Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most important foundations for substance abuse recovery. Studies show that CBT is very effective at helping people achieve and maintain sobriety, with around 60% of patients who participated in CBT showing a clean toxicology report after one year.
Because it targets not just a person’s triggers and vulnerabilities but also their underlying thought processes and emotional control, cognitive behavioral therapy remains one of the primary strategies for equipping those struggling with addiction to live fulfilling lives.
However, for many, cognitive behavioral therapy achieves the greatest success when they are not tackling their addiction struggles alone. Maintaining a strong support network can make the transition into a sober lifestyle much easier and help it to stay.
For family members and friends seeking to support a loved one during their recovery and beyond, it is not always clear what to do.
Here are some suggestions for supporting a loved one through CBT for substance abuse.
Why Support Matters During CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy targets the individual with a personalized approach to their addiction based on their own thought processes and challenges. However, to get the most out of their new skill set, those participating in CBT can utilize their support network to:
- Practice new habits: Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to replace habits that may lead to substance abuse with new, more productive ones. Support from family and friends can allow the participant to practice these new habits so that they become routine and easy.
- Find support when it’s hard: Going through any difficulty alone, addiction or otherwise, is more challenging than doing so with friends and family. Relying on support can give people the stamina and hope they need to overcome setbacks or fatigue.
- Redirect attention away from using: In moments of difficulty, those who have access to a support network have more options for redirecting their thoughts or behaviors away from returning to their substance. They do not have to fight these intrusive thoughts alone in the quiet.
How to Support a Loved One During CBT
If you know someone who is currently participating in cognitive behavioral therapy to overcome their substance abuse challenges, there are many ways that you can help. Some ideas to consider are:
Be present: Sometimes, all a person needs is someone else to sit with them, even in silence. Try to be available to offer time, whether via visiting in person or simply responding to texts or calls.- Find activities: It is helpful for someone recovering from substance abuse to model the new behaviors they would like to turn into habits. As your loved one learns new routines and strategies in CBT, look for activities they enjoy so they have a strong starting place for new hobbies and interests that can occupy their time.
- Learn about what they’re learning: Cognitive behavioral therapy is not only useful for the person battling substance abuse! Learning about how CBT works and what principles drive its practices can not only benefit your life but can also help you understand what your loved one is going through. From this place of knowledge, their support network can align with CBT’s goals to promote a more effective recovery process.
- Be strong when they aren’t: It is normal for those recovering from substance addiction to struggle from time to time. A support network can help identify temptations or moments when the patient’s behaviors have fallen out of alignment with their CBT goals and strategies. Helping them to stay consistent with their new habits and practices can strengthen these behaviors.
- Help them find more support: A person can only reach out to the resources and people they know. If you have friends who have also participated in CBT or know of a resource that may be helpful for the person recovering from substance use, do not hesitate to share it! Consider actively looking together so the CBT participant has as many support structures as possible.
- Voice support: Recovering from a substance addiction is challenging, and CBT can present a valuable but difficult transition of its own. Simply having friends and family who explicitly voice their support can make a significant difference. Do not hesitate to say that you are proud of them or that you will be there to help whenever they need it.
Learn How CBT Can Help With Addiction
Substance abuse affects millions of people each year. While cognitive behavioral therapy is a useful tool for overcoming the reliance on substances and living a life in accordance with personal goals and dreams, there is no need to tackle this process alone.
Family members and friends are essential in supporting a loved one through their CBT process. Contact Aquila Recovery Clinic to learn more about CBT and how those in recovery and their families can grow through the process.