CBT Teen Therapy at Alpha Behavioral Health: Empowering Young Minds for a Brighter Future
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the leading psychotherapies used to treat mental health disorders in teens and young adults. With a heavy focus on giving teens the power to change their lives, CBT is not just a treatment. It’s a way to inspire hope and build confidence. At Alpha Behavioral Health, CBT is a critical feature in our addiction and mental health treatment programs. By understanding the power and utility of cognitive behavioral therapy, families have the tools they need for lasting and successful recovery.
Understanding CBT Teen Therapy
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-backed psychotherapy that is designed to help clients understand and change the harmful thoughts and behaviors that are impacting their physical and mental health. CBT is often combined with other therapies, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), family therapy, and medications for effective treatment.
Successful cognitive behavioral therapy is based on four goals a client must meet before they can achieve recovery. These goals are for a client to:
- Recognize one’s own harmful thoughts and behavior patterns that are creating problems.
- Discover and understand the motivation behind these harmful thought and behavior patterns
- Change these harmful thoughts and behavior patterns by using coping and problem-solving skills.
- Gain confidence in one’s self by utilizing these coping and problem-solving skills to deal with difficult real-life situations
Changing these harmful thought and behavior patterns is difficult to accomplish alone. That’s why CBT utilizes techniques alongside therapy that help the client accomplish their goals. For example, a therapist may encourage a client to face their fears instead of hiding. A client and their therapist may engage in role-playing as a way to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others. They may also practice the coping skills they have learned and write down the results. Relaxation techniques are also commonly taught alongside cognitive behavioral therapy as a tool to calm an over-reactive mind. Mindfulness techniques, such as breathing exercises and journaling, are typically learned as a part of CBT.
Overall, CBT is an effective and flexible therapy that easily integrates with other therapeutic models and philosophies.
Why CBT Is Effective for Teens
Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for teens because it gives them the tools to advocate for their mental health. Many teens fear treatment because they worry that treatment will be like it is portrayed in popular media. They imagine a place where a person is trapped, helpless, and mistreated.
The truth is much different, with CBT being a collaborative process. Teens typically respond well to CBT because it gives them a secure and private outlet for their feelings. They can make choices and play an active role in their recovery. The choices we make define us as adults, and teens are eager to make decisions for themselves. A skilled therapist can help teens learn how to make healthy choices, which empowers them to remain in recovery.
Besides offering treatment for a mental health disorder, CBT is uniquely situated to be an optimal form of stress management. Teens are under enormous stress and pressure, and CBT offers an essential healthy outlet via coping skills. Utilizing CBT in this way has been shown to improve physical and mental health among teenagers.
How Alpha Behavioral Health Implements CBT
Common Issues Addressed With CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to address a wide range of mental health disorders. Some examples include:
- Depression, including major depressive disorder
- Anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, phobias, and panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-based disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Substance use disorders and addiction
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
For teenagers, they typically struggle with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. The goal of CBT is not just to treat the problem but to discover the source of the problem. For example, a client struggling with anxiety may do so because of intense academic pressure. Someone who is struggling with major depressive disorder may do so because of a great personal loss. In cases of substance abuse and addiction, the teen is usually attempting to soothe pain, fit in with their peers, or want to escape their current reality.
The current reality is not pleasant for modern teenagers. With intense pressure to succeed in education, the fear of coming out as LGBTQIA+ youth and even the knowledge that they will one day be an adult can be overwhelming. CBT works not just as a treatment tool but as an essential form of stress management. With the pressure teens are under today, stress management is essential to both physical and mental health.
Although CBT is a highly effective form of treatment, it can only work if the client in question is motivated. Learned helplessness and apathy are issues experienced by teens. However, at Alpha Behavioral Health, teens find the encouraging environment they need to try.
Our Therapeutic Approach at Alpha Behavioral Health
Here at Alpha Behavioral Health, we don’t just help teens recover from addiction and other mental health disorders. We help them embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Our treatment philosophy is to offer holistic and comprehensive treatment. This doesn’t just help teens and young adults gain a healthy mind. It also allows their physical health and spirit to flourish.
The Role of Family in CBT
Families are important, especially during the recovery process. More often than not, families find difficulty in communicating with or understanding their teens. This inability to effectively communicate can lead to hurt feelings and severe misunderstandings. Family therapy is used as an avenue of healing and support alongside cognitive behavioral therapy. By utilizing CBT techniques, families can identify harmful patterns in their communication and behaviors. Then, they can work together for healthy and lasting solutions that respect all participants.
Family therapy is also a useful tool in helping families understand the treatment process. This debunks common mental health treatment myths. It gives parents and other guardians the understanding needed to help their teens effectively utilize the skills they learned in CBT. Overall, it results in a healthier and more supportive environment. This less stressful environment is crucial for long-term healing and recovery.
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth
At Alpha Behavioral Health, we believe that all teens and young adults should be treated with respect, kindness, and understanding. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t often share this view of mutual empowerment and care. As a result, many teens part of the LGBTQIA+ struggle with their identity. They may be in a constant state of anxiety and stress as they work to figure themselves out. As a result, many LGBTQIA+ teens turn to substance abuse or suicidal thoughts as a harmful coping mechanism, which can wreck their lives or even result in death.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is vital in helping LGBTQIA+ youth discover ways to deal with their negative thoughts and feelings without turning to harmful coping methods. Community building, peer support, and other therapeutic modules are utilized at Alpha Behavioral Health to assist LGBTQIA+ youth in finding encouragement and understanding. Combined with effective treatment, LGBTQIA+ youth find ways to love themselves and celebrate the adults they will eventually become. Treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health doesn’t just help teens and young adults feel better. It can also save their lives.
Get Started With CBT at Alpha Behavioral Health
Cognitive behavioral therapy is featured in our major treatment programs, such as our transitional living program and intensive outpatient program (IOP). The principles and life skills behind CBT can be found in our Alpha Launch program for teens and young adults. This program helps teens make the leap from adolescence to adulthood by learning essential skills, finding a supportive community, and inspiring confidence within themselves. CBT is utilized in this program as a way to teach teens how to navigate difficult situations they may experience at work, school, or home. These skills are essential for success and keep teens in recovery as they make the transition to adulthood.
The Alpha 180 transitional living program is a residential addiction treatment program that takes clients out on trust and confidence-building adventures. CBT is an essential part of transitional living by giving clients the skills for relapse prevention, healthy communication, and the recovery of addiction itself. Cognitive behavioral therapy is not just psychotherapy; it’s a foundation for a healthy and successful life.
Individual counseling also utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy for recovery from a myriad of conditions, such as major depressive disorder and PTSD. It’s an optimal way for teens to get help and feel better fast. With the flexibility of CBT, teens can get help for other difficulties, such as challenges at school or navigating personal relationships.
Getting started with cognitive behavioral therapy has never been easier with our team of expert mental health care professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBT right for my teen?
Determining if a treatment is appropriate for your teen requires a collaborative effort between you and your teen’s treatment provider. CBT, however, is a safe and effective form of treatment that can treat a wide range of disorders. As a result, CBT is often recommended for teens.
How Long does CBT last?
CBT usually lasts between 5 to 20 individual sessions. The more severe the condition, the longer a person may need to spend in cognitive behavioral therapy.
How do I support my teen undergoing CBT?
You can support your teen in cognitive behavioral therapy by encouraging the use of healthy coping skills and the validation of their feelings. Therapy is also private, so it’s important to allow your teen to have a safe place to vent and discuss their issues. They will speak to you when they are ready, so always keep an open and supportive line of communication going.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help teens identify and overcome harmful thoughts and behaviors. To learn more about the power of cognitive behavioral therapy at Alpha Behavioral Health in Austin, TX, call (833) 257-4218 today.