

This approach is integral to our drug addiction treatment services at Vegas Stronger, where we focus on comprehensive mental health and behavioral health needs. In contrast to many other therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapy for thetreatment of substance abuse disorders has substantial research evidence insupport of its effectiveness. The therapist in this case might consider using skills training that focuseson problemsolving, stress management to alleviate his depression, developingcommunication skills, practicing substance refusal skills, and developing asocial support network.

How CBT Addresses Addiction

This collaboration helps individuals develop practical strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a well-regarded form of psychotherapy that focuses on recognizing and altering negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to various mental health conditions. This therapeutic approach is problem-oriented, aiming to assist individuals in understanding and managing their thoughts, emotions, and actions effectively. The very substances that are initially perceived as helpful can exacerbate mental health conditions over time.