What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recognized as being an extremely effective form of therapy. This type of therapy is probably the most widely utilized in modern clinical psychology. CBT is a relatively short-term, directive, and “active” psychotherapy that is used to treat a wide range of psychological problems including anxiety, anger, marital conflict, loneliness, substance abuse and personality problems. It is also very beneficial to those attending eating disorder treatment centers and depression treatment facilities. The philosophy of cognitive behavioral therapy is based on how the client is thinking, behaving and communicating today (rather than on early childhood experiences).
Cognitive behavioral therapy aids clients in weakening the connections between troublesome situations and habitual reactions these situations may cause. This holds particular value in conditions which require psychological treatment strategies, such as eating disorders. Habitual reactions or responses to situations can include fear, depression, rage, and self-defeating or self-damaging behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy illustrates the manner in which certain thinking patterns may contribute to an individual’s problems, and attempts to alter these thinking patterns for the better. Altering thinking patterns is often especially helpful in trauma recovery and eating disorder treatment.
Numerous outcome studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy in psychotherapy, alcohol rehabilitation centers, and eating disorder treatment can be more effective than medication in the treatment of depression, anxiety, obsessions and other fears. Therapy does not have the negative side-effects of medications and it can be highly effective in preventing relapse as it provides patients with the opportunity to learn self-help strategies. CBT can provide a very powerful tool for stopping negative thought patterns and getting your life on a more satisfying track.
Who Can Benefit From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
A variety of people can be helped with the assistance of cognitive behavioral therapy. Such people often are suffering from problems such as:
- Low self-esteem
- Phobias
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Insomnia
- An eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia, etc.)
- Panic attacks
- Poor relationships
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Depression
Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Specific benefits of this therapy include:
- Reversing negative patterns of thinking, addressing bad habits
- Appropriately dealing with stress
- Talking with others more, participating in a variety of activities
- Calmly addressing fears
- Goals to change negative patterns of thought are set and addressed
- New ways of learning and self-help techniques are developed
- Increase in self-esteem
- Decreased strain of depression in one’s life
- Attempt to respond differently to negative situations
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