Introduction
Addiction treatment is the sphere of medicine in which psychological therapy is frequently applied. Scholars and practitioners alike have introduced and applied a variety of cognitive approaches to help individuals overcome their substance use problems. Evidence-based practices include, but are not limited to, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy, contingency management, and solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT). In this paper, a comparison between CBT and SFBT will be offered, along with an explanation of personal preferences and identification of professionals involved in treatment.
Common Empirically Researched Substance Use Disorder Treatments
Out of the variety of approaches used to treat substance disorders, CBT and SFBT stand out as the most successful ones. CBT is a first-line behavioral approach that aims at managing cognitive, environmental, and affective issues in individuals suffering from substance use (Ray et al., 2020). CBT aims at providing training in self-control abilities that allow individuals to reach the state of abstinence and maintain it. Being the most common approach used for clients with substance addictions, CBT is preferred by the majority of practitioners in the USA (Osborn, 2019).
Specialists practicing CBT help their clients recognize the persistence of negative thought patterns, which is the first step toward improvement. CBT also enhances people’s coping skills, making them able to deal with various triggers and stressful issues that cause substance use. A prominent point in CBT is functional analysis, which is a therapist’s work to help their clients analyze the function of substances in their lives (Osborn, 2019). CBT helps address co-occurring mental health issues, involving family in treatment and support, and arranging regular monitoring of the therapy process.
SFBT, although having a different focus, also serves as a highly effective method of dealing with substance use disorders. This approach tends to concentrate on clients’ strengths, accomplishments, and abilities (Blake, 2023). Instead of emphasizing deficiencies, which is typical in CBT, practitioners who choose SFBT help their clients understand what has been successful and positive in their lives, allowing them to use these aspects as solutions to their problems.
Furthermore, the primary focus of this therapy is the client’s preferences and desires (Osborn, 2019). In SFBT, the practitioner demonstrates confidence in the client’s ability to improve their lives by leveraging their strengths. As such, positive change is considered not only possible but also unavoidable. SFBT specialists set clear and positive goals together with their clients.
The key technique in SFBT is the so-called miracle question. The latter implies asking the client to imagine what their life would look like if a miracle happened and they woke up without their substance use problem. SFBT is a brief yet highly effective treatment approach that helps clients continue their recovery journey independently.
Differences in Treatments
The Treatment Personally Preferred
Taking into consideration the approaches involved in both techniques, I personally would choose to apply SFBT when working with clients who have a substance use disorder. SFBT has proved to be effective in enhancing substance use behaviors, as well as the psychosocial issues associated with them (Franklin & Hai, 2021). Since this method is short-term, it will allow me to help my clients more quickly, enabling them to return to everyday life as soon as possible. I also prefer SFBT’s primary focus to CBT’s.
Emphasizing people’s strengths and positive qualities is more likely to foster a positive predisposition toward therapy. Furthermore, when the client sees that they have something to strive for, they will have more inspiration to pursue their path to recovery. The miracle questions approach also resonates with me, since I believe that positive thinking has much greater potential to enhance people’s behavior than the emphasis on their negative issues.
Professionals Involved in Treatment
Substance use disorder treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach, as many professionals play essential roles in addressing various aspects of the client’s needs. Typically, this process requires the presence of specialists, including primary care physicians, addiction medicine specialists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and family counselors, as well as therapists. To coordinate treatment with these professionals, I would connect with the primary care practitioner to help identify the disorder’s causes.
Then, I would address the psychiatrist to discuss the co-occurring mental disorders of the client. I could use the help of an addiction medicine specialist for a comprehensive medical assessment of the client. Other specialists’ help and support may be needed at various stages of my work with the client, such as connecting them with community resources or addressing family dynamics.
Conclusion
The comparison of two standard practices applied for substance use treatment has revealed that while they utilize different methodologies, both CBT and SFBT can be successfully applied for such clients. It is up to the specialist to choose the therapy that is most suitable for their client. I prefer SFBT because of its focus on positive features and faster results. However, each case should be analyzed individually, and the approach should be selected upon careful consideration.
References
Blake, C. (2023). Functional analysis in cognitive behavioral solution focused brief therapy. INFLUENCE: International Journal of Science Review, 5(1), 107-112.
Franklin, C., & Hai, A. H. (2021). Solution-focused brief therapy for substance use: A review of the literature. Health & Social Work, 46(2), 103-114.
Osborn, C. J. (2019). Psychotherapeutic approaches. In D. Capuzzi & M. Stauffer (Eds.), Foundations of addictions counseling (4th ed., pp. 158-184). Pearson.
Ray, L. A., Meredith, L. R., Kiluk, B. D., Walthers, J., Carroll,K. M., & Magill, M. (2020). Combined pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with alcohol or substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 3(6).
Zamboni, L., Centoni, F., Fusina, F., Mantovani, E., Rubino, F.,Lugoboni, F., & Federico, A. (2021). The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for the treatment of substance use disorders: A narrative review of evidence. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 209(11), 835-845.