What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a time sensitive structured psychotherapy meant for solving current problems and teaching clients necessary skills for modifying dysfunctional behaviour and thinking. It helps clients in changing their functioning and mood.

Overwhelming problems can be broken in a positive way into small chunks to deal with the situation. The patient in the therapy is shown how to change the negative patterns for improving the way they feel. The focus of the treatment is on the current issues. Practical ways are chosen for improving the state of mind of a person on a daily basis.

Uses of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

The therapy has been effective in treating a number of mental health conditions such as:

  • OCD (Obsessive Compulsive disorder)
  • Panic Disorder
  • PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
  • Insomnia
  • Alcohol Misuse

There are certain characteristics of the Cognitive Behavioural therapies which are stated as follows:

It is based on cognitive model of emotional response

It is based on the idea that human thoughts cause feelings and behaviours instead of situations, events and people. We can change the way we feel even if the situation does not change.

Effective therapy happens with a sound therapeutic relationship, not focus  

Cognitive Behavioural therapists believe that having a trustworthy relationship is important, but it is never enough. Therapists also believe that clients change when they learn how they can think differently and they act on this new learning experience. CBT therapists, in short, focus on teaching the patient some rational self-counseling skills.

It’s a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client

The therapists try learning what their clients want from life like their goals and help them achieve these goals. The role of the therapist is to listen, encourage and teach whereas the role of the client is to express his concerns, learn and then implement the learning.  

It is Structured and Directive

Each session arranged by a therapist has its own agenda. Certain techniques and concepts are taught during the session. The main focus of the therapy is the goals of the client. The therapists, however, do not tell their clients about what their goals should be. They only help the clients in thinking and behaving in certain situations for obtaining what they want. In short, they teach their clients how to do so.

It is Brief and Time Limited

CBT is considered to be one of the most effective and result oriented therapies of all. It is totally different from therapies like Psychoanalysis, which can take years as it is used for treating longstanding difficulties. When it comes to CBT, clients are always aware that there is a point when the therapy will end and this decision will be made by both the therapist and the client.

Remember that CBT seeks to modify the core dysfunctional beliefs of a person which trigger emotions in a particular situation.

 

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