The way we think influences how we feel and everything we do. If you notice, negative thoughts lead to negative feelings and unhealthy behaviours. Therefore, many therapists attempt to modify our perspectives by giving us alternative interpretations of an event or situation. Changing one’s belief system is exactly how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy works.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based intervention that has demonstrated a high success rate in treating a range of conditions, including substance use, behavioural addiction, anxiety disorder, depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other severe mental illnesses.

What sets CBT apart from other psychotherapies is its strong foundation in both research and clinical practice. It is also a goal-driven and problem-oriented approach that provides individuals with long-term skills to maintain their wellness.

CBT is based on the core principles that psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty ways of thinking and learned patterns of unhelpful behaviour, and individuals can learn better ways of coping to relieve symptoms and become more effective in their lives.

Liberty Home Treatment Locations

Our comprehensive treatment programme incorporates evidence-based psychotherapies, including CBT, to treat individuals who are struggling with substance and behavioural addictions as well as mental health conditions.

Liberty Home Clinic

Our primary care treatment plan at Liberty Home Clinic offers intensive support where individuals receive two to three sessions per week using various therapies and holistic approaches to help individuals better manage their symptoms and conditions. Liberty Home Clinic is located in Marina De Gama, Cape Town, South Africa.

Liberty Home Secondary

We ensure that our comprehensive treatment programme extends beyond the reduction of symptoms. We also provide a more specialised intervention in our Liberty Home Secondary. Our facility is a sober living house where individuals are assisted in acquiring the coping skills necessary to deal with the stressors of the outside community. Liberty Home Secondary is situated in Kortrijk, Belgium.

How Liberty Home Uses CBT

Liberty Home is dedicated to providing the highest-quality care to individuals grappling with addiction and mental health problems. Hence, we only use modalities that are known to give the best results and excellent treatment outcomes, including CBT. Take a look at how we have helped countless lives using this therapy.

Evidence from numerous research studies supports the efficacy of CBT for substance addictions. CBT views addiction as a learned behaviour developed by environmental factors and maintained by thought patterns and processes. Specifically, a CBT therapist helps individuals with substance addiction through coping skills and relapse prevention. Individuals are taught some practical skills and strategies to deal with urges, cravings, and stressful situations. Some of the techniques used by CBT therapists include relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, emotion regulation skills, and interpersonal skills.

Substance Addictions

CBT works for behavioural addictions similar to those of substance addiction but with a strong emphasis on behavioural modification and lifestyle changes. The therapist guides individuals to recognise situations or events that trigger compulsive behaviours. The therapist can also help in teaching the individual some strategies to cope with the trigger without needing to engage in behavioural addiction.

Behavioural Addictions

CBT views mental health disorders as a condition that are caused by various factors, particularly faulty ways of thinking and are maintained by unhealthy behaviours. Hence, CBT aims to help individuals by teaching them to explore, identify, and analyse dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behaving. Once these counterproductive patterns are determined, the primary goal of the therapist is to assist the individual in challenging and restructuring the way they think and act. This process leads to a reduction of symptoms and an overall improvement in psychological functioning.

Mental Health Disorders

What Happens During a CBT Session?

CBT is a highly structured form of psychotherapy that follows a specific procedure to help individuals navigate and cope with their condition. Typically, CBT works by:

The initial interaction between the therapist and the individual is crucial in creating a therapeutic alliance, which affects treatment outcomes. The therapist gradually establishes therapeutic relationships with the individual by showing empathy, validating feelings, listening actively, and showing respect for cultural and personal differences. Once the rapport is built, a collaborative approach begins throughout the sessions.

Building Rapport

To identify what contributes to the difficulties of the individual, the therapist performs a functional assessment by analysing how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours interact with each other. It also helps the therapist to capture the specific trigger, the behaviours in response to it, and the outcomes or consequences that follow those behaviours. Assessment may be done through a detailed clinical interview that explores that individual's history and present problems.

Assessment

A CBT therapist believes that the success rate is higher when the individual knows and understands how the therapeutic process works. Hence, the first few sessions of CBT focus on educating the individual about the condition, its symptoms, how it affects daily functioning, and the treatment options available. The rationale of the treatment as well as the formulation of goals are discussed collaboratively during this phase.

Psychoeducation

Central to CBT is the process of cognitive restructuring. Once the faulty thought patterns or cognitive distortions are identified, the therapist guides the individual to challenge, modify, and replace them with a more rational way of thinking. Some of the most commonly identified distortions are catastrophizing, overgeneralization, all-or-nothing thinking, and personification.

Cognitive Restructuring

CBT recognises that while faulty thought causes distress, maladaptive behaviours maintain the difficulties. Hence, the therapist helps the individual identify those unhelpful behaviours and replace them with more adaptive ones. In addition, CBT therapists also teach them various coping skills to effectively deal with symptoms and daily stressors. Some of them may include relaxation skills and breathing exercises.

Behavioural Modification

Another useful characteristic of CBT is its ability to evaluate the individual's progress. Prior to beginning a new session, the therapist and the individual objectively evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for managing symptoms and improving well-being.

Evaluation

Apart from various in-session activities, a CBT therapist may give homework such as journaling, where the individual writes or tracks specific daily situations, thoughts, emotions, behaviours, evidence that supports the thoughts, and alternative thoughts. In addition, self-monitoring tasks may be instructed to evaluate progress outside the therapy sessions.

Homework

Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT is a well-established and widely practised approach to treating individuals with addictions and various mental health conditions. CBT is commonly preferred by many professionals because of its renowned effectiveness and practical application. Some of the critical benefits that CBT can provide include, but are not limited to:

It is an evidence-based treatment with strong support from research and clinical practice.
It is versatile and can be used as a lone treatment or adjunct therapy for almost all forms of addiction and mental health conditions.
Many individuals who undergo CBT notice improvements after attending several sessions.
CBT helps individuals identify unhelpful thought patterns (cognitive distortions) contributing to the condition.
It recognises maladaptive behaviours that maintain distress.
It teaches individuals various coping skills to deal effectively with symptoms and daily stressors.

Get CBT and Discover Treatment at Liberty Home Clinic

CBT is not only about changing our perspectives but also teaching individuals lifelong skills to recover from addictions or mental health conditions and overcome daily stressors. Hence, people from all walks of life can find it extremely beneficial.

If you have been considering therapy for any reason but are unsure if CBT is the right treatment for you, don’t hesitate to seek advice. Our dedicated team is here to assist you in achieving your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CBT a Type of Talk Therapy?

Yes, CBT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on the interaction among thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It helps individuals identify faulty thoughts and problem behaviours. The primary goal is to replace them with healthy ones to reduce symptoms and improve functioning.

Can CBT Help Addiction?

CBT is a type of therapy that has long been recognised as an effective treatment for both substance and behavioural addictions. This intervention allows the individuals to identify triggers and develop skills to manage addictive behaviours.

Can CBT therapy sessions be Done Online?

CBT’s flexibility allows it to be delivered in person, virtually, or online. Although research suggests that both modalities are equally effective in treating different conditions, online CBT may pose some risks related to confidentiality and technical difficulties.

How Do I Know if CBT is for Me?

Yes. Because mental health and addiction addiction often go hand in hand, many treatment modalities, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy, are adaptable enough that they can be used to treat both.

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