When you’re ready to heal from addiction and mental health challenges, you deserve care that is both compassionate and effective. One of the most researched and trusted approaches in modern therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This powerful tool helps you understand and change the thought patterns and behaviors that may be keeping you feeling stuck.
At Spring Grove Recovery, our licensed therapists in Colorado Springs are deeply experienced in using CBT as part of our addiction therapy programs. It is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing evidence-based care that empowers you to build a foundation for lasting recovery.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a structured, goal-oriented form of talk therapy. It is built on the proven connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Developed by Dr. Aaron Beck in the 1960s, CBT has become a gold standard in mental health and addiction treatment because it delivers real, measurable results.
The core idea of CBT is simple yet transformative: by learning to change how you think, you can change how you feel and what you do. For someone on the recovery journey, this means gaining the skills to break free from self-defeating thoughts like, "I need to use substances to cope with stress," or, "I'll never get better."
CBT operates on the principle that your perception of a situation—not the situation itself—is what determines your emotional and behavioral response.
Consider this common cycle in addiction:
A therapist at Spring Grove Recovery can use CBT to guide you in identifying these automatic negative thoughts. You learn to challenge their validity, replace them with more balanced and helpful beliefs, and practice new, healthier behaviors. Over time, this process empowers you to break the cycle of addiction and find healthier ways to manage emotional distress.
CBT is highly effective for addiction treatment because it is designed for targeted change. Its key principles include:
Our therapists often use a strengths-based approach within CBT, helping you recognize your own positive qualities, values, and resilience. This builds confidence and empowers you to become the leader of your own recovery.
While CBT is a form of talk therapy, it has a distinct focus. Traditional talk therapy might spend more time exploring your past to understand how it shaped you. CBT, however, emphasizes the present and the future.
Instead of only discussing problems, CBT sessions are active and provide you with concrete strategies to change your life today. The sessions are guided by your therapist to help you identify unhelpful thought patterns and build a toolkit of new behaviors to reach your recovery goals.
CBT is one of the most rigorously studied forms of therapy in the world. It is recommended as a first-line treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and many co-occurring mental health conditions because it is proven to be effective.
CBT helps you:
While CBT is a powerful tool for most people, it may be combined with other therapies for those with complex trauma or other specific needs. At Spring Grove Recovery, we integrate CBT into a personalized treatment plan to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Addiction rarely exists in a vacuum. At Spring Grove Recovery, our dual diagnosis program uses CBT to address both substance use disorders and the co-occurring mental health conditions that often accompany them.
We use CBT to treat:
Our licensed professionals know that treating co-occurring disorders together is essential for lasting recovery. CBT will likely be a cornerstone of your personalized therapy plan when you begin your journey with us.
CBT sessions at Spring Grove Recovery are structured, supportive, and collaborative. You will work with your therapist in both individual and group settings. A typical session involves:
Above all, you can expect to make progress. It may not always feel linear, but over time, you will notice fundamental changes in how you think, feel, and cope with life—empowering you to leave drugs and alcohol behind for good.
Your journey toward healing begins with a simple, confidential phone call. Our compassionate admissions team is available 24/7 to guide you through the process. We proudly accept Colorado Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans to ensure care is accessible.
Most people see progress in 12–20 sessions, but therapy length depends on your needs.
Yes. Many people benefit from combining CBT with medication-assisted treatment (MAT), especially in early recovery.
Your therapist will adjust strategies, introduce new tools, or recommend complementary therapies to support your growth.
CBT can be adapted for complex trauma, co-occurring disorders, and long-term challenges. At Spring Grove, we integrate CBT with medication-assisted treatment, peer support, and complementary therapies for the best outcomes.
Lindsay Dean currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Spring Grove Recovery. With more than 10 years of experience in behavioral health, Lindsay is deeply committed to expanding access to ethical, high-quality treatment and building systems of care that support long-term, sustainable recovery through compassionate, trauma-informed practices.
Lindsay began her career in direct patient care, where early experience as a mental health technician, crisis intervention specialist, and group/ individual counselor shaped her understanding of how trauma impacts engagement, trust, and openness to treatment. This clinical foundation continues to inform her leadership philosophy, reinforcing the belief that effective treatment systems must be grounded in safety, dignity, and respect.
As Lindsay progressed into senior leadership, her focus shifted toward building and strengthening treatment programs that balance clinical excellence with operational and regulatory integrity. She served as Program Director at one of the largest Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) in Colorado Springs, where she led multidisciplinary teams, expanded access to evidence-based services for priority populations via increased grant funding, and ensured adherence to state and federal regulations.
Most recently, Lindsay served as Assistant Executive Director of Spring Grove Recovery, where she aligned clinical, operational, and administrative teams to strengthen continuity between inpatient and outpatient levels of care. Her leadership emphasized collaboration, sustainability, and the reduction of barriers to treatment access.
Lindsay’s leadership is grounded in operational excellence, regulatory integrity, and trauma-informed systems of care that prioritize patient safety and engagement. She has successfully guided organizations through extensive state and federal oversight, managed and expanded state grant funding, and strengthened services for underserved and vulnerable populations.
Lindsay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Personal Health and is a Certified Addiction Specialist. As CEO, she leads Spring Grove Recovery with a clear mission: to cultivate a trauma-informed, collaborative, and compassionate treatment environment where individuals are empowered to heal, engage meaningfully in their own care, and sustain recovery long after residential treatment ends.
