Do any Fort Myers Counseling Practices Use CBT?

Just as is true of most cities, Fort Meyers, FL hosts many different styles of addiction counseling therapy. This includes scientifically based counseling, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), or faith-based programs, such as the 12-Step program. As you begin researching the various treatment centers in Fort Meyers, it will be important for you to ask what styles of counseling they offer. While some facilities may offer a range of counseling types, some only focus on either a scientific or faith-based style.

In terms of scientific-based counseling, CBT is the most common, because it focuses on solving the problem. In therapy sessions, the therapist and patient work together to come up with behavioral changes that can help the individual deal with the addiction or other mental illness. The treatment doesn’t end with the sessions. Often, the therapist will assign “homework” to the patient, or ask him to engage in specific activities in the time between sessions. This is designed to help the patient take ideas discussed in counseling sessions and put them into practice.

How Does CBT Promote Addiction Recovery in Fort Meyers?

Cognitive behavioral therapy was developed to help a variety of mental illnesses, which triggered bad habits. It was commonly used to help people suffering from eating disorders, for example. In recent years, it has been adapted for use with recovering addicts who are trying to overcome their drug or alcohol substance abuse problems. CBT counseling works well with recovering addicts because it’s intended to attack and change negative thought processes. Since negative thoughts can prompt depressive or anxious thoughts, learning to control them can also help reduce the internal triggers an addict experiences.

People struggling with drug addiction often have an all or nothing mentality that encourages substance abuse. This is the result of negative thought patterns that have been learned over a long period of time, making them difficult to recognize without help. In cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist helps the individual isolate these destructive thoughts. Once they have been identified, those negative thoughts can be changed or eliminated.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is Just One Aspect of Treatment

Many therapists throughout Fort Meyers employ the use of CBT in treating their patients, so this is something you can continue even after completing a rehab treatment program. In a rehab setting, it’s used in conjunction with other types of traditional addiction treatment therapies, such as group meetings, to help the individual cope with addiction. As co-occurring conditions, such as depression or anxiety, have gained more attention, the importance of counseling and of using CBT in particular has become more apparent. By helping individuals address and change their thought patterns and behaviors, therapists can use CBT to help each individual develop a healthier mindset.

Cognitive behavioral therapy isn’t just about learning new behaviors. It’s also about unlearning bad behavior, which is essential to addiction recovery. While it is important to learn new ways of coping with stress and other triggers, recovering addicts must also unlearn the habit of turning to drugs or alcohol. Some counseling techniques a therapist might employ include:

  • Breathing exercises
  • Recognizing subconscious negative thoughts
  • Corrective thinking exercises
  • Learning the power of positive thought

The Benefits of CBT

The primary benefit of CBT is that it helps recovering addicts replace destructive behaviors with healthy practices. They may not even realize how frequently their own negative thoughts are sabotaging their recovery efforts. Since CBT is designed to recognize these thought patterns, recovering addicts become more conscious of those self-defeating thoughts. Often, recovering addicts may not even realize there are alternative ways of thinking, so it becomes easier to make better choices through this type of counseling.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is also beneficial in that it provides the patient with real, actionable ways to help themselves.

While other types of therapy may only focus on internal thoughts and feelings, CBT also provides the individual with strategies for changing their behavior. This helps them feel more in control of their recovery, because they can make meaningful changes in their behaviors. These are practices that they can continue to employ in their daily lives long after they have completed a rehab treatment program.

Our counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions about addiction treatment. By calling 844-639-8371, you can speak with us about your recovery and learn more about the types of treatment we offer. Making this call can help you begin your addiction recovery soon.

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