Addiction & Relapse Prevention Services
At the Canadian Centre for CBT, we provide specialized Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for addiction grounded in the cognitive model of substance use and relapse. This service is offered as structured outpatient treatment and as aftercare following residential or inpatient programs, supporting clients as they translate recovery skills into everyday life.
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The cognitive model of addiction emphasizes how thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations interact with emotional states, cravings, and behaviour. Substance use is understood not simply as a habit, but as a learned response shaped by expectations (e.g., “This will help me cope”), attentional biases, and core beliefs about control, distress, and self-worth. CBT helps clients identify and modify these patterns so that urges and setbacks no longer automatically lead to use.
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Treatment focuses on recognizing high-risk situations, understanding the meaning clients assign to cravings or lapses, and developing more balanced, adaptive ways of responding. Clients learn to evaluate unhelpful beliefs about substances, tolerate discomfort without avoidance, and strengthen cognitive and behavioural strategies that support long-term recovery. Particular attention is paid to relapse-related thinking (e.g., “I’ve failed,” “I may as well continue”) to prevent brief lapses from turning into full relapse.
Our outpatient program is designed for individuals who want evidence-based addiction treatment while continuing to engage in work, education, or family life. For clients completing residential treatment, aftercare CBT provides a structured step-down approach that focuses on relapse prevention planning, rebuilding routines, and maintaining motivation during the transition back to independence. Therapy can also address co-occurring difficulties such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, or emotional dysregulation that commonly increase relapse risk.
All treatment is individualized, collaborative, and guided by well-established CBT principles and outcome monitoring. The goal is to help clients develop a clear cognitive understanding of their addiction, practical tools for managing cravings and setbacks, and confidence in their ability to sustain recovery over time.
To learn more or to begin treatment, book an appointment with one of our clinicians today.