Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Addiction in Denver
Practical skills to change the thoughts behind using
- Thought records, trigger maps and coping plans
- In one-on-one sessions and skills groups
- Part of residential, PHP and IOP
Admissions will call you to go over your coverage, usually within minutes during admissions hours. If it's urgent, call (720) 807-9847.
Licenses and accreditations
Measured outcomes46% improvement in overall recovery after 4 weeks of treatment, compared with a 37% national average (TRAC9, 2025). See all five outcome measures.
Thoughts, feelings and actions
CBT helps you find the connection between your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviors, especially the ones tied to drinking or using. It's part of every program; see how therapy works here.
Some thoughts are "automatic": knee-jerk reactions to a problem, a place or what someone else does. They bring on self-doubt, fear, anger or low mood, and drugs or alcohol can become a way to quiet them.
CBT shows how harmful those patterns can be, and that the thoughts often aren't logical, even when the feelings come from real experiences. You don't have to be controlled by them. Once you see the connection, you can break the cycle and start seeing what life can look like without drugs or alcohol.
CBT techniques you'll practice
Your therapist personalizes the techniques to you and your life. Together they build toward your relapse prevention plan for after treatment.
Where CBT shows up in your week
Your therapist, a licensed counselor or social worker, uses CBT to work on your own thoughts, triggers and history. Individual therapy
You learn and practice CBT skills with peers, then try them during the week. Group therapy
Often a quick thought record or trigger log, so you practice in real life and bring back what you notice.
CBT, DBT and ACT: how they differ
Focuses on changing the thought patterns behind your behavior. The starting point for most clients.
Rooted in CBT, with added skills for intense emotions and distress. Often more of the mix when feelings run high. DBT
Acceptance and commitment therapy: making room for hard thoughts without acting on them, and moving toward what matters.
CBT also works on the thoughts behind anxiety and depression, alongside your substance use treatment, so both are treated together. Our program is built for substance use with co-occurring conditions; read about dual diagnosis treatment.
CBT at every level of care
- MorrisonResidentialEvery dayDaily skills groups and individual sessions on our Morrison campus.Residential treatment
- LakewoodPHP30 hours a weekCBT runs through your full treatment days in Lakewood.Partial hospitalization
- Lakewood or onlineIOP9–12 hours a weekThe same skills, practiced around work and home life.Intensive outpatient
Admissions will call you to go over your coverage, usually within minutes during admissions hours. If it's urgent, call (720) 807-9847.
Insurance for CBT
In network with these plans. Admissions confirms your benefits before you come in.
Admissions will call you to go over your coverage, usually within minutes during admissions hours. If it's urgent, call (720) 807-9847.
Where CBT happens
Residential care is on our Morrison campus in the foothills. PHP and IOP are at our Lakewood center.
9189 S Turkey Creek Rd
Morrison, CO 80465
Medical detox and residential treatment, at our Morrison campus.
8805 W 14th Ave #200
Lakewood, CO 80215
PHP, IOP and Ascent sober living, at our Lakewood center.
What clients and families say
I spent 33 days at base camp And was able to detox And learn about my disease and the skills I need to keep moving forward. I am currently In my 2nd month at IOP in Lakewood I love the meetings and the community It has been so helpful and I would recommend it to anybody
I've struggled a few times through the last couple years. Red Rock has been consistent and caring with my recovery. I 100% recommend anyone struggling for the care and focus they provide. Plus the after-program care is top notch
If your loved one is facing addiction, this is the place to be. The entire staff is professional and caring. My son is now in a Red Rocks sober living facility and has been drug and alcohol free for almost three weeks. He is excited about being apart of this program and is embracing his sobriety.
Bre my case worker was amazing in finding me help after treatment . The whole staff was caring and understanding during a hard time . So thankful for all them ! !
This was my first time getting help for my addictions. I learned a lot from group sessions and really appreciated the schedule and staff. I’ve taken a lot of things I’ve learned from base camp with me after. I would 100% recommend Red Rocks to anyone struggling with addiction.
I decided that I couldn’t handle my addiction on my own and contacted Red Rock Recovery Center. They changed my life. From day one, I realized I was in a place where I was genuinely being cared for, by both the staff and the other people in my group. They offer peer support groups and endless sober meetups after you graduate. You’re never left alone. You’re provided with every resource imaginable and are supported for the rest of your life. I’m beyond thankful for RRRC, for their care and for their never ending support. You’re not alone out there. Promise. There is a community out there committed to your wellbeing.
Red Rock has a solid foundation w people who actually care about others at the core of it. I’m extremely grateful to the staff and community of this place and I will always talk highly about the program and most of the therapists. 10/10 would recommend
Absolutely life changing. My kids will never have to live with a drunk mommy and I feel so in control of my own life decisions now that I’m sober. I’m so grateful that I get to live a sober life for and with my children
Questions about CBT
Do you offer CBT?
Yes. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the core approaches our clinicians use, in one-on-one sessions and in skills groups, at every level of care. Your therapist uses it alongside other approaches based on what you're working through. Read about individual therapy, where most CBT work starts.
How does CBT help with addiction?
CBT helps you notice the thoughts and situations that lead to using, question them, and practice different responses before you face them at home. Over time those responses become habits you can rely on in a high-risk moment. It also shapes your relapse prevention plan for after treatment.
What is the difference between CBT and DBT?
CBT focuses on changing the thought patterns behind your behavior. DBT, which grew out of CBT, adds skills for intense emotions and distress, such as mindfulness and distress tolerance. Many clients use both, and your therapist helps you decide which to lean on. Read about dialectical behavior therapy.
Can CBT help with my anxiety or depression too?
Yes, alongside your substance use treatment. CBT works on the thought patterns that keep anxiety, depression and substance use going together, with psychiatric care on the team when it's needed. If mental health is your main concern rather than substance use, admissions will point you to the right program. See dual diagnosis treatment.
Do I get homework?
Often, yes: short exercises between sessions, such as tracking triggers or filling in a thought record, so you practice skills in real life and bring what you notice back to your therapist. They're quick, and your therapist helps you get started. See how therapy works here for the rest of your week.
Is CBT available in outpatient?
Yes. CBT continues in PHP and IOP, as well as in residential treatment, so you keep building the same skills as you step down and return to daily life. In outpatient care you get more chances to practice between sessions. Read about our intensive outpatient program in Lakewood.
Can I do CBT without a full program?
Our CBT is part of our treatment programs rather than standalone weekly sessions. If you need to keep working, IOP is our most flexible option, with CBT built into your groups and individual sessions. Admissions can tell you honestly whether a program fits. Compare our levels of care.
Is CBT covered by insurance?
CBT is part of your level of care, so coverage follows that level under your plan rather than each session. UnitedHealthcare, Optum and UMR plans cover every level of care here. Admissions confirms your benefits before you start, or use the form on this page. See the insurance we accept. For the skills you'll practise, read how to build a relapse prevention plan.
