Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular type of psychotherapy that involves working with a therapist in a structured setting. It often includes attending a set number of sessions over a certain amount of time. This type of therapy focuses on making patients more aware of harmful or inaccurate thoughts and emotions so they can better understand situations and respond to them more effectively.
CBT can effectively address mental issues like depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. It can be used as a standalone treatment or combined with other treatments like medication. CBT can also be used to teach patients better ways to handle the stressful situations that they encounter.
How cognitive behavioral therapy works
CBT is the most commonly used type of therapy, and it can address various mental health disorders. It effectively shows patients how to identify things that trigger them and shows them ways to cope with them. It typically gets positive results faster than other types of therapy. Ways that CBT can help with mental health issues include:
- Prevents a re-emergence of symptoms associated with a mental health disorder.
- Manages symptoms of mental disorders.
- Provides treatment for mental health disorders when medication is not an option.
- Teaches patients how to cope with life’s challenges.
- Teaches patients ways to manage their emotions.
- Teaches patients better ways to communicate and resolve conflicts.
- Overcomes trauma.
- Teaches patients how to cope with grief.
Mental health disorders that CBT can be used to treat include schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, PTSD, depression, phobias, and anxiety disorders.
What to expect during treatment
CBT can be done in one-on-one settings, with family members, or with a group of people who are struggling with similar issues. The treatment involves educating the patient about their mental health condition, showing them relaxation techniques, and giving them stress management tools.
The patient also learns how to better cope with their emotions and how to assert themselves. The first session typically involves the therapist gathering information about the patient, their symptoms, and concerns.
It might take a few sessions for the therapist to build a clear picture of the patient’s mental health issues and how it impacts their everyday life.
During the treatment, the therapist will encourage the patient to open up about their thoughts and feelings, especially things that are bothering them. The treatment typically focuses on addressing specific issues with clear goals set. Treatment might also involve the patient doing work on their own, like reading a recommended book. Therapists typically tailor their approach to each patient’s unique circumstances and needs. Once negative emotions and thoughts have been identified, the therapist teaches the patient how to replace them with positive ones.
CBT might be what you need
Research done by the American Psychological Association shows that CBT can be more effective than medication when treating mental health issues like depression. Call or stop by our Phoenix clinic to set up an appointment with our therapist.
Request an appointment or call Push Wellness Health at 480-737-4658 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.
Related Posts
Psychotherapy for depression involves the patient talking to a therapist about factors that might be making them feel depressed during sessions that can be as long as 90 minutes.Also called talk therapy, psychotherapy is one of the first forms of treatment recommended for people with depression. Identifying the patient’s triggers and teaching them more effective…
Seeing a therapist for a consultation can help improve your mental wellness. Having this type of consultation can help you go through different types of challenging situations. The consultation may start with talk therapy and end with prescription medications. Its aim is to improve your symptoms. If you want to know more about your coming…
Using therapy as a way to treat depression is a common method for therapists. If you or someone you love is suffering from this illness, you should seek help right away. The treatment will be different for every patient. The therapist will cater the treatment to your needs. Still, the goals for any type of…