COCT MINISTRY
CHURCH OF COGNITIVE THERAPY
The Church Of Cognitive Therapy (COCT) aligns with global entheogenic spiritual communities that explore the sacred use of psychoactive substances beyond recreational contexts. The church emphasizes safety, ethical guidelines, and holistic mental and spiritual well-being while integrating traditional plant-based sacraments with therapeutic and spiritual objectives.
COCT Ministry is a modern entheogenic secular, religious, and spiritual movement that blends cognitive psychology, shamanic wisdom, and ceremonial plant medicine, offering a structured yet flexible path toward personal enlightenment, spiritual connection, and introduction to a global community of participation.
COCT Ministry is a pastoral trauma healing platform originally organized to heal veterans with PTSD, cancer, and addiction in 2003. Its origin was constructed using cognitive therapy, neuroplasticity, ancient ceremonial indigenous practices, and aligning with the animist belief in a Universal Divine Life Force that animates all things. These practices and beliefs were instrumental in curing a long period of depression and trauma for the organizer. The ministry's lineage is heavily rooted in veteran-to-veteran-led religious and spiritual practices.
Reframe Your Brain: Addiction Therapy
Breaking the Chains of Addiction
By Rev Lion 03/14/24
In my early thirties (2001) I had been smoking cigarettes for nearly 8 years. My doctor told me I had to stop smoking something or I was going to die. It was a no brainer I knew cannabis was metal, physical, and spiritual medicine so it had to be cigarettes. I tried to quit numerous times before only to fail again and again. I smoked on the pill, the patch, gum, and everything else.
It was revealed to me that I could rewire my brain and then my body would follow. I had been introduced to cognitive therapy by Vietnam veteran servicemen, which was/is part of their ongoing PTSD/addiction management. Going with the idea that doing something 30 times a day becomes a habit, which aligns with others who projected 21-66 days [1] to form/create a new habit. I remember back in the early 80s when my wrestling coach and kung fu Cifu both suggested that training moves 30 times/day will make it a habit/instinctual.
Knowing how difficult it had been to quit smoking it seemed almost impossible to finalize it. I thought if I held up each cigarette (30 a day), then said out loud I don’t need you anymore, making sure it was at least 30 times. I figured that if I did this 30 times a day for 90 days it would rewire my brain to know I did not need it anymore. Once I had done that for 90 days, I did the same thing again only saying I don’t want you anymore 30 times a day for 90 days. After 180 days, my brain had rewired my mind and body, so I was primed to quit, and I did. Then I had to replace the hand to mouth sequence, which I substituted sunflower seeds.
I haven’t smoked a cigarette since 12:30 am 06/02/02. Repetition works with neuroplasticity to reform neural pathways to create new habits. “Self-directed neuroplasticity is when you intentionally rewire your brain to create positive habits. People do this primarily through active reflection.” [2]
[1] Gabriel Dalexander. How Much Repetition Does It Take To Rewire Your Brain?. (2024). Retrieved 14 March 2024, from https://mybrainrewired.com/rewire-the-brain/how-much-repetition-does-it-take-to-rewire-your-brain/
[2] The Science of Habit. (2024). Retrieved 14 March 2024, from https://www.healthline.com/health/the-science-of-habit