CBT is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, marital problems, and eating disorders. Numerous research studies indicate that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life.
Core principles
include
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Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
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Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behaviour.
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People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.
Treatment
change thinking patterns
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Learning to recognise one’s distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then reevaluating them in light of reality.
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Gaining a better understanding of the behaviour and motivation of others.
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Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
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Developing a greater sense of confidence in one’s own abilities.
Treatment
change behavioural patterns
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Facing one’s fears instead of avoiding them.
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Using role-playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.
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Learning to calm one’s mind and relax one’s body.
Not all CBT will use all of these strategies. Rather, the psychologist and patient/client work together in a collaborative fashion to develop an understanding of the problem and to develop a treatment strategy. CBT therapists emphasise what is going on in the person’s current life, rather than what has led up to their difficulties. A certain amount of information about one’s history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life.