Behavioral Therapy for Addiction

Seeking treatment for addiction can be a tremendous challenge. There are so many different approaches to recovery care, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. How can you tell which approach is right for you or your loved one? Behavioral therapy is one of the commonly used methods of treating addiction and can work well in most cases. What is cognitive-behavioral therapy, and what is its role in counseling for addiction? How can behavioral therapies help people who are dealing with issues related to mental health, substance abuse, and addiction? In order to empower yourself to make the best choices about your recovery care, it is essential to learn how behavioral therapy for addiction can help.

What Is Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral therapy is a term that describes a group of therapies focusing on the treatment of mental health disorders. These types of therapies tend to center on helping clients identify and change behaviors that are unhealthy, counterproductive, and rooted in trauma. Behavioral therapy can help people who are living with all kinds of mental health conditions, some of which are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Phobias
• Substance use disorders
• Self-harming or cutting
• Bipolar disorder and other personality or mood disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

How Can Behavioral Therapy Help People Dealing with Substance Abuse and Addiction?

The most important thing to note about the role of behavioral therapy in addiction treatment is that it is extremely common for people who are experiencing substance abuse or addiction to also experience other mental health conditions. This situation is often called co-occurring disorders and requires dual diagnosis treatment. Also, living with a substance use disorder can, in itself, lead to traumatic experiences. People who are trying to change their relationship with substances can enormously benefit from a behavioral approach to therapy.

What Are the Different Kinds of Behavioral Therapy?

Several different types of therapy can be classified as behavioral therapy, many of which can be found in the context of a substance abuse treatment program. Some of these are:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT focuses on both patterns of action and patterns of thinking, attempting to identify unhealthy patterns and replace them with healthier, more productive ones. This type of behavioral therapy is very common.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – This type of therapy attempts to instill a sense of resilience and emotional flexibility through activities that promote mindfulness and introspection.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – This type of therapy focuses on four modules: core mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation. Clients learn skills and coping strategies to help them deal with obstacles and difficult circumstances, as well as improve their interpersonal relations.

Can Behavioral Therapy Help You or Your Loved One?

In almost every case, the answer to this question is yes. Even for those clients who aren’t sure that they require mental health treatment, participating in behavioral therapy during the course of substance abuse treatment can significantly improve their sense of personal well-being, as well as help them identify elements of their thinking and behavior that may be holding them back from achieving their goals in recovery.

Greater Boston Recovery Centers Offer Behavioral Therapy for Addiction

Clients at our treatment centers have access to the therapies and treatments they need in order to lay down the burden of addiction and achieve their recovery goals. Our staff of highly trained clinicians works together with each client to develop an individual plan for treatment that will work with the client’s specific needs. If you or someone you care about has been struggling with substance abuse and addiction, reach out to our caring and compassionate staff today at 877.920.6583 or contact us online.