Cognitive behavioural therapy -Overview

Cognitive behavioural therapy may be a common type of talk therapy that can be very helpful in treating mental health disorders.  Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may be a common type of talk therapy or psychotherapy. A patient is employed with a mental health counsellor (psychotherapist or therapist) in a structured way, attending a fixed number of sessions.  

CBT helps a person become conscious of negative thinking to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them more effectively.

CBT is often a beneficial tool, alone or in combination with other therapies, in treating mental health disorders, like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other disorders. But not everyone who benefits from CBT features a mental health condition. CBT are often an effective tool to help anyone learn how to manage stressful life situations better.

Why it’s done?

Cognitive behavioural therapy is employed to treat a wide range of issues. It’s often well-liked psychotherapy because it can quickly help you identify and cope with specific challenges. It generally requires fewer sessions than other sorts of therapy and is done in a structured way.

CBT may be a valuable tool to address emotional challenges. For instance, it’s going to help a person  

• Manage symptoms of mental disease
• Prevent a relapse of mental disease symptoms
• Treat a mental disease when medications aren’t a good option
• Learn techniques to deal with stressful events or life situations
• Figure out ways to manage emotions
• Resolve relationship conflicts  
• Learn better ways to speak
• Cope with grief or loss
• Overcome emotional trauma associated with abuse and violence
• Recover from a medical illness
• Manage chronic symptoms.

What are the mental health disorders that can improve with CBT?

Mental health disorders that improve with CBT are:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Phobias
• PTSD
• Sleep disorders
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Substance use disorders
• Bipolar disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Sexual disorders.

How does cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) work?

Cognitive behavioural therapy is an evidence-based treatment in theory and skill-based conversations. It provides a supportive and safe environment that allows a person to talk openly with a mental health professional who can help a person with their issues.

Cognitive behavioural therapy takes place over a few sessions. One shouldn’t expect results immediately. CBT usually takes time. Consider a therapist as a partner working with you through a process. If you work together toward your goals, you’ll mark significant progress.

A therapist will,

Understand the issue

At the beginning of therapy, the patient will discuss the challenges they are handling, symptoms they have noticed and any concerns. A therapist will diagnose a patient to check for other psychological conditions. This vital initiative will help a person set goals for their therapy.

Ask a series of questions.

Counting on the situation, a therapist may ask the patient questions. A patient would possibly discuss an incident in the past, fears or phobias, troubling behaviours or their thoughts and feelings. Together, they explore the answers to gain insight into how a person responds to challenges in their life and help them recognise problematic thoughts and behaviours.

Through interactive question-and-answer sessions, a therapist will encourage the person to pay close attention to how they answer challenging questions. They work together to spot unhealthy emotions, beliefs or behaviours contributing to the trouble. A therapist may ask a person to keep a journal of these situations and their responses to them.

Work with a patient to regulate their thoughts and behaviours.

A therapist will help you find ways to change negative emotions, thoughts and habits. You’ll change your perspective and adopt positive thought patterns and behaviours. Then, you’ll apply those skills to future situations.

What are the pros and cons of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive behavioural therapy helps a person become more conscious of their emotions, thoughts and behaviour. After CBT, most people adopt healthier habits.  

CBT can’t make stressful situations disappear, but a person can learn to respond to them more positively and feel better. Many studies show that CBT is as effective as, or more effective than, other sorts of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications.

Depending on the situation, a person can feel slightly more upset or anxious during therapy. These negative feelings can build stress on the patient. However, a therapist can work their way through these feelings. A person can learn and use new skills to overcome negative emotions.

To sum up  

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a common type of talk therapy or psychotherapy where a mental health professional helps a patient become aware of their negative thoughts or feelings. CBT helps a person respond to such negative situations in a more effective way.  

With other therapies combined and medications, CBT can be a useful tool for a person to effectively manage stressful situations. Cognitive behavioural therapy is used to treat various mental health issues. It’s often the most preferred type of psychotherapy because it can quickly help a person identify and cope with specific challenges.

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