Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective in over 2,000 research studies. It is a time-sensitive, structured, present-oriented psychotherapy that helps individuals identify goals that are most important to them and overcome obstacles that get in the way. CBT helps people get better and stay better.
CBT is based on the cognitive model: the way that individuals perceive a situation is more closely connected to their reaction than the situation itself.
One important part of CBT is helping clients figure out what they most want from life and move toward achieving their vision. They learn skills to change thinking and behavior to achieve lasting improvement in mood and functioning and sense of well-being.
CBT uses a variety of cognitive and behavioral techniques, but it isn’t defined by its use of these strategies. We use problem solving and adopt other therapeutic modalities, including dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, Gestalt therapy, compassion focused therapy, mindfulness, solution focused therapy, motivational interviewing, positive psychology, and interpersonal psychotherapy.
How Can CBT Help?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a useful tool to address emotional challenges. For example, it may help you:
- Manage symptoms of mental illness
- Prevent a relapse of mental illness symptoms
- Treat a mental illness when medications aren’t a good option
- Learn techniques for coping with stressful life situations Identify ways to manage emotions
- Resolve relationship conflicts and learn better ways to communicate
- Cope with grief or loss
- Overcome emotional trauma related to abuse or violence
- Cope with a medical illness
- Manage chronic physical symptoms
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of talk therapy (psychotherapy). You work with a therapist in a structured way, attending a limited number of sessions. CBT helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.
CBT can be a very helpful tool ― either alone or in combination with other therapies ― in treating mental health disorders, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an eating disorder. But not everyone who benefits from CBT has a mental health condition. CBT can be an effective tool to help anyone learn how to better manage stressful life situations.
Mental Health Disorders That May Improve with CBT:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Phobias
- PTSD
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Substance use disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Sexual disorders