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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

From the American Psychological Association

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness.

Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications.

It's important to emphasize that advances in CBT have been made on the basis of both research and clinical practice.

The three core principles of CBT

  1. Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
  2. Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.
  3. People experiencing psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

Changing thinking patterns

CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns. These strategies might include:

  • Learning to recognize one's distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then reevaluating them in light of reality.
  • Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others.
  • Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
  • Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in one's own abilities.

Changing behavioral patterns

CBT treatment also usually involves efforts to change behavioral patterns. These strategies might include:

  • Facing one's fears instead of avoiding them.
  • Using role-playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.
  • Learning to calm one's mind and relax one's body.

Not all CBT will use all of these strategies. Rather, the psychologist and client work together, in a collaborative fashion, to develop an understanding of the problem and a treatment strategy. CBT places an emphasis on helping people learn to be their own therapists. Through exercises in session as well as "homework" outside of sessions, clients develop coping skills and learn to change their own thinking, problematic emotions, and behavior.

CBT therapists emphasize what is going on in a person's current life, rather than what led up to their difficulties. Some information about one's history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward to develop more effective ways of coping with life.

Source: APA Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology)

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