Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
At Ocean Recovery, we offer CBT therapy sessions and a wide range of therapies to treat alcoholism and drug addictions. Get In TouchBy John Gillen - Last Updated: December 22, 2023
Clinically Reviewed on December 22, 2023 by Dr Robert Lutaaya. All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of talking therapy. It gets to the roots of why people think, feel and act in certain ways, and helps to tackle any behavioural or emotional issues.
CBT is based on the idea that you feel the way you think. It focuses on thoughts, feelings and behaviours. CBT can tackle thought distortions and help you change negative thoughts, feelings, and physical responses to positive ones, helping you feel happier and more balanced.
At Ocean Recovery, we offer CBT therapy sessions and a wide range of therapies to treat alcoholism and drug addictions. CBT has proven to be hugely influential in treating habits and underlying causes.
What Issues Can CBT Treat?
CBT has been proven to treat a range of drug and alcohol addictions including cocaine, cannabis, prescription drugs and heroin.
Mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, depression, anger, panic, paranoia and psychotic disorders
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia
- Phobias, including fear-related and social phobias
- ADHD
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder and hoarding
- Relationship and family issues
Research has shown that patients relapse less often if they practice CBT than those just taking medication to manage their condition.
Many GPs and psychiatrists now refer patients for a course of CBT, as it’s shown to be very effective in the long-term treatment of emotional and behavioural disorders.
Contact Us
94 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, FY2 9NS, Blackpool, FY2 9NS
Landline: 01253 847 553
Email: info@oceanrecoverycentre.com
Start your Recovery - Call us nowWhat Happens In CBT Sessions?
You’ll regularly meet your CBT therapist for up to 20 sessions. Your therapy sessions could be weekly or every few days, depending on your specific problems, and they will likely last up to an hour.
Your therapist will aim to make you feel at ease, providing a non-judgemental approach to your problems. It may take you a while to trust and relax with your therapist, which is understandable. Sharing your deepest feelings with someone may be daunting. Our CBT therapists will work with you at a pace you feel comfortable.
After much talking and discussion, you and your therapist will take apart your problems, focusing on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. You’ll look at practical ways to alter your unhelpful beliefs and actions. You’ll be encouraged to practice positive changes between sessions, so it becomes a life-changing habit.
You could feel emotional during and after your sessions. Talking about yourself can sometimes be challenging, but your therapist is on hand to support you.
I Think CBT Could Help Me – Where Do I Get It?
Ocean Recovery provides cognitive behavioural therapy and a wide range of talking therapies.
You can also get cognitive behavioural therapy through the NHS, so ask your doctor to refer you. Private therapy is another option, with sessions costing between £50 to £100.
If you choose to look for a CBT therapist yourself, it’s crucial to find someone who is adequately qualified. Look for therapists who have a degree and an accredited postgraduate diploma.
Don’t settle for a therapist who has completed a short course without previous experience. The Online CBT Register lists all BABCP (The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies) accredited therapists and is a great starting point.
How Does CBT Work?
CBT gives you tools to help you change negative or unhealthy deep-rooted beliefs about yourself and your wider environment. CBT aims to challenge any negative beliefs in yourself, other people or the world, changing them to positive ideas. This type of therapy gives you the strategies to manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
The overriding principle of CBT is this: Your negative thoughts (in CBT terms, this is called thought distortions) leads to unpleasant feelings and physical sensations such as depression, anger or anxiety. You may act in a certain way, usually detrimental to your mental health, making you feel worse. The results can be self-destructive behaviours such as drug-taking and drug addiction, self-harm, or avoiding social situations.
CBT targets the roots of your feelings. It helps you change how you behave if you’re faced with triggering situations, paving the way for a happy and fulfilling life.
Cognitive behavioural therapy looks at the goals you want to achieve. It equips you with an action plan that helps you solve your problems and avoid a relapse, giving you the tools to change your thought patterns.
What Are The Benefits Of CBT?
The joy of CBT is that it isn’t a short-term fix; it’s a powerful tool that you can use in the long term, applying it to any situation.
CBT helps people change irrational thoughts to rational ones, particularly those suffering from drug or alcohol addiction or mental health problems.
If you have long held negative thoughts about yourself, CBT helps you replace them with positive ones and give you a long-term strategy. Our CBT therapists at Ocean Recovery work with you, looking at why you think the way you do and generating alternative, balanced thought patterns.
Many people have heard of mindfulness. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you live in the present and not pay attention to negative thoughts. Increased awareness of your surroundings and living in the moment often helps people tackle addictions and mental health problems.
If medication hasn’t worked, CBT is a fantastic alternative.
Can I Do CBT On My Own, At Home?
We recommend you attend counselling sessions with a trained CBT therapist. But yes, you can teach yourself at home. There are fantastic CBT self-help books and online courses where you can learn about it in your own time.
What If I Try CBT And It Doesn’t Work?
Everyone is different, and whilst CBT works for many people, it doesn’t help others.
Some people may have better results with another therapist. Speak to your therapy provider if you want to try someone different. It’s also worth considering other forms of counselling, such as human-centred therapy, if CBT doesn’t suit you.
If you feel that talking therapy isn’t for you, you can access support groups in your area –your doctor should be able to recommend one.
Areas We Cover
See below list of just some of the locations our leading alcohol rehab service covers in the United Kingdom.
- Rehab in Liverpool
- Rehab in Manchester
- Rehab in Birmingham
- Rehab in Nottingham
- Rehab in Glasgow
- Rehab in Cardiff
- Rehab in Bristol
- Rehab in Blackpool
- Rehab in Cumbria
- Rehab in Lancashire
- Rehab in Merseyside
- Rehab in Cheshire
- Rehab in Yorkshire
- Rehab in West Midlands
- Rehab in North East
- Rehab in Surrey
- Rehab in Essex
- Rehab in London
John Gillen - Author - Last updated: December 22, 2023
John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.
Dr Robert Lutaaya - Clinical Reviewer - Last reviewed: December 22, 2023
MBChB, MSc Psych
Dr Robert Lutaaya qualified in 1995 from Worclaw Medical University as MBChB, and obtained a MSc Psych from the University of Manchester in 2014. Dr Lutaaya has previously worked for the CGL Substance Misuse Service and as an on-call doctor substance misuse Doctor for 17 years before joining Ocean Recovery. Dr Robert Lutaaya is committed to helping those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions.
Request A Callback
Enter your phone number and a member of our team will call you back to discuss your recovery.
Contact Us
For more information please get in touch using the information below
Call: 01253 847 553 Send us a messageDownload Our Brochure
For more information about the addiction services that Ocean Recovery offer, download our brochure.
Download our brochureDo I need help?
A lot of people are unsure if there are suffering from addiction. Take these tests to find out if its effecting you without your knowledge.
Select your test and find out more
Our Therapies
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Addiction
- Addiction Counselling
- Art Therapy For Addiction Recovery
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Creative Therapy
- Drama Therapy
- Family Therapy For Addiction
- Group Therapy For Addiction
- Pabrinex Injections
- Psychoeducation For Addiction
- The 12 Steps of Addiction Recovery
Our Blogs
Alcohol and Gut Health: 5 Common Problems
Heavy alcohol use can cause a number of health problems, especially if you binge drink or suffer from an alcohol addiction. One of the most common health problems that arise is gut problems, which can involve a wide variety of health issues which require treatment to overcome. Find out the relationship between alcohol and gut
How Long Does Cocaine Chest Pain Last?
Some people who use cocaine experience chest pain during or after use, particularly if a large quantity of cocaine has been consumed – but how long does cocaine chest pain last for? From a few hours to a day or two after cocaine use, the time that chest pain lasts varies after cocaine use. Find
What is Cold Turkey? Definition & Risks
Have you ever wondered what the term ‘cold turkey’ actually means? This blog explores what going cold turkey means and the risks and considerations of this approach to quitting substances or behaviours. What Does Cold Turkey Mean? Cold turkey is a term used to describe when a person completely stops consuming any substances without
What to Do When Your Partner Has an Addiction
Addiction is a complex condition that can be extremely difficult to deal with. It can damage your physical and mental health, but it is not only the person with the addiction who is affected. Addiction, substance misuse and all the related behaviours can also take a toll on loved ones and other people around you.
Can Alcohol Cause Cancer?
It is well-known that alcohol can have a number of serious effects on both physical and mental health. Alcohol misuse, in fact, is the biggest risk factor for death, ill health and disability among 15-49-year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages. Alcohol is also known to be a causal
Addiction and Serotonin: Is There a Link?
Drug and alcohol addiction are diseases that affect millions worldwide and there are a number of reasons why people are more likely to develop it. Understanding the roots of addiction is crucial for effective treatment, which is why addiction is being consistently researched. A factor that is currently being studied as part of addiction research
What is Protracted Withdrawal?
Protracted withdrawal, also known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), is a prolonged and persisting set of symptoms that are experienced after the acute phase of withdrawal from substances such as drugs or alcohol. Find out more about what protracted withdrawal is and how PAWS is treated here. What is PAWS? Acute withdrawal (also known
How Quitting Alcohol Changes Your Appearance
When you quit alcohol, your appearance changes significantly as a result. Your face will typically become slimmer, skin less dry, and your hair will become stronger. Quitting alcohol also commonly causes the appearance of the skin to change, as alcohol abuse can cause the skin to become pale, dull and blotchy. See how quitting alcohol
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Eyes: Signs & Causes
If you drink during pregnancy, the alcohol in your bloodstream can pass to the developing child and have a number of negative effects. If a child is exposed to alcohol as it develops in the womb, they may go on to experience lifelong problems with movement, learning, emotional development and communication skills. It also has
What is Hash Oil?
In today’s world, cannabis goes by many different names: marijuana, bud, Mary Jane, and weed. It also now comes in different forms, like edibles, joints and oil. Cannabis remains the most popular drug in England and Wales, with 7.4% of adults between 16 and 59 having used the drug. The rise in use means more