What is Moral Reconation Therapy?
Doctors Gregory Little and Kenneth Robinson first developed Moral Reconation Therapy (or MRT as it is more commonly referred to) in 1985. It was initially developed as a long-term, therapeutic approach that focused on the thought processes of a convicted felon and how to positively change them. However, MRT has now evolved to the extent that it is now used in the majority of the 50 states, especially in court-ordered drug rehab cases. As a result, many of the addiction treatment and recovery centers offer MRT as part of their addiction treatment and recovery programs.
Current applications
Today, Moral Reconation Therapy is viewed as a systematic strategy that is employed in drug abuse and dependency programs. The purpose of MRT is to enhance an individual’s ability to reason morally so that recidivistic behavior and relapsing are decreased and in some cases eliminated. It employs a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy with certain psychological traditions in order to address issues with the person’s ego as well as their social, positive, and moral behavioral growth.
MRT involves 3 key operational elements:
- group and individual counseling sessions
- required educational materials and homework assignments
- structure group exercises
The program involves a 12 to 16 step format that will take roughly 3 to 6 months to complete based on personal progress levels and that focuses on the following set of 7 basic treatment issues:
- assessment of the individual’s current relationships
- confronting attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs
- decreasing hedonistic or self-indulgent behavior habits while at the same time developing frustration tolerances
- developing higher levels of moral reasoning
- enhancing one’s self-concept
- positive reinforcement of behavior and habits
- positive formation of identity
There are also a number of other considerations that are included in Moral Reconation Therapy and should not be overlooked.
Primary goals of MRT
Moral Reconation Therapy is oftentimes characterized by its 2 primary goals which include:
- enhancing moral, positive, and social behavior
- the enhancement of an individual’s self esteem
Once the MRT part of the addiction treatment and recovery program is completed, the individual will have attained a better understanding of the behaviors and patterns stemming from their older ways of thinking. This is what prevents the individual from avoiding potentially harmful situations as well as the people and places that act as the triggers for their addictive behavior.
If you or a loved one is suffering with a substance addiction, we encourage you to contact The Rehab Advisor (drug addiction treatment referral website) regarding the numerous Moral Reconation Therapy programs that we offer throughout the US. These are the most successful programs that you can find anywhere in the country.