Self-esteem concerns your opinion of yourself, including beliefs about your worth, limitations, and capabilities. Low self-esteem can affect all areas of life, such as your relationships, motivation, ability to make decisions confidently, and overall health. Thankfully, self-esteem is not “fixed.” If you have low self-esteem, it can change. In research, we repeatedly see that cognitive behavioral therapy can increase self-esteem in diverse groups. So, what should you know about cognitive behavioral therapy and self-esteem in addiction recovery? Roaring Brook Recovery is here to answer your questions and give you the quality of care you deserve.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Self-Esteem in Addiction Recovery
Our center uses a goal-oriented treatment process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a treatment that can aid people in meeting a wide variety of goals. On the topic of cognitive behavioral therapy and self-esteem in addiction recovery, specifically, here are some of the things it can help you with.
Recognize and Challenge Negative Thoughts
Self-esteem is often influenced by maladaptive patterns of thinking. One of the main objectives of cognitive behavioral therapy is to recognize and challenge negative thoughts, which are also called cognitive distortions. This helps you change your thinking, which can increase your self-compassion and ability to rely on yourself.
Restructure Core Beliefs
Often, when low self-esteem is persistent, people have core beliefs about themselves that are not helpful. This is also common in people with addiction, trauma, and other mental health concerns, like depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you restructure core beliefs that do not serve you. For example, someone might believe themselves to be “incapable” or “less-than” when they start therapy. Replacing these beliefs with new ones, like “I am capable,” can help you succeed.
Change Behavioral Patterns
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you take note of how your thoughts influence your actions. This is why it is often used in addiction treatment to help clients change behavioral patterns. This can aid relapse prevention. It can also help you overcome a broader range of behaviors that might stem from low self-esteem, which can increase quality of life.
Build a Strong Set of Skills
Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help people build a strong set of skills that support addiction recovery and self-esteem. For example, you might go over communication strategies, ways to navigate addiction triggers, problem-solving techniques, and healthy coping mechanisms in therapy sessions.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Lexington, KY
We offer cognitive behavioral therapy in Lexington, KY. Evidence-based treatments, including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and 12-step programming, are the cornerstone of our approach to treatment. Clients in addiction treatment at Roaring Brook Recovery will participate in CBT sessions and other treatments throughout the following programs:
Partial Hospitalization Program
The partial hospitalization program (PHP) at Roaring Brook Recovery is our highest level of care. People in this program come to treatment for about four hours per day, five days per week. Your schedule will consist of groups, individual therapy sessions, and other activities (e.g., family therapy sessions, specialized support groups), depending on your personal treatment plan.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
The intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Roaring Brook Recovery meets four days per week for around three hours each day. While the same effective approach, which includes CBT, is used, this lower time commitment allows clients to balance responsibilities like work or school with therapy.
Call Roaring Brook Recovery to Learn More About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Self-Esteem in Addiction Recovery
Roaring Brook Recovery is a top-rated outpatient drug and alcohol rehab center in Lexington, Kentucky. Always adapting to fit the needs of our clients, we offer a variety of specialized programs and services. Call Roaring Brook Recovery to learn more about cognitive behavioral therapy and self-esteem in addiction recovery now at (866) 930-9299.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a cognitive distortion in cognitive behavioral therapy?
In cognitive behavioral therapy, you will likely hear the term “cognitive distortion.” A cognitive distortion is a distorted, negative, or irrational way of thinking that can contribute to emotional distress and unhelpful behaviors. Cognitive distortions can take different forms, such as all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, or catastrophizing.
What are some examples of cognitive distortions that can negatively impact self-esteem?
Many cognitive distortions can affect self-esteem. For example:
- Discounting the positive: Explaining away good things and thinking that they “do not count.” In the context of self-esteem, this might include discounting your own successes, progress, or positive traits.
- Labeling: Assigning a label to yourself rather than seeing yourself comprehensively. For example, instead of thinking, “I made a mistake,” you might assign a label to yourself, such as “failure.”
- Magnification or minimization: Blowing your own faults out of proportion or minimizing your strengths.
Noticing these patterns is the first step toward changing them, which is part of why we often work on identifying cognitive distortions in CBT sessions.
Is cognitive behavioral therapy an effective treatment for drug and alcohol addiction?
Yes. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a popular, research-backed treatment for addiction. It has demonstrated efficacy both as a monotherapy and when combined with other treatments.
How is CBT used at Roaring Brook Recovery?
We use a combined approach so that clients can get the benefits of more than one treatment approach. Your treatment plan may combine CBT with other treatments offered at our center, which may include, but aren’t limited to, the following.
- Accelerated resolution therapy.
- Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
- Trauma therapy.
- Experiential therapies.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
- Neurofeedback.
- 12-step.
If you have any questions about treatment at Roaring Brook Recovery, please give us a call.
Is CBT covered by insurance?
Yes. Insurance companies cover most evidence-based therapies for addiction and mental health, including CBT, which is one of the most popular types of therapy. Roaring Brook Recovery accepts most insurances and other payment methods. If you would like to run a cost and commitment-free insurance verification check or are not sure how to pay for treatment, please call our admissions line. We’re here to help you find solutions.
What should I expect in a cognitive behavioral therapy session?
CBT is a non-invasive therapeutic modality. It is a type of talk therapy, so sessions will include talking with a licensed mental health professional. During your first session, you might talk about things like why you are in treatment, goals you might want to work on (this is also something a therapist can help you with if you aren’t sure), or your personal history. Future sessions will involve things like identifying and modifying maladaptive thought patterns, discussing challenges, reviewing progress, and learning coping strategies.