AVRT

AVRT stands for Addictive Voice Recognition Technique, a cognitive-behavioral approach used in some addiction recovery programs, most notably Rational Recovery. It posits that individuals with substance use disorders experience an ongoing internal “addictive voice” that rationalizes use and urges relapse. The technique trains people to recognize this voice as separate from their own rational self and to refuse to comply with it.

Core practice involves identifying urges as the addictive voice, labeling it as distinct from oneself, and making deliberate abstinence-based choices. Practitioners may guide clients through examples and rehearsal to interrupt cravings by stating, for example, that the voice is not them and that they will not act on the urge. AVRT emphasizes personal responsibility and voluntary abstinence rather than a disease-model framework; supporters describe it as a pragmatic, self-guided approach that can be used alongside other therapies.

Origins and development: AVRT was developed in the 1980s within Rational Recovery, founded by Jack Trimpey, as part of a movement offering an alternative to traditional 12-step programs. It has since been taught in various self-help and treatment settings, sometimes integrated with relapse-prevention strategies.

Reception and evidence: AVRT is one of several cognitive-behavioral approaches to addiction; empirical support is limited compared with some standard therapies, and it is more prominent in some circles than others. Critics argue that the technique may oversimplify addiction and rely heavily on self-monitoring. Proponents contend that it provides a clear, user-controlled framework for maintaining abstinence.