Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most researched therapeutic approaches to date. Numerous studies prove that it affects people who engage in it with the help of a qualified therapist.
CBT is effective for many mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and trauma disorders. It supports the idea that people have cognitions, or thoughts, that are unhelpful that can lead to unhelpful behaviors. To change these behaviors, CBT therapists help clients examine their negative ways of thinking.
Your CBT therapist will first examine your negative thought patterns. Recognizing your unhelpful thoughts can lead to clarity about your actions. Once you understand how your unhelpful thoughts influence your behavior, your therapist will work with you to identify more helpful ways of thinking. Additionally, your therapist will help you find more positive ways of coping with negative thoughts and strong emotions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy utilizes individualized learning through homework activities that can help you more efficiently integrate the strategies you learn in therapy into your everyday life. Once you’ve incorporated some of these strategies into your daily life, your therapist will work with you to continue to reshape any negative or unhelpful ways of thinking that might arise.
