Effective Measures: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

On a national level right now, we’re experiencing a pattern-interrupt in our lives, both personally and professionally. It’s an analogy we can use when setting up a conversation about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which can serve as an element in addiction treatment to change patterns in thinking and behavior of the person with a substance use disorder, from the inside. Today let’s look at how this problem-solving strategy leads to positive outcomes in the lives of those living with drug or alcohol addiction.

Executives searching for a confidential addiction treatment program can find an added benefit in programs offering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT sessions are guided by the goals identified and prioritized by the client and aimed at changing existing patterns in thinking and behavior that have led to substance use disorders. CBT may be offered as a solo form of psychotherapy and can also be included among the treatment services of a residential program for any type of substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health concern.

Our behavior starts with our thoughts.

The things we think about and how we think about them have a direct impact on our behavior. Over time, we have created patterns in our thinking and in our behaviors. Some of these patterns have been beneficial, while others have led us to detrimental situations. We may be engaged in behaviors that affect our health and well-being, such as unhealthy coping strategies.

We may be unaware of the impact of our negative thoughts.

Left unchecked, negative thoughts that occur throughout our day as a response to specific people, events, or tasks may be quietly influencing our behaviors negatively. The negative thoughts may be automatic, meaning we didn’t consciously conclude something was negative, we just automatically accepted the negative thought as true without testing it first.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy changes the patterns of thinking and behaviors.

As a form of psychotherapy, CBT focuses on the thoughts, behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of a person in treatment. Each one of these cognitive processes has played a role in your addiction, and CBT creates a context where you can begin to see how underlying thoughts and attitudes influence substance use or addiction and may be threatening your livelihood and career now.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a partnership between therapist and client.

One appeal of CBT for executives is that the nature of the work resembles a partnership of the therapist and the client. The client’s goals are driving the sessions and the work done in between sessions, and the client’s feedback on the process can lead to new discoveries and strategies introduced by the therapist.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can supplement more comprehensive addiction treatment services.

CBT can be one component of a confidential, comprehensive treatment program to help someone with addiction move into recovery. In conjunction with treatment for physical dependence on a drug, CBT can connect how a person’s behaviors and thoughts contributed to alcohol or other drug use with one-on-one sessions with a therapist.

The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy comes from its personal approach.

CBT provides the steps to help an individual meet specific goals that have been identified and prioritized by introducing ways to change the patterns of thinking and behavior. These goals may be developing new skills or eliminating existing behavior problems.

Beyond drug and alcohol addiction, CBT can be used to treat a variety of other concerns.

• anger management
• anxiety and panic attacks
• child and adolescent problems
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• chronic pain
• depression
• eating problems
• general health problems
• habits, such as facial tics
• mood swings
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• phobias
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• sexual and relationship problems
• sleep problems

Comprehensive treatment programs offering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are available for executives and other high-profile individuals whose addiction is harming their careers, their reputations, and their personal lives. Customized treatment plans designed by a multidisciplinary team of addiction professionals allow the executive to spend recovery in a confidential location intended specifically to meet their unique set of requirements and needs. Luxury accommodations at this type of residential facility allow a client to rest and reflect in private when not participating in clinical treatment.

Hanley Foundation’s Headwaters is a non-profit addiction treatment program for executives, public figures, other affluent individuals, and their loved ones. Headwaters offers leading-edge, personalized clinical care for mental health and substance use disorders, and our professional and compassionate staff can help you achieve holistic wellness. To start your healing journey, call 561-270-1753 today.