Cbt therapy which is also known as cognitive behavior therapy is a way to counsel as person when his mental health has deviated from normal state. Cbt therapy is also useful for anyone who wants to manage stressful situation in a better manner.
It is a form of psychotherapy where the patient is counseled by the psychotherapist in few or more sessions. In this therapy the counselor makes the patient realize of his inaccurate and negative thoughts (cognition) and teaches him to correct them.
CBT Therapy For Anxiety And Depression
Along with cognitive therapy the word behavior is used indicating the therapy also focuses on the behavior of a person and helps him to alter those which are unproductive.
Cbt differs from other forms of psychotherapy such as talking therapy;
Time period: on an average complete cbt session takes maximum of 16 sessions, unlike psychoanalysis which can prolong for years. The time period is often planned in advance before beginning the therapy.
Specific plan: Each session is planned and specific task and lesson is set for the patient to learn.
Homework: besides the active session with the counselor, the patient is also asked to keep a journal at home and note down the triggering factors for negative thoughts and practice how to alter it with a positive response.
Research has suggested that a patient suffering from depression and anxiety may not need antidepressants if he follows cbt therapy properly. In long term, it is of great value compared to different anti depressive medications.
Cbt therapy results are far better in depressed and anxious patients, who really desire to change themselves and those who follow sincerely the tasks assigned to them at home.
Benefits Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
There is wide range of issues that can be addressed with the aid of cognitive behavior therapy:
- The therapy requires few sessions as compared to other therapies.
- Specific challenges are addressed directly in a systematic pattern.
- It helps a person to learn how to cope a stressful situation in certain situations, for e.g. problems at his workplace.
- It helps to identify emotions and how to tackle it as in a state of anger.
- It also helps an individual to cope circumstances which has made him sad. For example sad demise of his beloved.
- Overcome mental trauma caused due to physical violence and abuse.
- Cbt therapy benefits in chronic diseases where patient suffers from persistent pain, restlessness, anxiety and depression.
- Some of the mental conditions that can improve with cbt therapy are; depressions, anxiety, sleep disturbances, sexual disorders, phobias, substance abuse.
CBT Therapy Techniques
Some of the cbt therapy techniques are:
- The patient is told to recollect the past traumatized mental situation. The therapist then works with the patient to find how to solve the related problem, and if the difficult situation arises how to solve it.
- Taking note of all the negative thoughts in a book. How he has behaved to the situation. The therapist and the patient then review the book to find what the negative thought pattern was and the ways to solve them if it recurs again.
- Related Topics
- Behavioral Therapy Skills: Depression Time Management, Conversation
- Behavior Therapy Treatment: Steps, Stages & Goals of Behavioral Therapy
- Supportive Therapy For Depression: Psychoeducation For Depression
- Psychoanalysis Therapy: Short Term Psychodynamic Therapy for Depression
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Techniques And DBT Treatment Plan
