Ads from Google:


Google ad
End of ad
Google Adsense ad
End of ads.

Cognitive Therapy for Addiction

Abstract: Description of cognitive therapy for addictions.

Web4Health logo
psychologist Independent medical expert answers on psychiatry and psychology

Cognitive Therapy for Addiction

Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question  Local help Info


Go the top of the page Top Forum iconDiscuss this Forum iconGet expert advice Printer Print
Question(s): 
Written by: Wendy Moelker, Psychologist in charge, tutor, Emergis center for mental health care, Goes, the Netherlands.
First version: 22 Jul 2008.
Latest revision: 22 Jul 2008.

What is cognitive therapy for addiction?

Answer:

Cognitive therapy is always conducted by a therapist, who has had special training in this method. The therapy can take place either in group sessions or individually (with the therapist). Sessions take about forty-five minutes to an hour on average.

Cognitive therapy is based on the concept that people have certain patterns of thoughts about things that they do or experiences in daily life. Together with the therapist, the thoughts related to the addiction are determined. These thoughts are often thoughts that maintain the addiction or discourage the person to cut the habit. Typical of these thoughts is that you believe that they are true, but can't prove it, and also that you are afraid that these thoughts are true or may become true. Examples of these thoughts are:

  • My addiction is stronger than me; I have no control over it.
  • People think I am a failure because I am addicted.
  • I will not find new friends when I cut the habit.
  • I am just a weak person.

Subsequently, the therapy will try to convert these thoughts to more useful and positive thoughts through assignments and so-called provocation exercises. Examples of more positive and useful thoughts are:

  • I don't know if my addiction is stronger than me; I can only find out if I fully submit myself to the treatment.
  • I don't know what other people think about me; I know for myself that I am not a failure just because I'm addicted.
  • I talk to other people easily and I often have a positive attitude, so it is certainly possible to make new friends. I just need to give myself some time.
  • I am working on my addiction and I am trying to resume my life, so I am certainly not a failure.
These new thoughts are not formed within a day; they need time to be accepted by the person himself.
Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question:
Local help Info
Google ad
End of ad
Disclaimer: The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It can not and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. If you find anything wrong, please notify us at .
Go to top of page To top of page
Web4Health in other languages: Finnish German Greek Italian Polish Russian Swedish

add-general-cognitive Copyright 2003-2017 Web4Health
Copyright 2003-2017 Web4Health.
Web4Health was selected as finalist for the 2008 Stockholm Challenge Award
Translate Web4Health
We seek voluntary translators who are interested in translating Web4Health to new languages. We can provide the servers, and pay you 50 % of the income from ads on pages, which you have translated. We are especially interested in translators from German To English, From German, Swedish or English to French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Finnish, Polish, Farsi, Russian.
web4health.info/en/tr/

Advertise here
Reach 300 000 visitors reading one million pages for a cost of 600 US $/month.
/en/ad/