Telehealth Login

|

(833) 448-0127

Telehealth Login

(833) 448-0127

Tag: cbt

How Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Is Used in Addiction Treatment

Posted on by cmarnew

People often think that rehab is the only solution when dealing with addiction. They might imagine using heavy drugs to detox or spending time in isolation while in recovery. But that is not how recovery works, and an important component of addiction treatment involves therapy. One of the most common types of therapy used to help people overcome addiction is cognitive-behavioral therapy, also known as CBT.

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery offers cognitive-behavioral therapy in Colorado. CBT is a type of talk therapy that looks at how thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors interact to influence feelings and actions. We understand the importance CBT can be for a patient’s addiction recovery. If you think CBT could be beneficial for you, please get in touch with us at 833.448.0127 to speak with one of our team members about how CBT can be effective for addiction.

What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that leads people through problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so that they can learn new patterns of behavior and overcome addiction. CBT helps patients discover connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions and increases awareness of how each impacts their recovery. Armed with this knowledge, individuals in recovery can begin taking steps toward a healthier life.

CBT is commonly used to treat other disorders that can co-occur with addiction, including:

  • Eating disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Attention deficit disorder

So, you’re probably wondering, “Is CBT effective for addiction?” The answer is yes. Studies have shown that CBT is an effective form of treatment for addiction and helps individuals develop healthier coping skills to cope with their cravings. With the proper guidance from a therapist, people can gain the tools they need to break free from their addictions and make lasting changes in their lives.

How Does CBT Work?

By engaging in cognitive-behavioral therapy, patients learn that many of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not rational. Many stem from environmental factors, past experiences, or current stressors. Understanding these things and how they relate to addiction empowers them to be more successful in the recovery process.

Therapists help patients identify their automatic, negative thought patterns and discover where they originate. These subconscious thoughts are often based on misconceptions and lead to impulses that are hard to control. Those dealing with addiction will then self-medicate to avoid the pain that comes with it.

CBT is based on the belief that facing these negative thought patterns and the subconscious reasons behind them helps reduce the pain associated with them. When the pain is lessened, patients can replace the negative behaviors associated with addiction with new, positive approaches and techniques they learn during treatment.

How Does CBT Help Those with Drug or Alcohol Addiction?

There are many benefits to using CBT in addiction recovery. Because CBT deals with thought processes and how they affect behaviors, changes in how patients deal with negative thinking bring about positive results. CBT essentially equips patients with the tools needed to sustain lasting results. There are several other benefits of CBT for addiction recovery:

  • Teaches patients how to communicate effectively
  • Gives patients a healthier way to handle negative emotions and situations
  • Equips patients with tools to improve their moods and handle stress
  • Helps patients resolve the negative or false beliefs that led to addiction
  • Provides patients with ways to deal with triggers and cravings
  • Helps patients recognize and identify what led to their addiction

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery offers cognitive-behavioral therapy services that are tailored to each individual’s needs. To learn more about how cognitive-behavioral therapy can aid your recovery journey, please get in touch with us at 833.448.0127. We would be more than happy to discuss the effectiveness of CBT for addiction with you.

Various CBT Techniques

Each therapist will have a different approach, but many of the techniques used are similar. A therapist who uses a cognitive-behavioral therapy approach might ask a client to keep a thought journal to disprove their negative thoughts. They may work on behavioral experiments with the client where negative and positive thought patterns are compared to determine which is more effective.

This reframing of thoughts helps the client take a more positive approach. Another approach is to create a self-care list. This is a list of healthy, enjoyable activities meant to encourage positive emotions and break up the day’s routine. Imagery-based exposure is another technique that involves recalling painful memories in detail to eventually reduce the pain they cause. These are just a few techniques therapists can draw from to help with addiction treatment.

Benefits of CBT in Combination with an Addiction Treatment Program

Is CBT effective for addiction?—the truth is that cognitive-behavioral therapy has been proven to be effective for addiction recovery. Research shows that people have higher success rates when CBT is combined with other therapies and treatments, such as 12-step programs or medications.

CBT helps those dealing with addiction by providing them with the tools needed to identify negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier actions. When combined with other treatments, it can provide an even greater benefit to those recovering from addiction. Some other significant benefits of CBT in combination with an addiction treatment program can include :

  • Reduction of cravings and relapse risk
  • Improvement in self-control and decision making
  • Increase in social skills
  • Enhancement of stress management techniques
  • Increase in motivation for recovery and long-term abstinence from substance use

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is devoted to helping those struggling with addiction. We understand how difficult it can be to break free from addiction, and we offer cognitive-behavioral therapy as one of the tools that can help you.

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery Uses CBT in Addiction Treatment

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery can help patients looking to use therapy in their addiction treatment. Whether dealing with alcohol dependence, opioid withdrawal symptoms, or another type of addiction, we work toward a complete recovery for patients using CBT and other therapy methods. Options include telehealth and outpatient programs to meet a variety of needs. Visit our website or contact us at 833.448.0127 for more information.

CBT Program in Colorado

Posted on by cmarnew

Many people who struggle with addiction and co-occurring mental health issues like depression or anxiety can benefit from a cognitive-behavioral therapy program (CBT). This type of therapy has helped many get back to living healthy and productive lives. The stigma of needing therapy is long gone as millions in the US suffer from stress and anxiety, leading to more severe problems like depression and suicide.

At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we offer CBT programs to help you get back on your feet and build healthy coping skills for sustainable recovery. Our certified therapists will work with you to get to the root cause of your addiction and help you stop turning to drugs and alcohol. When you are ready to help yourself or a loved one with their addiction, call 833.448.0127 today to learn more.

What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychological treatment with proven results in helping patients deal with a wide range of behavioral issues. These include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Substance abuse
  • Eating disorders
  • Marital troubles
  • Social anxiety

If someone is suffering from addiction, it is from an underlying issue and not simply because they want to drink or smoke. The temporary high is a big draw for those looking for an escape. Therapy programs that treat physical addiction often fail because they only treat one side of the addiction.

Benefits of CBT

Through a combination of individual therapy and group sessions, your therapist will work you through finding that first moment that started your addiction by looking at what drove you to this coping device. You might have experienced trauma in the past or might have turned to drugs and alcohol to feel relief from mental health conditions.

When you begin a cognitive-behavioral therapy program and begin dealing with what is driving your addiction, you will start feeling many positive benefits. These include:

  • New coping mechanisms
  • A calmer self
  • Improved communications skills
  • Improved mental clarity
  • New supportive friends that you can count on

The goal of any CBT program is to help you find ways to deal with triggers in a healthy way. These coping skills are helpful tools that you will use throughout your life.

Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Right for You?

Finding the right therapy program can be difficult if you don’t know the underlying issue. You try to quit on your own, only to fail a few days or even months later, sometimes with challenging results as a relapse tends to try and make up for lost time. Your tolerance levels have dropped, but you still think you can handle as much as you once did.

Other treatment centers only focus on the addiction itself and isolate you from your regular life, but don’t do anything to find the root cause of the issue. Their method is to treat the addiction, then send you off to treat the underlying reason for the addiction. This type of single-sided treatment often leads to a half-baked approach to your therapy.

A cognitive-behavioral therapy program will treat both the physical side of addiction and the mental side.

Finding the Right Therapy Program at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

When you are ready to help yourself, a friend, spouse, or family member with their addiction, Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is available to assist in your recovery. With specialized programs that deal with addiction and mental illness, we can get you healthy and back to a productive life with a cognitive toolkit that will be a powerful shield against the outside world.

We offer telehealth options for those who are unable or uncomfortable leaving their homes, as well as in-person and outpatient programs. If you or someone you care about is suffering from addiction and mental illness, please call 833.448.0127 today and speak with a supportive therapist.

CMAR LOCATION

Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin

Programs

What we Treat

MAT Treatment

Our Center

In Network Providers

CARF International Logo

©

2024

CMAR | Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery.

|

Privacy Policy

VERIFY INSURANCE

Cortland Mathers-Suter

MSSA
Managing Partner

Cortland Mathers-Suter entered the treatment space after his own battle with addiction. He first worked as a peer mentor, before starting clinical work while completing his Masters of Science in social administration from Case Western Reserve University where he focused on policy and direct practice. Cortland moved to Colorado in 2015 to start his first addiction treatment program, AspenRidge Recovery. Under his tenure, AspenRidge Recovery became a two-location, nationally accredited organization. He has since spent the last two years researching and developing what is now Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR).

According to Cortland, “Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is the most important organization I have had the honor to help build. We’re offering a service that seeks to not only improve the lives of our patients but also evolve how we look at medication-assisted treatment in Colorado entirely. Most individuals receiving medication-assisted care only receive medication and urinalysis. Sure you can call that ‘treatment,’ but you can’t call that ‘recovery.’ Our model is about adding the missing recovery component, and thus affords an opportunity to achieve lasting change for each patient and the industry.”

Cortland and his treatment programs have received numerous honors. These include Colorado Business Magazine’s “GenXYZ” award, the 2020 “Titan 100” award, and his program AspenRidge Recovery was both a finalist for “Best Healthcare Company” and named in the “Company’s to Watch” by Colorado Business Magazine as well. He has been interviewed and quoted by numerous publications for his “addiction expertise”, including News Week, 5280 Magazine, the Denver Post, Elephant Journal, Colorado Biz Mag, and TheRecoverySource.org.

Tyler Whitman

Compliance/HR Administrator

Tyler is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He worked in manufacturing administration for 18 years until he chose to pursue recovery from alcohol addiction, which led him to Chicago, Illinois. Since then, Tyler gained experience in retail, retail pharmacy, and healthcare as a vaccine coordinator for a local Colorado clinic. At the clinic, Tyler discovered that healthcare was the career change he had been looking for. His newfound passion for healthcare, combined with his lived experience with addiction, brought him to Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery as an Office Administrator.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys cooking, hiking, and skiing. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Regis University.

Simmeren Boanvala

BA
Outreach and Admissions Representative

Simmeren comes to CMAR after several years working admissions in inpatient psychiatry and addiction. A first-generation Colorado Native, Simmeren attended CU Boulder, where she earned a BA in psychology. Simmeren is currently completing her CAC III while working toward her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

According to Simmeren, “I joined CMAR because I believe in the quality and importance of the program whole-heartedly. My goal at CMAR is to guide each prospect who calls CMAR to find the best possible pathway to their recovery”. Simmeren currently lives in her hometown with her dog and cat.

Tyler Hale

Tyler Hale

Community Partnership Lead

Tyler Hale began his career in addiction treatment following a decades-long fight with his own substance abuse issues. Since achieving long-term recovery, Tyler has held various positions in direct care, client services, admissions and outreach departments at various addiction treatment organizations. From sober living program director to outreach director to admissions director at a drug and alcohol treatment program, Tyler consistently finds himself in leadership roles within the addiction treatment space.

Tyler is originally from Chicago, IL, where he graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Bioethics. Thereafter, Tyler built a successful career in the tech industry, before finding sobriety and a subsequent calling to help others. Tyler joined the team at CMAR because he believes in the efficacy of comprehensive and patient-centered outpatient treatment. In his free time Tyler enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with his newborn son.

Kirstin O’Carroll

MSW
Engagement and Relations Director

Kirstin O’Carroll started her career in addiction and mental health services 23 years ago after graduating with an MSW from The Oho State University. Hired directly from an internship program, she served as a case manager and vocational specialist on a community treatment team in Columbus, OH, working to help severely mentally ill adults remain at home and in a community setting. Within the same organization, she later transitioned to clinical assessment and crisis intervention services with children, adolescents, and adults. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of providing empathetic, high-quality care and the need to “start wherever the patient is” with regard to finding the best treatment & solutions for her patients.

After seven years, Kirstin made a career change to diagnostic sales and worked for several Fortune 500 companies as an acute care sales specialist. She is delighted to return “home” to her passion for helping others and believes her new role as community engagement coordinator for CMAR is the perfect alignment of both her clinical and sales skills. When not promoting CMAR, she can be found reading, running, hiking, watching movies, and spending time with her husband Dennis and senior canine son Reggie.

Thomas Mazzarella

LAC
Primary Therapist

Thomas is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in the State of Colorado and a Licensed Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in the State of North Carolina with particular expertise in the treatment of chronic Substance Abuse Addiction and Dependency.

Thomas is dedicated to Individual, Couples, Family, and Group Counseling and Therapy for individuals with Substance Use and Mental Health issues and concerns.

James Jackman

CAS
Primary Therapist

James Jackman is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been practicing addiction treatment in Colorado since 2015. James is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University Denver. James is a traditional CBT therapist specializing in childhood events that lead to adult addictions.

James has received special training in Family Systems, Inner Child, Maladaptive Schemas, and Adverse Childhood Experiences. James has worked in many treatment settings throughout his career and uses a client-centered treatment approach to help one recover from destructive patterns that facilitate addiction. In addition, James enjoys working with rescue animals and advocates for several local rescue organizations outside of work.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Megan Hanekom

LPC, LAC, NCC
Therapist & Clinical Compliance Officer

Megan is a licensed counselor who has worked in various mental health and addiction treatment environments. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing and believes in pulling from various therapeutic approaches to best support each individual. Megan received her bachelor’s in psychology and Spanish from Concordia College. She relocated from North Dakota to Colorado where she earned a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Denver.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Maggie Coyle

MA, LPC
Primary Therapist

Maggie Coyle, MS, MA, LPP, LPCC has worked in the mental health and addictions counseling field for the past six years. She has extensive experience in working in the varying levels of mental health and addictions treatment as well as with diverse populations.

She practices cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy as primary intervention methods. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling both from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. She has also earned a master’s degree in addictions counseling from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Maggie moved from South Dakota to Colorado in June 2020 and is excited to be a part of the CMAR team.

Michael Damioli

LCSW, CSAT
Clinical Director

Michael Damioli has been passionately working in the fields of addiction treatment and mental health since 2012. He has held a variety of different roles within the addiction recovery space, ranging from peer support to direct clinical practice. Notably, Michael was part of a leadership group that developed a small therapy practice into a nationally branded addiction treatment program, which offers multiple levels of care to recovering professionals. Michael is a strong believer in the family disease model of addiction and has focused much of his clinical work and training on supporting families impacted by addiction. He also specializes in treating individuals suffering from co-occurring chemical and process addictions.

Michael is honored to be leading the clinical care team at CMAR and believes that excellent clinical care begins by simply treating a patient with dignity and respect. Michael is a strong advocate for ethical reform within the addiction treatment field and is excited to promote CMAR as an ethical and thought leader throughout the treatment & recovery industry. Michael earned his master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and is independently licensed as a clinical social worker with the state of Colorado. He holds an advanced post-graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy from the Denver Family Institute as well as an advanced certificate in sexual addiction counseling from the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals.

Dwight-Duncan

Dwight Duncan

Psy.D
Psychologist

Dr. Duncan was born and spent most of his early life in California. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver in 1987. He is a licensed psychologist as well as a licensed addiction counselor. He has had extensive training and experience throughout his professional career in medical psychology, mindfulness, integrated behavioral healthcare, and substance abuse.

Dr. Duncan is married and has one daughter, a neurologic physical therapist in Los Angeles.

Susan-Miget

Susan Miget

NP
Medical Provider

Susan has been in healthcare for more than 20 years. She was an ICU nurse for nine years, then returned to school and completed her master of nursing and family nurse practitioner degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2007. She practiced pain management for many years before developing her current passion for addiction treatment.

Susan has transitioned her practice to focus entirely on addiction treatment. She has worked in residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs. Susan most enjoys working with patients one-on-one in a private office to protect their confidentiality and ensure top-rate care. Knowing that addiction can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any time, Susan continues to strive to make treatment more accessible and confidential.

Whitney-Grant

Whitney Grant

MSN, FNP-BC, ARNP, RN, CPN
Medical Provider

Whitney Grant is an experienced family nurse practitioner with experience and expertise in medication-assisted treatment. Whitney earned her BSN at the University of Miami before moving on to achieve a master of science in nursing degree there as well, becoming a nurse practitioner immediately thereafter.

Whitney has since achieved board certification from the ANCC as a family nurse practitioner. After spending her entire formative and educational years in South Florida, Whitney moved to Denver in 2018 to pursue a career as a provider in family practice, sub-specializing in addictions medicine. Whitney has worked under the guidance of Dr. Nathaniel Moore, CMAR’s medical director, since moving to Denver.

Nathaniel Moore

MD
Medical Director

Dr. Nathan Moore is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Moore attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA for his undergraduate work and then attended Duke University School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. in 1995. Dr. Moore then came to Colorado and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Colorado’s Family Medicine Program at Rose Medical Center.

Dr. Moore practices primarily at our Aurora location. He provides comprehensive family medicine services and has a special interest in addiction medicine, treating patients with opioid use disorder as well as alcohol addiction.

Dr. Moore is married with three children. He enjoys mountain biking, running, and golf.