Cognitive behavioral therapy primarily focuses on which of the following?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) primarily focuses on understanding the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Within the context of substance abuse treatment, CBT aims to replace ineffective or harmful coping mechanisms associated with addiction with more constructive coping skills.

This therapeutic approach helps individuals identify and modify their negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to substance use, while also equipping them with practical strategies to handle high-risk situations and cravings. By focusing on skill replacement, CBT empowers clients to manage their thoughts and actions in healthier ways, ultimately supporting their recovery journey.

In contrast, exploring childhood traumas predominantly connects to psychodynamic or trauma-focused therapies, which delve into past experiences to understand present behavior. Promoting long-term medication use is more aligned with pharmacological approaches to treatment rather than cognitive behavioral methods. Lastly, while group therapy can be beneficial for various substance use disorders, it is not a primary focus of CBT, which emphasizes individual cognitive and behavioral skills.