CBT is a form of short-term therapy focused on current problems with long-term solutions. The idea is to help an individual (child or adult) change thought patterns with the goal of obtaining different results in behavior. Hopefully, the person will be happier and more functional. The therapist works as a partner with the client to discover the thoughts that lead to unhelpful behavior and develop a new thought-to-action connection.
Chart explaining how thoughts, emotions, and
behavior interrelate in CBT. Image from Pacific CBT:
pacificcognitivebehavioraltherapy.com
The technique has been found to be highly or moderately effective in the treatment of:
- depression
- generalized anxiety disorder
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- general stress
- anger issues
- panic disorders
- agoraphobia
- social phobia
- eating disorders
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
- childhood anxiety and depressive disorders