What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The core idea is that how we interpret events rather than the events themselves shapes how we feel and act.

CBT typically involves working collaboratively with a therapist to:

  • Recognize distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns.
  • Challenge those thoughts using evidence and alternative perspectives.
  • Change behavioral habits that reinforce distress or negative outcomes.

Therapy often includes structured sessions, goal-setting, and homework assignments such as journaling or practicing coping skills in real-life situations.

Therapy is typically structured which starts with agenda setting for the session, review of assigned skills for the week, processing emotions, cognitions and behaviors between session and finally assigning homework to complete for the next week.

The term “homework” is a little different than homework assigned in school. In CBT this describes skills in CBT that are taught in session and then asked to continue to implement outside of session independently. During the next session. The therapist and client will review how the skill went, discussing what went well, what didn’t, and what can be done to make the skill more useful.

CBT has proven effective for a wide range of mental health concerns, including:

  • Depression and anxiety disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Eating disorders
  • Substance use disorders
  • And many more

Research continues to show that CBT can lead to long-term improvements in mood, functioning, and overall quality of life

If you are curious if CBT would be appropriate in your therapy or have any other follow up questions please ask you mental health provider!

 

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. (2023). What is CBT? https://beckinstitute.org/get-informed/what-is-cbt/

Craske, M. G., Treanor, M., Conway, C., Zbozinek, T., & Vervliet, B. (2014). Maximizing exposure therapy: An inhibitory learning approach. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 58, 10–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2014.04.006

Edinger, J. D., & Carney, C. E. (2015). Overcoming insomnia: A cognitive-behavioral therapy approach. Oxford University Press.

Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–44