Moral Reconation Therapy Elizabeth NJ
Moral reconation therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy used during the recovery phase of drug treatment. MRT utilizes a systematic treatment approach, with systems and techniques borrowed from a number of psychological traditions.
Get help today finding drug treatment facilities with the assistance of Drug Treatment Centers Elizabeth. Call (877) 804-1531.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that attempts to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Utilizing a number of behavioral and cognitive principles, this form of therapy has proved useful in the treatment of mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a "problem focused" and "action oriented" approach that acknowledges the importance of prior conditioning and seeks to change behavior from the inside out. Focusing on the intricate links between thoughts, feelings and behavior, cognitive behavioral therapy attempts to define and reinforce core beliefs by changing maladaptive thinking processes.
There are six phases in conventional cognitive behavioral therapy: psychological assessment, reconceptualization, skills acquisition, skills consolidation and application training, generalization and maintenance, and post-treatment assessment follow-up. While each of these phases is integral to the process, the cognitive aspect of therapy is based around the reconceptualization phase.
MRT is a particular implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy that attempts to change behavior by encouraging moral reasoning. Individual and group counseling form the basis of this therapy, with patients taught how to influence their behavior through positive decision making practices. MRT has been around since 1985, and has proved especially useful for members of the treatment resistant population.
History of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The principles of cognitive behavioral therapy have been identified in a number of ancient religions and philosophies, particularly Stoicism. The modern development of this therapy was initiated with behavioral therapy in the early 20th century, with cognitive therapy developed much later in the 1960s.
Behavioral and cognitive therapies merged during the 1980s and 1990s, with the successful development of treatments for panic disorder taking place in the United Kingdom and United States during this period. Cognitive behavioral therapy has grown and evolved since this time, and now also includes:
- Rational emotive therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Reality therapy/choice theory
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Cognitive processing therapy
- Multimodal therapy
- Moral reconation therapy
Moral Reconation Therapy Steps
MRT utilizes a number of individual steps, each of which plays an important role in the overall treatment process. Patients are given different exercises to work through during each step, in an attempt to develop higher powers of moral reasoning over time.
- The first step involves a direct confrontation of existing belief patterns and attitudes, with patients learning about the impact of thoughts and feelings on behavior.
- The second step is related to friendship and family relationships, with therapists teaching patients the importance of these relationships and how they relate to behavioral responses.
- The third step attempts to reinforce positive behavior and habits, with specific assignments and exercises designed to help patients develop healthy lifestyle patterns.
- The fourth step in moral reconation therapy is related to the formation of positive identity, with the fifth step attempting to enhance this concept with specific exercises and techniques.
- The sixth step of MRT attempts to decrease hedonism and frustration tolerance, while also teaching patients the importance of moral reasoning.
- The seventh and final step attempts to help patients develop higher states of moral reasoning in order to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.
Moral reconation therapy has proved very useful for members of the treatment resistant population, with patients taught to think about other people when making all of their future decisions. Learn more by calling Drug Treatment Centers Elizabeth at (877) 804-1531.