What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy focused on understanding the thoughts and feelings that impact our behaviors. CBT is widely-practiced and research has shown CBT to be the most effective treatment for many mental health conditions, including OCD as well as many anxiety and depression conditions.
It may be easiest to understand CBT by using an example. "John" has been struggling with depression for many months. He can still get to work, but spends much of his time thinking critical thoughts about himself and has begun cancelling activities and is sleeping 12+ hours a day. If John were to seek CBT therapy, he may learn to understand his self-critical thoughts and combat them with more realistic or positive thoughts. He may also learn to understand how his feelings of depression guide him to cancel plans, and learn strategies to do important activities despite feelings of depression. If he learns to combat his negative thoughts and feelings John would find it easier to engage in depression-reducing activities and would find relief from his depression.