Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Its Uses
New to the world of therapy? You may be wondering which approach or option best suits you and your needs.
While the therapy world has come a long way and society has become more accepting, there are still a lot of stigmas and unknowns associated with various mental health conditions and the therapy options available for treatment.
If you’re unsure where to start, cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most well-known and successful forms of treatment out there.
Let’s learn more about cognitive behavioral therapy and its uses.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of therapy that combines cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy to help individuals better manage their mental and physical health challenges. Similar to other therapies, CBT is a form of talk therapy. An individual will work with a therapist in a structured and goal-oriented setting to discuss any issues they’re facing and how they can overcome them.
The Benefits
CBT can help individuals explore and develop healthy coping mechanisms to help them overcome the challenges they’re facing. Let’s dive into some of the other benefits of this form of therapy.
Better Manage Emotions
CBT works to teach individuals how they can identify their emotions and feelings before they become too strong, intense, or uncontrollable. This treatment option also helps to reduce any impulsive behaviors that can occur by being able to cope with them in a healthy, more effective, and long-lasting way.
Improves Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is often a common denominator when it comes to mental health struggles. This can turn into a cycle of negative beliefs and thought patterns about oneself and their life. CBT helps to disrupt, change, and challenge these thoughts, which works to improve one’s self-esteem and confidence.
Identify Negative Thinking Patterns
One of the main benefits of this form of therapy is becoming more aware of any negative thought patterns that can impact the way you behave, feel, and make decisions. CBT works to replace those negative thoughts with more positive ones so that you start to feel better about yourself from the inside out.
Implement New Coping Skills
After you and your therapist work together to identify any stressors or negative thinking patterns, your therapist will teach you coping mechanisms that can help you better manage those thought patterns. Some of the skills may include things like behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, communication skills, goal management, journaling, mindfulness, and more.
The Conditions
Cognitive behavioral therapy has been effective in treating a wide variety of emotional and mental health conditions.
Emotional and Mental Health Conditions
These are some of the conditions that CBT has been beneficial in treating:
- Anxiety
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use and abuse
Nonpsychological Medical Issues
In addition to emotional and mental health challenges, CBT has been known to help with several nonpsychological medical issues:
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Migraines
Life Challenges
Life challenges that individuals can face each and every day can also be resolved with the help of CBT therapy:
- Difficulty coping
- Divorce
- Grief
- Life changes
- Relationship troubles
- Stress
How It Works
Cognitive behavioral therapy typically involves between five to twenty sessions. During this time, a therapist will work with their client in a safe and secure environment where they can communicate openly and without any judgment.
Next Steps
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a great treatment option for a wide range of emotional and mental health conditions, as well as common everyday challenges that anyone can face. If you’re interested in learning more about cognitive behavioral therapy and how it can be beneficial for you, reach out today to set up an initial consultation.