Alcohol treatment and cognitive-behavioral therapy: Enhancing effectiveness by incorporating spirituality and religion

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    29 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective modality for the treatment of alcoholism. Given widespread interest in incorporating spirituality into professional treatment, this article orients practitioners to spiritually modified CBT, an approach that may enhance outcomes with some spiritually motivated clients. More specifically, by integrating clients' spiritual beliefs and practices into treatment, this modality may speed recovery, enhance treatment compliance, prevent relapse, and reduce treatment disparities by providing more culturally congruent services. The process of constructing spiritually modified CBT self-statements is described and illustrated, and suggestions are provided for working with client spirituality in an ethical manner. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of this approach in light of the growing spiritual diversity that characterizes contemporary society.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)21-31
    Number of pages11
    JournalSocial work
    Volume56
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jan 2011

    Keywords

    • Alcoholism
    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    • Religion
    • Spirituality
    • Spiritually modified CBT

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Sociology and Political Science

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