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Therapies – CBT

Build Lasting Recovery With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in NJ

Reshape Your Thinking, Reclaim Your Recovery

THE WAY YOU THINK SHAPES HOW YOU FEEL

Addiction is more than a physical; it is deeply immersed in the long-term patterns of our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that we are unable to free ourselves from.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) changes those patterns by allowing people to see how what we think influences how we feel and how we act. Through therapy, we help the individual build relationships with themselves that empower them to alter those cycles in long-lasting and significant ways.

At Meridian Recovery in Sewell, New Jersey, CBT is one of the evidence-based therapeutic methods used in our addiction treatment programs. This therapy allows the individual to gain the skills needed during treatment and to develop those that will help them in their lives after treatment.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, commonly referred to as CBT, is a structured, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing the maladaptive behaviors and distorted thought patterns that are responsible for substance use and co-occurring mental health issues.[1] CBT is one of the most extensively researched and well-supported forms of treatment for addiction, anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

CBT is provided to clients by licensed clinical professionals in either structured individual or group therapy sessions and is used in a variety of treatment plans within Meridian Recovery’s continuum of care. CBT serves as a common thread and primary method of therapeutic intervention in the majority of the populations we serve.

How CBT Works

The foundation of CBT is based on the belief that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected and that changing one will result in a change in the others. Within addiction recovery, this means exploring the fulfillment of our automatic thought patterns and negative beliefs that trigger or lead to substance use and replacing those thoughts with more accurate and positive thoughts and behaviors.

CBT can help:

Identify automatic negative thoughts
Examine and challenge distorted beliefs
Develop behavioral strategies
Practice and reinforce new patterns

The coping skills developed through the use of CBT will not only benefit the client while they are receiving therapy but will continue to stay with them after finishing treatment as they become a part of the client’s ongoing thought processes and response to their environment.

Who Is CBT Right For?

CBT is one of the most widely used forms of therapy and is available to everyone who enters treatment for the purpose of recovery. CBT is a particularly effective treatment for individuals who:

Struggle with negative thought patterns, self-defeating beliefs, or distorted ways of thinking about themselves that contribute to addiction.
Have co-occurring mental health disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, or OCD along with their addiction.
Have difficulty identifying specific triggers and thought patterns leading to cravings or relapse.
Prefer a structured, skills-based therapeutic approach with practical, applicable tools and strategies toward recovery.
Are working on resolving the causes of past negative experiences and present-day behaviors.
Benefit from a goal-oriented therapeutic approach and wish to track their progress as they advance through their recovery.

CBT’s structure makes it effective and accessible, even to individuals who may be skeptical of the process or who have not participated in professional therapeutic or treatment services before.

The Efficacy of CBT for Substance Use Disorder

CBT has one of the most solid and reliable evidence bases of all treatment options used to treat addiction. Research findings indicate:

Proven effectiveness across substance types — The effectiveness of CBT has been supported by peer-reviewed research, SAMHSA, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This research confirms its effectiveness in treating alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and other types of substance abuse.[2]
Durable long-term outcomes — Studies show that clients who complete formal CBT treatment can continue to use the knowledge and skills learned for many years after treatment, helping them maintain sobriety long-term.[3]
Highly effective for co-occurring disorders — Originally designed to treat depression and anxiety, CBT is one of the most effective methods for treating co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.[4]
Adaptable across treatment settings — CBT can be used successfully in both group and individual therapy settings at all levels of care, including inpatient, outpatient, and intensive outpatient programs.[5]

Across populations, settings, and substance types, CBT delivers meaningful and lasting results and has proven its consistency time and time again.

What to Expect from CBT

For clients who have not yet experienced CBT, the following information provides a basic overview:

Early sessions — The first few sessions focus primarily on psychoeducation, providing you with an understanding of the cognitive model and how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect. Your therapist will help identify the specific negative thinking patterns and external occurrences that are the most important triggers for your substance use.
Skills development — Once you have developed an understanding of CBT, your sessions will shift to developing and practicing specific cognitive and behavioral skills. You will be taught to identify automatic and irrational negative thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with positive and rational thoughts.
Application and reinforcement — CBT occurs both in the therapy session and between sessions. You will be encouraged to practice your skills in real-life situations and then review at your next session what worked, what did not work, and how to continue refining your skills in the future.

Most clients find that CBT feels practical and manageable, less about analyzing the past and more about building tools for the present and future.

Start Building the Skills That Change Everything

If you or a loved one is looking for cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorder in New Jersey, Meridian Recovery is here to help. Reach out to our admissions team today to learn more about how CBT fits into our individualized addiction treatment programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About CBT for Addiction

Is CBT therapy covered by insurance?

Most likely. CBT is an effective and researched treatment method, and many private insurance carriers provide coverage for it as part of overall treatment for substance use disorder or other mental health illnesses.

How many sessions does CBT usually take?

The total number depends on the assessment of the individual and whether they are treating a substance use disorder alone or co-occurring mental health disorders. While CBT tends to be a shorter-term form of treatment than other traditional therapies, it is delivered as part of a comprehensive program rather than as a standalone treatment.

What mental health conditions does CBT treat?

There are many benefits to individual therapy during addiction treatment such as: gaining a comprehensive understanding of the root cause of substance use, developing a personalized coping strategy to manage triggers and cravings, showing clients how to address co-occurring mental health disorders, creating a strong foundation for long-term recovery, and providing information to clients to reduce the chances of a relapse following the completion of treatment.

Who is not a good candidate for CBT?

What is the success rate of CBT for addiction?

CBT is the most researched form of therapy in addiction treatment. As documented by SAMHSA and NIDA, CBT has been proven to reduce an individual’s substance use while in treatment, and clients continue to use the skills learned well beyond the end of their formal treatment.[6][7]

Sources

[1] Chand, S. P., Kuckel, D. P., & Huecker, M. R. (2023). Cognitive behavioral therapy. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470241/

[2] [3] [4] [5] McHugh, R. K., Hearon, B. A., & Otto, M. W. (2010). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for substance use disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 33(3), 511–525. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2897895/

[6] Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (1999). Quick Guide for clinicians based on TIP 34 Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance abuse. In TIP 34. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma15-4136.pdf

[7] Volkow, N. D. (2014c). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). In National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf