Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach, a talking therapy, that aims to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic procedure. The title is used in diverse ways to designate behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and to refer to therapy based upon a combination of basic behavioral and cognitive research.
There is a lot of rock-solid evidence that CBT is effective for the treatment of a variety of problems, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, and psychotic disorders. Treatment is often put into manuals, and sold as popular paperbacks, with specific technique-driven brief, direct, and time-limited treatments for specific psychological disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in individual therapy as well as group settings, and the techniques are often adapted for self-help applications.
One of the most effect cognitive therapies is the very well proven mood therapy developed by David D. Burns, M.D., and spelled out in his book Feeling Good - The New Mood Therapy. In it, Dr. Burns describes how to combat feelings of depression so you can develop greater self-esteem. This best-selling book has sold over 4 million copies worldwide to date. In a recent national survey of mental health professionals, Feeling Good was rated #1—out of a list of 1000 books—as the most frequently recommended self-help book on depression in the United States.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered among the most rapid in terms of results obtained. Some forms of therapy assume that the main reason people get better in therapy is because of the positive relationship between the therapist and client. Cognitive-behavioral therapists believe it is important to have a good, trusting relationship, but that is not enough. CBT therapists believe that the clients change because they learn how to think differently and they act on that learning. Therefore, CBT therapists focus on teaching rational self-counseling skills.
A central aspect of rational thinking is that it is based on fact. Often, we upset ourselves about things when, in fact, the situation isn't like we think it is. If we knew that, we would not waste our time upsetting ourselves. Therefore, the inductive method encourages us to look at our thoughts as being hypotheses or guesses that can be questioned and tested. If we find that our hypotheses are incorrect (because we have new information), then we can change our thinking to be in line with how the situation really is.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of many Healing Techniques that can be used in Counseling.
