Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a short-term, problem-focused form of treatment that helps people see the difference between beliefs, thoughts, and feelings, and free them from unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving. CBT is grounded in the belief that it is one's perception of events – rather than the events themselves – that determines how a person will feel and act in response.
CBT can help with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance misuse
- Persistent pain
- Disordered eating
- Sexual issues
- Anger management issues
As its name suggests, CBT interventions target both cognitions (thoughts) and behaviors. With cognitive techniques, you learn to adjust the thoughts that directly influence your emotions and behavior. This adjustment process is referred to as cognitive reconstructing, which happens through different CBT strategies. Behavioral techniques focus on modifying behavior, such as learning communication and assertiveness skills.
Some other CBT techniques include:
- Journalling
- Challenging beliefs
- Relaxation
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Social, physical and thinking exercises