What Is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?

Widely recognized as CBT is a form of talking therapy that helps individuals with their concerns by altering the thought and behavioural approach. This form of therapy is extensively used to treat anxiety and depression and is known to be useful in the treatments of bipolar disorder, eating disorders, phobias, PTSD, borderline personality disorder. In addition, CBT is often used to help individuals cope better with symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.

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How Does CBT Work?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is based on the concept that one’s thoughts, feelings, actions and physical sensations are interconnected. Other forms of talk therapy largely focuses on issues from the past however CBT centers around current problems and aims to provide practical ways to improve wellbeing.

How Does CBT Help?

  • In comparison to other forms of talking therapies, CBT is known to be completed over a short period of time
  • This is form of therapy is considered to be helpful in cases that medicine alone has not worked
  • CBT guides individuals to implement practical strategies in daily life even after the treatment is completed.
  • The highly structured framework of CBT allows different formats such as groups, apps and self-help books to be used.

CBT Techniques

CBT sessions are often recommended to take place once a week or once every two weeks. The course of the treatment lasts between 5-20 sessions each lasting for 30 to 60 minutes.

The sessions involve the breakdown of the individual’s problems into aspects of actions, thoughts and physical feelings. The therapist and the individual would analyze each area and determine their effect on each other and on the individual. Once the areas that require change are identified the therapist would recommend practice the changes in daily life which would then be followed up in the next session. The aim of CBT is to guide individuals to apply the skills learnt during sessions to daily life.

 

Written by Thanujaa Manoharan