Everything You Need to Know About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What is Cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that teaches people how to recognize and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that influence their behavior and emotions.

I recently learned from a CBT therapist near me that CBT focuses on changing the automatic negative thoughts that can contribute to and worsen a person’s behavioral and emotional difficulties, depression, and anxiety.

The CBT therapist Los Angeles also explained how these random negative thoughts can have a negative impact on a person's mood. As a result, CBT identifies, challenges, and replaces these thoughts with more objective and realistic thoughts.

Types of CBT

CBT is used in several different types of therapeutic approaches. Among them are the following:

1. Cognitive therapy

This focuses on identifying and correcting incorrect or distorted thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors.

1. Dialectical behavioral therapy

This focuses on thoughts and behaviors while incorporating techniques like emotional regulation and mindfulness.

1. Multimodal therapy

This entails dealing with psychological issues through seven distinct but interconnected modalities: behavior, affect, sensation, imagery, cognition, interpersonal factors, and drug or biological considerations.

1. Rational emotive behavior therapy

Identifying irrational beliefs, actively challenging them, and finally learning to recognize and change the associated thought patterns are all part of this process.

What are the 5 steps of CBT?

The 5 steps of CBT are: making a list; recording your unproductive thoughts; creating counter thoughts; reading your list often; and noticing what to replace and replacing it.

CBT techniques and what it treats

CBT uses a variety of techniques to help patients overcome negative or destructive thought patterns. Journaling, role-playing, relaxation, and mental distractions are among the techniques used.

CBT is used to treat a variety of conditions, including addiction, anger management issues, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, panic attacks, personality disorders, and phobias. It is also used to assist people in dealing with chronic pain or serious illness, divorce or break-ups, grief or loss, insomnia, low self-esteem, relationship problems, and stress management, among other things.

Benefits of CBT

CBT has the following advantages:

• It helps patients become aware of the negative and often unrealistic thoughts that dampen their feelings and moods, allowing them to engage in healthier thinking patterns.
• It is an effective short-term treatment option because results can be seen in a short period of time (often between five to twenty sessions).
• It works for a wide range of maladaptive behaviors.
• It is frequently less expensive than other types of mental illness treatment.
• It is effective when conducted both online and in person.

Potential challenges of CBT

During the course of CBT, you may encounter the following challenges:

1. The difficulty of delivering change

A prominent psychiatrist in Los Angeles once told me that while her CBT patients recognized that certain thoughts were not rational or healthy, becoming aware of the thoughts did not make it easy for the patients to change.

1. Structuring

We recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who was receiving TMS therapy Long Beach, and the topic was CBT. She discussed her experience with CBT, particularly how it does not focus as much on underlying unconscious resistances to change as other approaches, such as psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

I told her about the lessons I learned from a TMS specialist who was a former university classmate. The lesson was that CBT was better suited for clients who prefer a structured and focused approach in which the therapist frequently takes on an instructional role. That is why, when choosing CBT, one must be aware of what they are getting into so that they are not disappointed when the therapy fails to meet their needs.

1. Willingness to change

For CBT to be effective, the patient must be prepared to devote time and effort to analyze their thoughts and feelings. Some people may struggle with self-analysis and homework. Nonetheless, it is an excellent way to learn more about how one's internal states influence one's outward behavior.

1. Progress is gradual

CBT enables a person to take small steps toward changing their behavior. It is a gradual process that assists one in working toward a larger goal. While the process may appear less daunting and the goals more achievable, in order to achieve the desired results, one must be patient and dedicated.

Need more information about CBT?

Do you need more information about CBT, including how to get started with the therapy? Talk to Roots TMS for assistance by calling them at 562-268-5813.