What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

If you have ever done research on mental health treatments, it’s likely you have heard of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is a type of therapy that aims to change negative thought processes that lead to unhealthy behaviors. It is one of the most popular therapies due to its high rates of success.

This article will take a close look at CBT so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy History

CBT can be traced back to the 1950’s when American psychologist Albert Eilis developed a theory called rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) which focused on the importance of thoughts and emotions in relation to behavior. REBT was considered the earliest form of CBT. It proposes that negative behavior is due to how you perceive an event rather than the event itself.

Throughout the 50s and 60s, Ellis worked with his depressed patients and realized that many of them held negative views of themselves, others, and their future., He discovered that their thoughts would not shift no matter how much exploration occurred.

This led him to the revelation that negative thoughts led to depression and that addressing them could be the key to improving mental health.

What are the Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Over the years, CBT has become more developed. Here are its main principles:

1. Psychological problems are at least partly based on negative ways of thinking.
2. Psychological problems are at least partly due to developed patterns of negative behavior.
3. People dealing with mental health issues can improve their symptoms by coming up with better ways of coping with their issues. 

What Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Entail?

CBT involves changing thought processes to encourage healthy behavior. People learn to think more positively by:

• Recognizing the distorted thinking that’s creating problems and reevaluating to put them in a more realistic context. 
• Gaining a better understanding of what motivates others to behave as they do.
• Developing problem solving skills to better deal with difficult situations.
• Learning to trust one’s own abilities to overcome obstacles.

The therapy also addresses behavioral problems by teaching people to:

• Face their fears instead of avoiding them.
• Prepare for problematic interactions with others through role-playing.
• Reduce anxiety in the mind and body.

Therapists will look at each patient to determine the steps that are most suited to their situation. They will recommend in-office and at home exercises to help patients achieve their mental health goals. Ultimately, they will encourage individuals to be their own therapists so they can solve problems without professional assistance.

Mental health issues aren’t easy to deal with. Fortunately, methods like CBT and other treatments have been developed to improve emotional health.

If you’re struggling to get by due to negative thought processes and unhealthy behaviors, do not hesitate to reach out to Progressive Ketamine. We will help you review your options and come up with the treatment that is best suited to your needs. We wish you luck reaching your mental health goals.