Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• CBT is a method for treating physchological disorders based on cognitive and behavioural techniques. the cognitive side aims to deal with thinking and challenging irrational thoughts. the behavioural side includes techniques such as skills training and reinforcement
• CBT starts with functional analysis, where the client and therapist work together to identify high risk situations. they work out which distorted thoughts and irrational beliefs trigger cravings and addiction related behaviours. they reflect on what the client is thinking before, during and after. this helps find out what skills may need to be developed further
• cognitive restructuring is where the CBT therapist challenges the clients distortions. the client may not be aware how their faulty thinking affects their behaviour, or they may believe they have been coping well until now. the therapist then asks for evidence of this which forces the client to rethink their irrational beliefs
• the client learns new skills to replace their main way of coping (their addiction). the CBT therapist can use a range of skills training techniques such as anger management. the therapist provides opportunities for the client to practise these skills in a safe environment and through 'homework tasks'
• the client learns techniques to help prevent relapse. they learn to identify cues that trigger their addiction and learn to cope as sometimes these cues are unable to be avoided. the client learns to identify irrational thoughts and to challenge them. this then removes the trigger. the client can then use their skills to cope with the situation such as using assertiveness to refuse alcohol. the client learns that its not the situation that makes them drink, but that that thought is a distorted way of thinking
• one strength of CBT is that there is research evidence in CBT being effective in treating drug addictions. A study reviewing CBT with substance use disorders found that shorter CBT programmes were more effective than longer ones, and women benefitted more than men. they estimated that 58% of CBT clients had better outcomes than those in control groups. this is strong evidence that CBT is an effective therapy for a wide range of substance addictions.
• one weakness of CBT is there is evidence suggesting it does not have any real long term benefits. a study found that the benefits of CBT for substance abuse tailed off after 6-9 months. the benefits reduced further after a year. these findings suggest that CBT is only effective as a short-term treatment of addiction.