Within the therapy world, there are a lot of different approaches to help someone find relief from their struggles. Generally speaking, many of these approaches seem like a huge mystery for those who aren’t familiar with therapy terms.

CBT, or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, is an approach that seems more mysterious than it actually is. When you are interested in starting therapy, having so many different types of therapy or therapists to choose from is intimidating. Therapy, in general, is something many people are intimidated by, honestly.

However, therapy of any kind is a highly beneficial and transformative tool for anyone who participates. CBT, in particular, is a great starting point.

What is CBT?

CBT is a type of therapy that lets someone see the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. As these connections are realized, it can help modify these connections in positive ways.

How Does It Work?

When CBT first starts, your therapist and you will begin with identifying the thoughts that are causing you the most amount of stress. In between sessions, your therapist may ask for you to track your thoughts and feelings in a journal that you will share with them.

When this process is over, you will learn to identify how these thoughts make you feel and how they impact your behaviors.

After a few sessions, you will learn how to challenge these thoughts. Additionally, you will learn about tools to help you manage your symptoms.

Goals of CBT

One of the main goals of CBT is to help people overcome negative thought patterns. Other goals of CBT  can include:

• Learning to express feelings
• Learning coping techniques for stress
• Builds confidence in individuals

CBT also allows people to feel more prepared for the various life challenges that will come up. As these situations happen, someone who previously participated in CBT can face these situations with less tension and anxiety. Essentially, CBT can be useful for any goal that you have in mind.

CBT is a type of therapy that does not require talking about the past. While it might be useful in some cases, the main emphasis will be on the current situations someone is facing. Additionally, CBT looks to make goals for the future as well.

A personal goal for a CBT therapist is to give their clients the tools so they eventually won’t need to go to therapy. We all want to see our clients succeed and reach a point where they feel confident in their own abilities to handle challenging life situations.

What CBT Helps With

CBT is highly effective in treating a variety of mental health disorders. It is also useful to find relief from general stress as well. CBT can help people who have the following mental health issues:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Depression
• Bipolar I & II
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Phobias
• Eating Disorders

How Long Does CBT Take?

CBT is not a quick-fix solution. However, it is a solution for long-term results. In general, someone could be in this type of therapy from five to 20 sessions, depending on the individual’s needs.

CBT sessions will typically take place once a week, but in some cases, it is done every two weeks. The average length of a CBT session usually is 30 to 60 minutes.

Next Steps

We hope this helps to demystify some of the aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy. If you are interested in learning more about CBT, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can help you reach the goals you have in mind and live life to its fullest extent.