What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

In the emotional rollercoaster that was 2020, it’s safe to say many people’s mental health is suffering more than expected. Therapy is one way to improve your health and wellness. Getting help for your mental health can be challenging, and that is okay.

Learning about different kinds of therapy can make the process of improving your mental health a little bit easier. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a popular type of therapy used for a variety of different issues. Knowing what it is and how it works can help you decide if it’s the best therapy type for you.

What is CBT?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a psychological treatment that helps improve mental health. It is aimed at challenging and changing negative thoughts and behaviors. The goal is to modify dysfunctional emotions and get rid of any irrational beliefs. CBT’s principle is that psychological problems are partly based on unhealthy ways of thinking and learned unhelpful behavior patterns.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy provides strategies such as learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in one’s abilities, recognizing distortions in one’s thinking, and more to change one’s thinking patterns. Much of CBT involves someone facing their fears rather than avoiding them and using role-play to prepare for stress-inducing situations.

CBT is a common type of talk therapy. It is meant to be short-term and completed in a certain number of sessions, typically ranging from 5-20 sessions in total. The therapy’s length depends on the type of mental disorder, the severity of the symptoms, how much stress the patient is under, etc. Studies have shown that CBT can lead to significant improvement in wellness and quality of life.

Benefits of CBT for Children with Autism

Almost everyone could improve their health and wellness by using cognitive behavioral therapy. It teaches people how to cope with stress and emotions in healthy ways to enhance their wellness.

In addition to helping people’s mental health, CBT can also help manage chronic physical symptoms. It can assist in resolving conflicts within relationships and learn better forms of communication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can treat mental illnesses and teach people how to manage them. It can also help cope with grief or loss, as well as overcome emotional trauma.

Some of the mental illnesses and disorders that improve from using CBT include:

• Depression and anxiety
• Phobias
• PTSD
• OCD
• Autism

CBT has been used to treat children on the autism spectrum, helping them become more mindful. Implementing this kind of therapy can improve the routine of a child with autism.

Implementing CBT in Your Life

If cognitive behavioral therapy sounds like something you’re interested in, how can you implement it in your life? First, find a therapist. Getting a referral from a doctor, friend, or any other trusted source is an excellent way to find one. Check the therapist’s background and education as well as their certification. The therapist must be qualified to help you. Research the therapist’s area of expertise to ensure they are the best fit for you. To learn more about picking a therapist, check out this guideline.

Next, consider the cost of the therapy. Some health insurance plans cover a certain amount of therapy per year. Before going to CBT, review the issues you would like to work on while in therapy. Having a sense of your concerns before meeting the therapist can help provide a starting point for improving your wellness.

You must go into therapy with an open mind and a willingness to improve yourself. Expect to become aware of troubling thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, and identify and reshape any negative thinking patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can improve the happiness and wellness of people facing mental health issues.