What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, at least 1 in 5 adult Americans experience a mental illness, with nearly 10 million living with a severe mental illness. Approximately 21.5 million Americans face a substance use disorder every year. Millions more report suffering from low self-esteem.
As difficult as these challenges are, and as distant as recovery may seem, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven effective for issues like these and a multitude of others. As an article published in the journal Cognitive Therapy and Research says: “The evidence-base of CBT is very strong.” (1)
CBT has proven results for insomnia, chronic pain, anger issues, anxiety disorders, bulimia, psychosomatic disorders, and general stress.
CBT is a powerful therapeutic approach that looks at your current thoughts and the behaviors they trigger. It hones in on your automated assumptions and how these manifest when you experience frustration or stress.
In CBT we identify the unhelpful thoughts that inform your feelings, decisions, and actions, and challenge these in a safe and non-judgmental way. What do you think about “X?” Is this thought accurate? What is the likely reality in situation “Y?” Are your thoughts counterproductive? What would be a more plausible explanation?
CBT provides you with greater understanding of your internal dialogue, helping you to train different thinking patterns and beliefs to better reflect both the reality around you and a more empathetic self-image. This methodology aims to ease your suffering, improve your problems, and help you live a healthier, happier life.