Cognitive Therapy of Substance Abuse

"As pioneers in the field of cognitive therapy, Dr. Beck and his colleagues have applied their wealth of knowledge and experience with this modality to the treatment of substance abuse. The result is a well-written, lucid, thought-provoking book. Numerous case examples, filled with concrete recommendations regarding how to handle difficult situations, help make this book enormously valuable for clinicians working with substance abusers. Few books offer so much--a coherent theoretical framework, guidelines for conducting treatment, and a thoughtful analysis of the research literature. This is a much needed contribution to the field." --Roger D. Weiss, MD, McLean Hospital

"This book offers the reader some excellent support in working with those individuals who suffer from the disease of addiction. This book is both practical and helpful. Identifying and changing cognitive distortions common to drug and alcohol abusers both assists in obtaining a recovery program based on abstinence as well as maintaining sobriety. I particularly enjoyed the examples of specific sessions between client and therapist. They offer a clear and demonstrative view of how this material can be useful in almost any clinical setting." --Katie Evans, CADC NCACII, Addiction Counselor

"This is a wonderfully practical volume written in the classic style of Beck and collaborators. It sets forth masterful techniques in a clear straightforward fashion. The specific examples of therapy sessions are especially helpful for the beginning therapist. This book is much more than a manual because it deals with history and theory. However, in its role as a manual, it clearly tells the therapist "how to do it" in an interesting and readable fashion. I particularly like the coping with cravings section. The authors demonstrate their experience with substance abusers obtained during several controlled treatment studies involving cognitive therapy as one of the treatment modalities in drug dependent individuals. The cognitive behavioral techniques described for "coping and craving" show ingenuity and understanding of the problem. This book has nuggets of information even for experienced therapists, but it is a special gold mine for the novice." --Charles P. O'Brien, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Psychiatry, VA Medical Center

"Aaron Beck, Fred Wright, Cory Newman, and Bruce Liese have written the definitive volume on cognitive therapy for substance abuse. From its detailed history of research and thinking about addiction, to its carefully outlined therapy sessions and testing material, to its specifics about concurrent treatment for anxiety, depression, and personality disorders, this book immediately becomes the primary reference in the field. Moreover, understanding the long history and success of Dr. Beck's pre-eminent therapeutic work for depression and anxiety gives readers inordinate confidence that the methods described here really work." --Stanton Peele, Ph.D., Author, The Truth About Addiction And Recovery

"This is a remarkable and valuable book! Dr. Beck's internationally heralded contributions to psychotherapy were first directed at disorders of mood and thought. He and his colleagues now apply his cognitive approach to substance abuse, with strong theoretical grounding, and with great clinical acumen. Because of its straightforward descriptions of technique, this book is of material value to both students and experienced clinicians alike." --Marc Galanter, M.D., Director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and Professor of Psychiatry, New York University

"Beck's cognitive approaches to psychotherapy have had a greater impact, than any other innovation, on the treatment of depression, personality disorders, and substance abuse, and are classics in the psychiatric literature. This long awaited textbook expands on and explicates Aaron Beck's applications of cognitive therapy of the addictions with lucid, useful integration and wise explanation of theory and practice. The book is full of case material, concrete suggestions, and practical advice on how to formulate treatment plans, change patient beliefs, educate patients, alter response to external and internal stimuli and feeling states which lead to relapse and to develop new tools in coping with craving and managing life problems. It is a landmark work that will be widely read and will inform the practice of all therapists. Anyone interested in clinical work with addicted patients will be richly rewarded by studying this treasure trove of wise and easy to apply techniques that enhance treatment results." --Richard J. Frances, Director, Department of Psychiatry, Hackensack Medical Center and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School

"[This] textbook explicates and expands on Aaron Beck's applications of cognitive therapy to the addictions with lucid, useful integration and a wide explanation of theory and practice....The techniques used are clearly described and can be used for treatment outcome research to validate the cognitive approach versus other approaches, and to look for subpopulations in which cognitive therapy makes special sense."

"I will refer to and recommend this book as a bountiful clinical guide....Bolstered by outcome data, this wise and hopeful book will greatly advance integration of cognitive therapy into addiction treatment programs."

"In Cognitive Theory of Substance Abuse, Beck and his colleagues...help us to understand the way the addicts' subjective interpretations of intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli lead to addictive behavior. They offer a carefully developed theoretical model, a sizable number of carefully structured therapeutic techniques, and illustrative examples of therapist–patient exchanges....One important aspect of this cognitive format is that its techniques can be combined with other therapeutic approaches to addiction, such as the use of AA, family supports, and social network supports....Practitioners of these modalities would do well to adapt the cognitive approach in their work. Such applications will indeed be of great value to an emerging body of substance abuse practitioners, whose techniques will inevitably be eclectic in nature."

"The strength of the authors' approach is exemplified by the clarity and concision of their writing, and by the operationalization of their constructs....Constitutes a 'gold standard' for the field."

"Dr. Beck's stamp is most definitely on this book. He brings a certain clarity to a direct, in-depth discussion of the use of cognitive therapy to treat substance abuse. This is a rich, utilitarian book for clinicians."