REBT for Addiction Treatment

REBT or Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy is a procedure that involves focusing on the irrational beliefs of an individual and replacing them with rational and productive alternatives. The proponents of this therapeutic procedure believe that negative situations do not always force one to make unhealthy choices or cause unhealthy emotions. A substance abuse counselor usually does not use REBT in its original form; individuals suffering from addictions are treated with an amalgamation of REBT and cognitive behavioral therapies.

REBT make us believe that our beliefs affect our behavior more significantly than the events occurring in our lives. A person addicted to a drug first need to believe that he is suffering from the addiction; if he is in the denial state he will never get the strength of fighting the addiction. REBT works by making the addict realize that denial is not the right thing to approach the situation; the addict will gradually understand that denial is only limiting his choices. The therapy will encourage him to try out other constructive approaches for getting rid of the addiction.

We have mentioned before that REBT helps an individual to change his irrational faiths. This changes the way in which he used to react to different events of life. A victim of substance abuse needs to have REBT in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy. One of the most important components of these behavioral therapies is ‘skills training’. Skills training teach the addicts some essential constructive and healthy habits; the training also makes them learn ways of incorporating those habits in their day to day life.

REBT for treating substance abuse is a short-term procedure. This makes the treatment extremely cost effective. REBT is carried out both as sessions meant for individuals as well as group sessions.