WHAT IS COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY OR CBT
 

HIGHLIGHTS
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can treat various mental health issues.
    • On HelloDr, you can meet CBT experts who provide effective therapy. 
    • BEGAL can tell you effective CBT is during and after every session. 
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy developed in the 1960s by Aaron Beck. It is an evidence-based psychotherapy that has been successfully used to treat many mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorders. Being a short-term, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, CBT is based on the idea that the thoughts and beliefs of an individual influence his/her emotions and actions. According to the principles on which CBT is based, one can improve his/her mental health and well-being by changing the way he/she thinks and responds to events.

Among mental health conditions, CBT is used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders. It has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving overall functioning in individuals with these conditions.

How CBT Works

CBT focuses on understanding the connection between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in order to address problematic situations. The goal of CBT is to teach the patient how to modify their current thought patterns and behaviors, so they can reach more positive outcomes for themselves.

At its core, CBT is about learning how to identify unhelpful or distressing thoughts so that the doctor and patient can work together to develop coping strategies to change those thoughts into more helpful ones. This involves challenging unrealistic thoughts or beliefs that may be maintaining undesired psychological states. 

CBT also examines beliefs an individual has about himself/herself, along with his/her ability to cope with life’s challenges. Through this process, individuals can understand the impact their thinking has on their feelings and actions while also gaining insight into how they can better manage stressors in their daily lives.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people adjust their irrational beliefs in order to take action even when facing challenging situations while incorporating effective coping skills that promote healthy behaviors proactively. This helps individuals to cope with anxiety or panic effectively. This way, CBT leads individuals towards a more productive path of healing and growth in areas like speaking up for oneself or being assertive at work when necessary.

Another key aspect of CBT is exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing the patient to the situations or triggers that cause anxiety or fear, with the goal of helping them build confidence and reduce their level of distress over time. The therapist may also use other techniques, such as relaxation training and breathing exercises, to help the patient manage their symptoms during exposure therapy.

Activities In CBT Process

CBT is typically delivered in individual therapy sessions, and it typically lasts between 12 and 20 sessions. However, the number of sessions needed can vary depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms and the specific goals of therapy. CBT can also be delivered in a group therapy format, which can provide additional support and allow patients to learn from one another.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a practical and structured approach to therapy, and it typically involves homework assignments and other active participation from the patient. The therapist and the patient work together to identify and challenge negative or irrational thoughts and beliefs that are contributing to the patient's distress and replace them with more positive and rational ones. The therapist may also help the patient learn new coping skills and behavior patterns that can improve their overall quality of life.

In addition, CBT also includes practicing mindfulness exercises which involve being aware of one's physical sensations as well as observing one's thoughts from a non-judgmental perspective with acceptance. Last but not least, building a healthy support system consists of surrounding oneself with people who are supportive during difficult times — this could include family members and/or professional support such as a therapist.

Cognitive Part of CBT

The cognitive part of CBT concentrates on changing the way an individual (seeking CBT) thinks about his/her circumstances and himself/herself by identifying unhealthy thought patterns such as catastrophic thinking (catastrophizing), believing inaccurately negative things about himself/herself (low self-esteem), overgeneralizing events or people (all or nothing thinking), discounting positive experiences (emotional reasoning) or jumping quickly to conclusions without having enough information (mind reading).

Behavioral Aspect of CBT

On the behavioral aspect of treatment, CBT focuses on transforming our reactions by breaking problematic behavior patterns into smaller goals towards healthier ways of responding, including setting new boundaries for ourselves when it comes to relationships, allowing us more time for self-care activities like exercise and relaxation techniques, committing to engaging in gratifying activities despite fear of failure or rejection, etc.

Meet CBT Experts on HelloDr

On the HelloDr website, users can meet experts who can conduct online sessions (individual or group sessions) that would benefit every patient who requires CBT. People using the HelloDr website can also talk to experts living in different cities. 

BEGAL Tells you how Beneficial and Effective CBT is

HelloDr offers Electroencephalography (EEG) device called BEGAL to evaluate the level of anxiety or depression that the brain is suffering from or may suffer from. BEGAL measures the EEG signals and evaluates brainwaves by monitoring the electrical activity of the brain. During every CBT session, the user can connect with BEGAL and record the brainwaves emitted by the brain during the session and after the session. If the patient has recorded his/her brainwaves before the session, he/she can take help from a doctor to compare the readings and understand how effective a CBT session is. Click here to join the waiting list and place your purchase order to be a proud owner of the new BEGAL.