Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

About Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a practical and effective form of psychotherapy that helps individuals gain the skills and strategies they need to live their best lives. CBT focuses on the challenges faced in everyday life and helps people understand the impact of their thoughts and perceptions on their emotions. Some of the key benefits of CBT include:

• A structured and organized approach, making it easy to follow and track progress
• Time-limited treatment, typically taking 6–20 sessions
• A solution-focused and goal-oriented approach, leading to positive change in a relatively short time
• Long-lasting skills and strategies that can be used even after therapy ends
• A collaborative and supportive relationship between the therapist and client

CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are interconnected. The therapy recognizes three levels of thinking: conscious thoughts, automatic thoughts, and schemas. Conscious thoughts are deliberate and rational, while automatic thoughts are rapid and often unconscious. Schemas are deeply ingrained beliefs that shape our interpretation of information and events. To help individuals change their behaviour, CBT employs techniques such as self-monitoring, activity scheduling for depression, and exposure and response prevention for anxiety. The ultimate goal of CBT is to provide individuals with the tools they need to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.