Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mental Health and Dual-Diagnosis
Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques in Mental Health Treatment
CBT has been shown to be an effective tool in treating mental health conditions although not everyone benefiting from the therapy necessarily has a mental illness. CBT has become very popular in recent years with more people using the therapy to help them manage stressful lives. Basically, CBT identifies the negative thought processes that generally drive mental health conditions and seeks to change them.
CBT is a very useful tool for helping people deal with emotional challenges in healthier ways. For example, it may help:
- Reduce or eliminate the symptoms of mental illness
- Prevent relapse of symptoms
- Provide an alternative route to medications
- As a coping mechanism for stressful situations
- Resolve relationship issues and improve communication
- Overcoming grief or loss
- Manage symptoms of a chronic physical condition
Mental illnesses are almost always long-term health conditions that require support and treatment for many years, sometimes a lifetime. CBT is a therapy that can provide people with this support when they need it and they can choose to reduce or increase the frequency of sessions as they require.
The Pros of Cognitive Behavioral Techniques
CBT is similar to addiction counseling in that it involves plenty of individual therapy sessions. However, the difference with CBT is that it is a very precisely personalized program based on the patient’s individual attitudes to themselves, the world around them and their future. Many people with addiction illnesses become isolated and withdrawn from those closest to them, often fearing harsh judgment if they admit their problem to others. CBT provides them with a platform to unravel their damaged psyches, seeking out the original reason for their substance abuse and addressing it.
CBT differs from other “talk therapies” in that it involves building skills to cope in recovery. This is done by identifying negative responses in the past and seeking to change those behaviors, leading to better choices. For example, if a person started abusing substances in a bid to reduce the symptoms of a mental illness like depression, CBT can help them deal with those symptoms in healthier ways and without resorting to using substances.
CBT also involves patients in their own therapy by encouraging them to complete homework assignments that include researching their illness. It is crucial that someone suffering from addiction understands that they can regain control of their lives with treatment and CBT empowers them to do this on their own.
Casa Recovery offers Mental Health Treatment in San Juan Capistrano
CBT is often offered as a component of a personalized treatment program at Casa Recovery. We recognize that everyone has an individual experience of mental illness which requires a specific approach. Our treatment center is located in some of the most beautiful surroundings in California which creates a tranquil feel that promotes healing. If you or a loved one needs help to overcome a mental illness, contact Casa Recovery in Orange County and get the mental health treatment you need today.