When you are suffering from a mental health or substance use disorder – or both – and have decided to seek health and recovery, you may want to know what you’re in for. If you have heard that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for addiction, you heard correctly. So now you ask, “How long does CBT take?” The good news is that CBT is a goal-oriented, time-limited therapy that follows a different time frame than the years-long time commitments once considered standard in mental health care. You can access Pennsylvania cognitive-behavioral therapy at Naaman (Naaman).
To learn about the length of CBT as well as more information about this important and effective psychotherapy, reach out to Naaman today by calling 888.541.9239 or completing our online form.
What Is CBT?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment that focuses on shifting damaging thoughts, beliefs, and emotions to change behaviors. It can also create balance and wellness. It was based originally on observations of how people struggling with mental health disorders are trapped in cycles of damaging behaviors because of their disordered or maladaptive thinking.
In CBT, you will learn to reframe your thinking patterns. Several damaging kinds of thinking can seriously affect behaviors, including self-medication via alcohol or drugs. Some are listed below:
Emotional Reasoning
This form of thinking causes people to believe that feeling a certain emotion makes it a reflection of what is true. You may feel lonely and worthless, so you binge drink or self-harm because you must actually be worthless, and your loneliness is inevitable.
Black and White Thinking
This all-or-nothing mentality can derail any plan. For example, someone in recovery who relapses decides that they are incapable of living a sober life, so they give up and return to using.
Overgeneralization
This kind of cognitive distortion means that someone takes something that happened once or twice and applies it to all situations. If someone experiences two bad first dates in a row, they believe they are unlovable and incapable of finding a life partner.
Filtered Thinking
People who filter their thinking often do it to prove a belief about themselves. They will only remember the times when they succeeded and forget about the many failures that preceded it. For example, a person who is trying to stay sober may only remember how many times they relapsed in the past and not their successful periods of sobriety.
Magnification
This type of thinking makes a big deal out of small problems or setbacks while minimizing signs of the positive. Someone addicted to substances might magnify the extent of their pain, so waking up pain-free one morning may be considered a fluke.
Jumping to Conclusions
This cognitive error is characterized by making assumptions without evidence. A person may believe they are always being talked about or that others are judging them harshly.
Length of CBT
This evidence-based and effective therapy usually involves weekly 30 to 60-minute sessions with a CBT-trained therapist projected for twelve to twenty weeks. In other words, on average, the answer to the question, “How long does CBT take?” can be three months, though in some cases takes up to five or six.
This is a far cry from the traditional forms of therapy that might take a year or years. CBT works very well in many situations, including for addiction recovery.
Learn More at Naaman
At Naaman, we always personalize your treatment plan, which means your care team will create a map for your therapies and support groups while you are in rehab. That plan will take into account your medical and mental health history and many other factors. Your length of CBT will be just right for you. However, if you need more time to conclude your therapy successfully, you will have it. We offer CBT, among other treatment options, such as:
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
Learn more about the length of CBT, the benefits of behavioral therapies, and how CBT and other treatments at Naaman. We can help you achieve lasting sobriety. Call 888.541.9239 or reach out to us via online form.