Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy

Paper Summary:

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral family therapy (CBFT) in its specific use to treat persons with substance abuse problems. The paper contends that cognitive-behavioral family therapy will prove to have relatively high success rates as compared with other treatment modalities. It reviews several studies that have not only researched its effectiveness with different populations, but that have also compared its overall success rates with other interventions. It also discusses these findings in an effort to reach conclusions about both the theory and the techniques of CBFT in dealing with substance abuse.

From the Paper:

"Cognitive-behavioral therapy, and, in particular, cognitive-behavioral family therapy (CBFT), is one of many interventions used to treat persons with substance abuse problems. Other interventions include twelve-step approaches; strictly behavioral therapies (such as the community reinforcement approach), and network therapy, which is a variety of family systems therapy (Keller, Galanter, & Weinberg, 1997). While some advocate the use of one particular form over another, others advocate a "matching" approach that considers each substance abuser on an individual basis and devises a treatment plan accordingly, with whatever approach makes the most sense (e.g. Alcohol Research Documentation, 1997). Regardless of perspective, however, one thing is clear. A definitive treatment model for individuals addicted to alcohol and/or other substances has not yet been found, even when using the "matching" approach."

More papers on Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy:

• Book Review # 149272 : "S. K. Hanna's "The Practice of Family Therapy"
• Essay # 52492 : "Family Therapy"
• Comparison Essay # 102799 : "Models of Family Therapy"

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