At CuraWest we offer an integrated and individualized addiction recovery program in Denver, Colorado. Both levels of clinical care we offer — medical detox and residential treatment — are deeply rooted in proven methods of therapeutic intervention. Addiction treatment is not a straightforward process, and it requires a variety of highly individualized treatment options. These treatment options address the substance use disorder itself as well as any underlying issues, like mental illness or unresolved trauma. Every effective recovery program simultaneously treats the lasting consequences of active addiction, as well. Clients work through interpersonal issues, regain self-confidence and a sense of self-worth, and address lingering legal or financial issues. They begin to develop a feel for their own personalities; what they enjoy doing in their downtime, their personal goals and ambitions, the type of ongoing care that makes sense to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy serves a significant purpose in every effective program of addiction recovery. Also known as CBT, this proven psychosocial intervention helps clients work through addiction-related issues while reframing the way they view and interact with the world around them. 

At CuraWest we offer CBT in an individual and group setting. Numerous research studies prove the effectiveness of CBT in the realms in substance use and mental health, showing this therapeutic method leads to significant improvements in cognitive functioning and overall quality of life. We employ several licensed, CBT-trained therapists who work directly with clients on a daily basis, helping them heal the body, mind, and spirit. To learn more about our therapeutic, multi-staged program of addiction recovery, contact us today. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT, is a common method of psychotherapy (talk therapy) designed to help people gain awareness surrounding negative or self-destructive patterns of thinking. The main goal of CBT is to ultimately help clients change the way they respond to challenging situations. When it comes to the treatment of substance use disorders, CBT is extremely beneficial when combined with additional therapies and alternative treatment methods. At CuraWest we utilize CBT in an individual and group therapy setting, encouraging clients to identify why they continue returning to substance use and helping them develop the healthy coping mechanisms necessary to avoiding relapse. 

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “CBT places an emphasis on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. Through exercises in the session as well as ‘homework’ exercises outside of sessions, patients/clients are helped to develop coping skills, whereby they can learn to change their own thinking, problematic emotions, and behavior.

CBT therapists emphasize what is going on in the person’s current life, rather than what has led up to their difficulties. A certain amount of information about one’s history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life.” This effective therapeutic method is based on several core principles, including:

1. Psychological issues (including addiction) are largely based on unhealthy ways of thinking. 
2. Psychological issues (including addiction) are also based on learned patterns of unhealthy and damaging behavior. 
3. When a person develops healthier ways of coping, they are able to successfully tackle the psychological problems that negatively impact their overall quality of life. 

When a person suffers from addiction, they fall victim to unhealthy ways of thinking and behaving. The more advanced a substance use disorder becomes, the more deeply ingrained these thought and behavioral patterns become. CBT focuses on flipping the script — rather than reaching for drugs or alcohol in times of emotional discomfort, clients learn to resort to more productive and self-serving coping mechanisms. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of CBT in the context of addiction and mental health. 

There are many benefits to CBT, including:

• The management of symptoms associated with mental illnesses like anxiety or depression. 
• The development of healthy coping techniques. 
• Effective method of intervention when medication is not an ideal option. 
• Effective treatment of symptoms associated with substance use disorders. 
• Increased ability to identify and work through self-destructive thought and behavioral patterns. 
• The prevention of a return to substance use after a period of sobriety. 
• Providing clients with a healthy way to cope with grief or loss. 
• Overcoming lasting emotional trauma, potentially related to violence or abuse. 
• The development of healthy communication skills.
• The improvement of interpersonal relationships. 

CBT helps clients learn how to successfully change the way they think and behave. Clients and their assigned individual therapist will work together in a collaborative setting, identifying personal challenges and developing a set of unique, alternative coping strategies. In order for an existing problem to be adequately addressed it must be thoroughly understood. Many of our clients come to us aware that something needs to change, but unsure of exactly what that is. Our job is to facilitate change through comprehensive and lasting healing. 

There is very little risk involved in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Like other therapeutic approaches, CBT might cause clients to feel slight emotional discomfort at times. In order to develop healthy new ways of thinking, negative thought and behavioral patterns must be revisited and examined. Acknowledging what has “gone wrong” is not always a walk in the park. 

However, unlike many other therapeutic approaches, CBT takes a look at what is currently happening in a client’s life. In the context of addiction recovery, it is often important to delve into the past. How did a client’s upbringing affect their relationship with self and others? Has childhood trauma played a role in the development of addiction? However, staying grounded in the here and now is also important. Rather than focusing on what has led up to the difficulties a client is facing, CBT encourages the client to stay present and address what they are currently experiencing. Personal history is touched upon, but the main focus of CBT is moving forward. This makes CBT less emotionally painful and potentially distressing than other therapeutic techniques. 

At CuraWest we offer a comprehensive treatment program for those who have been suffering from co-occurring disorders. CBT is extremely beneficial for the treatment of dual diagnosis issues like anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and unresolved trauma. Many of our clients struggle with substance use disorders and trauma-related issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports, “PTSD and SUD often co-occur. According to one national epidemiologic study, 46.4 percent of individuals with lifetime PTSD also met criteria for SUD. In another national epidemiologic study, 27.9 percent of women and 51.9 percent of men with lifetime PTSD also had SUD. Women with PTSD were 2.48 times more likely to meet criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence and 4.46 times more likely to meet criteria for drug abuse or dependence than women without PTSD.” CBT is effective in treating substance use and PTSD, along with a range of other therapeutic methods we offer. To learn more about the relationship between trauma and addiction, or to learn more about the ways in which CBT can improve both conditions, contact us today. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is an offshoot of CBT — a similarly structured therapeutic approach, one that focuses more on mindfulness and acceptance. DBT was originally developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder, but has since been adapted to treat a variety of conditions including substance use disorders. At CuraWest we teach DBT in an individual and group therapy setting. Licensed therapeutic professionals facilitate group sessions revolving around the development of new behavioral skills. The core strategies and techniques taught in DBT sessions are distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, core mindfulness, and emotional regulation. 

At CuraWest we take a comprehensive approach to clinical care, combining proven therapies with holistic treatment options. We encourage ongoing participation in mutual aid fellowships, and help clients develop the relapse prevention skills they need to stay sober once treatment concludes. Our medical detox program and residential treatment program are firmly rooted in therapeutic intervention. In addition to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, we offer:

• Motivational Interviewing.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
• Holistic Therapies (Yoga Therapy, Art Therapy, Reiki and Energy Healing).
• Trauma Therapy.
• Horticulture Therapy.
• Experiential/Adventure Therapy.

Therapeutic intervention is only one of many addiction services we offer in both the medical detox and residential portions of our program. We encourage our clients to take advantage of as many services as they can during their time with us, laying a solid and lasting foundation for continued recovery. To learn more about additional services we offer, contact us today.

If you or someone you love has been attempting to overcome drug or alcohol addiction with little to no success, professional treatment is likely necessary, and CuraWest is available to help. Our therapeutically-based treatment program provides clients with the tools they need to overcome addiction and stay sober long-term. As soon as you contact us you will be put in touch with an experienced Treatment Advisor who will walk you through each step of our simple, straightforward admissions process. We begin by conducting a brief assessment over the phone. This will help our clinical and medical team determine which level of care is the most appropriate for each unique case. Next, we offer a free, no obligation health insurance benefit check to those who are currently insured. If you or your loved one is uninsured, we offer additional coverage options including self-pay and private pay. Finally, we help organize local ground transportation to our Denver, Colorado detox and recovery center. Contact us today for more information on how to get sober, or to begin your own personal journey of addiction recovery.