
Addiction therapy supports people who want to cut harmful substance use and rebuild everyday life through structured psychological treatment, practical skills training, and relapse‑prevention planning. This guide describes what addiction therapy involves, how it helps create lasting recovery, and the care options available to people in Chino Hills and across California via telehealth. Many individuals and families wonder which approaches work, how long recovery takes, and how to find local help; this article answers those questions with clear, evidence‑informed explanations. You’ll read how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and family therapy address underlying drivers of substance use, what to expect at different stages of recovery, and how telehealth keeps care consistent. The guide also covers therapy types, insurance considerations, local supports, and straightforward next steps for requesting an assessment so you can move from information to intake with confidence.
Addiction therapy is a psychological treatment that addresses substance use disorder by shifting the thoughts, behaviors, and circumstances that keep use going. Care combines a thorough assessment, an individualized treatment plan, skill training for coping and emotional regulation, and relapse‑prevention strategies that reduce cravings and stabilize daily routines. The goal is stronger self‑management, safer decisions, and repaired relationships that support ongoing recovery. Research shows that structured therapies such as CBT produce measurable drops in substance use and lower relapse risk by correcting cognitive distortions and offering practical behavioral alternatives.
In practice, therapy aims at three core objectives: stabilize immediate safety and substance‑related risk, teach coping skills to replace substance‑driven responses, and build supports that limit relapse triggers. Those objectives lead to concrete results—fewer days of use, better mental health, and improved family and work functioning. At Stephen Rought LLC, we offer compassionate, evidence‑based services that combine CBT, individual therapy, family work, and referrals to group supports; we invite anyone concerned about substance use to request an assessment so we can outline personalized next steps. With that foundation, the next section reviews the types of addictions and co‑occurring concerns clinicians commonly treat.
Outpatient therapy commonly treats substance addictions such as alcohol use disorder and misuse of opioids or stimulants, along with problematic behavioral patterns like gambling and compulsive substance use. Treatment routinely screens for co‑occurring mental health issues—depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms—that often sustain substance use; addressing these dual diagnoses improves outcomes. Clinicians use validated assessments to determine severity, medical risk, and psychosocial needs before recommending a tailored plan. If screening shows a need for medical stabilization or medication‑managed care, we coordinate timely referrals to appropriate medical and specialty services to ensure safety and continuity.
This assessment‑first approach helps decide whether individual therapy, CBT, family sessions, or group programs will best support progress. Early evaluation also uncovers social determinants—housing, employment, or legal stressors—that affect recovery planning and referrals. An initial evaluation is the recommended first step for anyone concerned about substance use or compulsive behaviors.
Addiction therapy builds long‑term healing by teaching cognitive and behavioral skills that weaken triggers and strengthen healthier coping options. CBT helps clients test assumptions, run behavioral experiments, and practice alternative responses to cravings. Relapse‑prevention plans identify high‑risk situations, early warning signs, and concrete coping actions and support contacts to use when urges arise.
Over weeks and months, practiced routines and new skills form habits that replace substance‑driven reactions, while family work repairs communication patterns that can either enable use or support recovery. This layered strategy—skill learning, environmental change, and social support—creates durable scaffolding for sustained recovery. The sections that follow describe specific therapy options clinicians use to deliver these mechanisms.
Effective addiction care usually blends several modalities so treatment fits the person’s needs, risk level, and life context. Core options include individualized therapy for motivation and skills work, CBT to target thoughts and behaviors tied to use, family therapy to rebuild support and communication, and referrals to group therapy for peer connection and accountability. Each modality plays a distinct role and is often combined into a coordinated plan to improve outcomes.
The table below summarizes how these modalities support recovery and why many plans mix them. After the table, we explain how individual therapy, CBT, and family work operate and who benefits most from each.
ModalityTypical GoalTypical Session StructureIndividual addiction therapyPersonalized assessment and practical skill-buildingWeekly, one‑on‑one sessions with assessment, goal‑setting, and tailored interventionsCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviorsTime‑limited, skills‑focused sessions with homework and behavioral experimentsFamily therapyRepair communication and strengthen supportsMulti‑person sessions that address dynamics and create shared plansGroup therapy referralsPeer support and shared coping strategiesCommunity or clinic groups led by trained facilitators for ongoing connection
Individual therapy starts with a comprehensive intake to map patterns of use, co‑occurring conditions, and personal goals—information that shapes a customized treatment plan. Techniques commonly include motivational interviewing to boost readiness for change, CBT skill practice to manage cravings, and problem‑solving around high‑risk situations. Sessions offer a confidential place to try new behaviors, track progress, and adapt strategies when obstacles arise. Regular monitoring and collaborative goal‑setting keep interventions relevant and effective throughout recovery.
This tailored approach is especially helpful for people with co‑occurring mental health concerns, complex life stressors, or the need for flexible pacing in therapy. Individual work often sets the stage for adding family or group supports when appropriate.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reduces substance use by identifying and restructuring the thoughts that trigger cravings and by teaching concrete behavioral strategies to avoid relapse. Common CBT interventions include cognitive restructuring to challenge distorted beliefs, behavioral activation to replace substance‑linked routines, and exposure‑based practices to lower reactivity to triggers. Evidence supports CBT as an effective element of outpatient addiction care, particularly when clients practice skills between sessions.
Practical CBT exercises for cravings include urge surfing, structured activity scheduling, and rehearsing refusal skills—each aimed at turning insight into everyday practice. Consistent application of these principles strengthens self‑regulation and produces measurable shifts in thought‑behavior patterns tied to substance use.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction Relapse Prevention and Resilience Enhancement
This meta‑analysis found that CBT produced a statistically significant reduction in relapse compared with control conditions (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.227, p = 0.001) and relative to baseline (SMD = -0.678, p < 0.001). CBT also improved resilience versus control (SMD = 0.189, p = 0.047) and baseline (SMD = 0.825, p = 0.001). A nonlinear dose‑response analysis showed a rapid decrease in relapse during the first three months, then stabilization. Younger participants and those in university settings saw larger gains. Because CBT effects can wane over time, periodic booster or repeat sessions may be needed to sustain benefits.
Time‑Based Effectiveness of Cognitive‑Behavioral Therapy for Resilience and Relapse Prevention in Adults with Substance Use Disorder: A Multilevel Meta‑Analysis, I. Mhaidat, 2025
Meta‑analyses support that CBT lowers relapse risk and boosts resilience, with the strongest gains early in treatment and potential benefit from occasional booster sessions.

Family therapy targets interaction patterns and communication styles that can maintain substance use or obstruct recovery, helping families shift toward supportive, non‑enabling behaviors. Sessions often focus on setting clear boundaries, improving emotional expression, and creating shared relapse‑prevention plans family members can use outside sessions. When families engage, clients frequently report less isolation, clearer accountability, and steadier support during high‑risk moments.
Family work is especially valuable when close relationships shape daily life—parenting or shared housing—because lasting change often requires household routines that back recovery goals. A clear family plan can lower relapse triggers and improve long‑term stability.
CBT‑Based Relapse Prevention for Substance Use Disorder: Reducing Risk and Craving
This study examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Relapse Prevention Techniques (CBT‑BRPT) in lowering relapse risk and craving among people diagnosed with substance use disorder. Using a one‑group pretest‑posttest design and purposive sampling, the study evaluated 50 male participants in treatment for SUD with measures including the Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale (SRRS) and the Brief Substance Craving Scale (BSCS). Results showed statistically significant reductions in both craving and relapse risk following the CBT‑BRPT intervention, suggesting this approach can be a feasible therapeutic option for individuals with SUD.
Effectiveness of CBT‑based relapse prevention therapy in reducing relapse risk and craving among individuals with substance use disorder, 2022
Research shows that CBT‑based relapse prevention techniques can reduce craving and relapse risk among people in treatment for substance use disorder.
Online addiction therapy uses secure videoconferencing to deliver the same core therapeutic elements as in‑person care—assessment, CBT skills training, motivational work, and family sessions—while improving access for Californians statewide. Telehealth appointments are scheduled like clinic visits and run on HIPAA‑compliant platforms that allow face‑to‑face interaction, shared resources, and secure documentation. This option preserves continuity of care for people in remote areas, those with transportation challenges, or clients who need flexible scheduling around work and family.
Telehealth follows clear intake and safety protocols, including remote risk assessment, crisis safety plans, and coordination with local emergency services when needed. For California residents, licensed clinicians practice within state licensing rules to ensure ethical and legal care. These practical safeguards explain why telehealth is now an established option for ongoing addiction treatment.
Online counseling widens access to specialized care by removing geographic barriers and reducing time burdens from travel, childcare, or work. It enables continuity of therapy during life transitions or public‑health interruptions, and consistent engagement—supported by evidence since 2020—can match in‑person outcomes when platforms and clinical processes are well implemented.
Clinicians also use digital tools to share worksheets, track homework, and maintain collaborative safety plans, which strengthens skill practice between sessions. These conveniences make online counseling a practical complement or alternative to face‑to‑face care for many Californians seeking addiction support.
Virtual privacy relies on secure, encrypted videoconferencing platforms and clear informed consent that outlines confidentiality limits and emergency protocols. Clinicians obtain consent for telehealth, explain record‑keeping practices, and advise clients on protecting their privacy—using a private room, headphones, and a secure internet connection. Limits of confidentiality, such as mandatory reporting or imminent risk, are reviewed during intake so clients understand when disclosure may be necessary.
We encourage clients to ask about platform security and record‑keeping during the first appointment; verifying these details is a routine step in building trust for telehealth work. Knowing how privacy is protected reduces anxiety and supports open, effective therapy.
The recovery journey commonly follows stages: assessment and stabilization, skill‑building and behavior change, consolidation and relapse prevention, and long‑term aftercare. Each stage has milestones—safer use or cessation, consistent use of coping skills, strengthened supports, and a written relapse‑prevention plan—that therapists track and revise with clients. Progress varies by individual factors, but staging helps set realistic expectations and guide treatment choices. Clinicians emphasize active engagement, homework, and using supports to speed movement through stages and lessen setbacks.
Below is a concise timeline showing typical stages and example timeframes to help set expectations and normalize differences between clients.
StageKey ActivitiesTypical Timeline / ExampleAssessment & IntakeDiagnostic evaluation and safety planning1–3 sessions to establish baseline and immediate needsStabilizationManage withdrawal risk and reduce acute harmDays to weeks, depending on medical needsSkill‑BuildingCBT, coping strategies, and family sessions8–16 weekly sessions for measurable skill gainsAftercare & MaintenanceRelapse plan, peer supports, and follow‑upOngoing check‑ins; months to years for durable recovery
Duration varies: short‑term work (8–12 weeks) can deliver focused CBT skills, while longer‑term therapy (six months or more) is often needed for complex use patterns or co‑occurring disorders. Short programs emphasize concrete skills and behavior change; longer courses allow deeper work on trauma, relationships, and habit formation. Factors that affect length include severity of dependence, co‑occurring conditions, social supports, and practice of tasks between sessions. Regular progress reviews help clinicians and clients decide whether to intensify, taper, or move into maintenance care.
Because timeframes differ, we personalize estimates during intake so clients have realistic milestones and contingency plans for extended support when needed.
Relapse prevention focuses on teaching specific coping skills, planning for high‑risk situations, and building a network of supports to use when cravings occur. Core strategies include urge‑management techniques (urge surfing and distraction), cognitive tools to challenge relapse‑promoting thoughts, and behavioral planning such as activity scheduling to replace substance‑use routines. Therapists help clients create written relapse‑prevention plans listing triggers, coping responses, supportive contacts, and steps to take if use resumes. Medication coordination is included when clinically appropriate and is done in collaboration with medical providers.
These strategies are practiced in session and reinforced between appointments so new responses become more automatic over time, substantially lowering the chance of a full relapse.
Access to practical care is a key part of recovery planning, and clear information about insurance and local resources makes it easier to take the next step. Stephen Rought LLC accepts Aetna and Medicare as listed; clients should verify benefits and coverage details during intake to confirm session counts, co‑pays, and any prior‑authorization requirements. The practice offers both in‑person sessions in Chino Hills and telehealth across California, giving flexible access based on client needs. When higher‑intensity services are necessary—detox, medication‑assisted treatment, or intensive outpatient programs—we coordinate referrals to local providers and community supports.
The table below summarizes insurance, availability, and common local resources to streamline planning for prospective clients.
Resource TypePractical NoteAvailability / NotesAetnaAccepted payer per listingsVerify benefits and authorization during intakeMedicareAccepted payer per listingsBeneficiaries should confirm outpatient coverage limitsIn‑person sessionsOffered in Chino HillsLocal appointments for those who prefer face‑to‑face careOnline therapyAvailable throughout CaliforniaTelehealth supports continuity and remote accessLocal referralsMutual‑aid and outpatient programsClinician assists with coordination and updates quarterly
Yes—listings indicate Stephen Rought LLC accepts Aetna and Medicare for therapy services. Coverage specifics vary by plan and beneficiary, so clients should confirm whether addiction‑related sessions are covered under their particular Aetna plan or Medicare benefit and whether prior authorization or referral paperwork is required. During intake, we encourage clients to verify out‑of‑pocket costs and session limits so treatment planning proceeds with a clear financial picture. If insurance constraints arise, we help with referrals or alternative scheduling and payment options when possible.
Spending a few minutes to check benefits before starting care helps avoid interruptions and supports steady therapeutic engagement.
Chino Hills and nearby communities offer mutual‑aid meetings, outpatient counseling centers, crisis lines, and community health programs that complement outpatient therapy. These resources provide peer connection, structured relapse‑prevention groups, and access to case management for social needs that affect recovery. The clinician keeps an up‑to‑date resource list and helps coordinate referrals so clients connect with the right level of care when higher‑intensity services or medical management are necessary. Using multiple supports—therapy, peer groups, and community services—creates redundancy that strengthens long‑term recovery.
Clients are encouraged to pair professional therapy with community supports to reinforce daily routines and social accountability during recovery.
Choosing a provider comes down to clinical approach, delivery options, and practical supports that fit your life. Stephen Rought LLC emphasizes compassionate, evidence‑based care centered on CBT skill‑building, family work when helpful, and flexible delivery through in‑person and online sessions. This combination reflects best practices for outpatient addiction care: measurable skills, relapse prevention, and coordinated referrals when additional services are needed. Our local presence in Chino Hills plus statewide telehealth access supports both community‑based and remote clients.
Here are a few reasons people choose our practice:
Compassionate, evidence‑based care that blends CBT with family‑focused interventions.
Flexible delivery: in‑person sessions in Chino Hills and telehealth for Californians.
Practical assistance with insurance navigation and coordinated referrals to local programs.
These points show why some clients prefer a clinician who combines clinical rigor with client‑centered flexibility. If you’re ready to take the next step, contacting the practice to schedule an intake is the recommended action.
Our approach pairs CBT—an evidence‑supported therapy for addiction—with client‑centered compassion that prioritizes safety, collaboration, and individualized pacing. Compassionate care means validating each person’s experience, reducing shame, and co‑creating realistic goals while using data‑driven techniques to build skills and monitor progress. We balance empathy with structured interventions such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and family communication work to produce measurable change. Clients receive plans that are both humane and grounded in methods shown to reduce substance use and improve functioning.
By combining these elements, we support immediate stabilization and the long‑term skill development needed for durable recovery.
Specific testimonials are not included here, but successful outcomes in addiction therapy typically include reduced substance use, better emotional regulation, and restored relationships and daily functioning. Many clients who complete structured CBT, participate in family sessions, and connect with community supports report meaningful improvements in sober days and life satisfaction. If you’d like to learn more about typical outcomes or anonymized outcome summaries, ask during intake—an assessment is the best way to set realistic expectations and begin a practical recovery plan.
If you’re considering help, scheduling an assessment call or submitting an intake request is a practical first step toward clearer goals and sustained recovery.
Telehealth expands access to addiction therapy by offering flexible, secure sessions for people who face barriers to in‑person care. It lets clients attend appointments from home, which helps those in rural areas or with transportation, childcare, or work constraints. Telehealth follows the same therapeutic processes as office visits—assessment, skill training, and family involvement—while using privacy and security practices to protect the therapeutic relationship.
Preparing improves the first session. Reflect on your substance use patterns, any mental health concerns, and what you want to change. Write down questions or situations you want to discuss, and gather medical and insurance details to share. Being open and honest helps build a strong therapeutic alliance and lets the clinician create a focused, personalized plan.
If a relapse happens, reach out to your therapist or support network right away to review what occurred and identify the triggers. Together you can update your relapse‑prevention plan and reinforce coping strategies. Open communication and prompt support help you regain momentum and reduce the chance of repeated setbacks.
Yes—Chino Hills hosts mutual‑aid meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), as well as community groups focused on relapse prevention and peer support. These groups offer a safe place to share experience, learn from others, and build connections. Your therapist can help you find meetings that fit your needs and encourage participation when appropriate.
Family involvement strengthens recovery by creating a supportive environment that promotes accountability and clearer communication. Family therapy addresses dynamics that may contribute to substance use and teaches family members how to support change effectively. Shared relapse‑prevention plans and improved emotional expression reduce enabling behaviors and increase the household’s collective commitment to recovery, improving outcomes for the person in treatment.
Key signs that it’s time to seek help include difficulty controlling substance use, neglecting responsibilities at work or home, withdrawal symptoms, and continued use despite negative consequences. Isolation from friends and family or habitual use to cope with stress or emotional pain are also red flags. Early support increases the chance of effective treatment, so reaching out for a professional evaluation is a wise step.



Stephen Rought, LCSW does not guarantee any specific outcome. All content provided on the Stephen Rought, LCSW website is provided for educational or informational purposes only. Consult medical professionals you are working with about whether any opinions or recommendations provided through this website apply to you and your unique circumstances
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