What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT, or , is a form of evidence-based psychotherapy widely recognized for focusing on the connection between a person�??s behavior, thoughts, and feelings. It can be used as a standalone treatment or added to other therapeutic approaches to treat various mental health conditions. Some of these conditions are anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse issues, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The root idea behind CBT is that thoughts influence one�??s actions and emotions. With this, the goal is to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns contributing to their distress and develop realistic, positive thoughts for better adaptive behaviors and healthier emotional responses. To be more specific, during CBT sessions, the referring physician and the client will collaborate to do the following:
- Goal-set
- Identify automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)
- Examine evidence of the ANTs
- Develop alternative perspectives
- Practice new coping strategies
By the end of their treatment plan utilizing CBT, the individual will be more capable of being more aware of their thinking pattern and use their equipped skills to change the negative thoughts they have to have healthier mental well-being.










