Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a time-efficient and problem-focused therapeutic approach. It typically lasts between six to twenty sessions. The primary focus of CBT is on the present moment and the day-to-day difficulties a person faces. CBT helps individuals examine their thoughts and interpretations of events and how these perspectives impact their emotional well-being. While childhood experiences are not the primary focus of CBT, they may be revisited to understand and address lingering emotional distress. CBT is based on the idea that emotions stem from how one thinks about a situation and not just from the situation itself.

In CBT, individuals learn to identify and modify their thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions related to their problematic emotional and behavioral responses to certain situations. By keeping track of thoughts during situations that trigger negative emotions, individuals learn that their thoughts contribute to emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. CBT teaches individuals to:

• Recognize distortions in their thinking
• View thoughts as interpretations rather than facts
• Take a step back and consider situations from multiple perspectives.

CBT is one of the most widely used therapeutic methods. For CBT to be effective, individuals must be willing to engage in discussions, participate in exercises, and complete homework assignments between sessions.