Group Cognitive Therapy for Addictions

Amy Wenzel, PhD, is Clinical Associate in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She is the recipient of awards from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Wenzel lectures and provides training and consultation in cognitive-behavioral therapy nationwide. Bruce S. Liese, PhD, ABPP, is Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Clinical Director of the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment at the University of Kansas. Dr. Liese has served as president of the American Psychological Association Division on Addiction Psychology (APA Division 50). His scholarly work has focused on the treatment of complex mental health problems and addictions. He has published widely and is presently on three APA journal editorial boards. He has taught courses on addictions, psychotherapy, and evidence-based practice and supervised hundreds of psychotherapy trainees. Dr. Liese is a recipient of the President’s Citation for Distinguished Service and the Distinguished Career Contributions to Education and Training Award from APA Division 50, as well as an APA Presidential Citation for service to his community. Aaron T. Beck, MD, until his death in 2021, was Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and President Emeritus of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Internationally recognized as the founder of cognitive therapy, Dr. Beck has been credited with shaping the face of American psychiatry and was cited by American Psychologist as “one of the five most influential psychotherapists of all time.” Dr. Beck was the recipient of awards including the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the American Psychiatric Association, the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award in Applied Psychology from the Association for Psychological Science, and the Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health and Gustav O. Lienhard Award from the Institute of Medicine. He authored or edited numerous books for professionals and the general public. Dara G. Friedman-Wheeler, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Friedman-Wheeler has received several awards from the National Institutes of Health. Her research interests are in the areas of coping, affect regulation, outcome expectancies, mood disorders, and health behaviors/outcomes.

I. Background

1. Scope of the Problem

2. Theoretical Framework: A Comprehensive Cognitive Model of Addiction

3. Theoretical Framework: Group Theory and the Stages-of-Change Model

4. Overview of the Cognitive Therapy Addictions Group (CTAG)

5. Cognitive Case Conceptualization

II. Cognitive Therapy Addictions Group Session Components

6. Introductions

7. Evaluating Thoughts and Beliefs

8. Developing Coping Skills

9. Homework and Closure

III. Summary and Integration

10. Conclusion: Implementing the Cognitive Therapy Addictions Group