Reducing addiction: CBT
Aims to change the maladaptive ways of thinking and behaving associated w
substance or addiction. First a functional analysis identifies the cog biases, cog
restructuring (replacing the cog bias w more adaptive ways of thinking). Second
is skills training helps a client to develop coping behaviours to avoid the high-
risk situations that usually maintain addictions or trigger relapse.
1 functional analysis – CBT starts w client and therapist identifying the high-
risk situations in which the client is likely to gamble or use a substance.
Therapist reflects on what the client is thinking before, during and after a
situation. The quality of the client-therapist relationship is therefore critical as
it must be collaborative but not cosy as they challenge the client’s biased
cognitions instead of accepting them. Cog restructuring – addresses the client’s
faulty beliefs about probability or gains. These are confronted and challenged
by the therapist, giving the client info about the nature of chance. Early phases
it helps a client identify the triggers for their addiction, and then later helps
them work out the circumstances which they are still having problems coping
w.
2 skills training – CBT helps the client replace their coping of problems by their
addiction with more constructive ones. Therapist will call upon a wide range of
skills training techniques.
Cognitive restructuring to tackle the biases. E.g. gambling addiction they’ll
address the client’s faulty beliefs about probability, randomness, control, gains
and losses. These are confronted and challenged by the therapist.
Aims to change the maladaptive ways of thinking and behaving associated w
substance or addiction. First a functional analysis identifies the cog biases, cog
restructuring (replacing the cog bias w more adaptive ways of thinking). Second
is skills training helps a client to develop coping behaviours to avoid the high-
risk situations that usually maintain addictions or trigger relapse.
1 functional analysis – CBT starts w client and therapist identifying the high-
risk situations in which the client is likely to gamble or use a substance.
Therapist reflects on what the client is thinking before, during and after a
situation. The quality of the client-therapist relationship is therefore critical as
it must be collaborative but not cosy as they challenge the client’s biased
cognitions instead of accepting them. Cog restructuring – addresses the client’s
faulty beliefs about probability or gains. These are confronted and challenged
by the therapist, giving the client info about the nature of chance. Early phases
it helps a client identify the triggers for their addiction, and then later helps
them work out the circumstances which they are still having problems coping
w.
2 skills training – CBT helps the client replace their coping of problems by their
addiction with more constructive ones. Therapist will call upon a wide range of
skills training techniques.
Cognitive restructuring to tackle the biases. E.g. gambling addiction they’ll
address the client’s faulty beliefs about probability, randomness, control, gains
and losses. These are confronted and challenged by the therapist.
