What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Why You Need It

There comes a point in your life where you find yourself needing professional help. A point where you need something and someone that can guide you to a better life and self. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the one thing that can help you and a CBT therapist is someone who has the potential to guide you into that better and healthy life. Moreover, a positive mind and outlook in life is one of the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy. 

Do you find yourself into a negative spiral of self-doubt, low self-esteem and confidence? Do you have crippling anxiety that hinders you from living your best life? Or do you have existing phobias, addiction and disorders that you are desperate to get rid of? Then those are some reasons why a person needs cognitive behavioral therapy. 

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as the ‘talk therapy’ is one of the most popular forms of therapy. CBT is one of the most scientifically studied and evaluated and is generally known as an effective treatment. This type of therapy is cost-effective and the overall treatment sessions can cover a few to 10-20 sessions depending on the severity and need of the client. It is popular with all kinds of people as the treatments are intrinsic and natural unlike other forms of therapy that requires the client to consume medication. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is generally done in one-on-one or face-to-face sessions with the trained CBT therapist and the client. However, there are instances where CBT is done through self-help books and interaction with groups. Those people who find it hard to talk with the therapist personally but require the advantages of CBT find options like these very appealing. 

Nowadays with the advice from national health authorities, CBT sessions are done online to avoid direct contact and for the mutual safety of the parties involved. 

What Happens During Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

In a cognitive behavioral therapy session, it has the collaborative effort of the CBT therapist and the client talking with each other and creating SMART goals. The client is asked to share his/her thoughts, feelings and behavior that has occurred that brought them negative thoughts. 

The client will be then advised to think over and see for themselves how their past thoughts and actions have resulted in a cycle of negative thought patterns. The therapist together with the client will share together some techniques and strategies that the client can do realistically to his/her everyday life to make their way of life easier. After this, the client will start to notice a change in behavior and remove negative and destructive thoughts from happening in the future. 

Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is inclusive in a way that it can be used as treatment for people from all walks of life. CBT is a popular therapy with individuals who need to quickly identify problems and find a way to address them. According to NHS UK, Cognitive behavioral therapy has been known to be an effective way of treating a number of different mental health conditions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’s benefits include:

• Treatment for Phobias or Traumas
• Treatment for Manic depression/ Clinical depression
• Treatment for personality disorders like bipolar disorder
• Manage muscle pains and tension relief 
• Coping with grief or loss
• Manage chronic physical symptoms
• Treatment for Anxiety
• Manage symptoms of mental illness
• Identify ways to manage emotions
• Treatment for Eating Disorders (Bulimia, Anorexia)
• Treatment for Addiction of any form

Who Needs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive behavior therapy is a popular and effective form of treatment to cater to all individuals who suffer from all manner of psychological problems. There are many research studies that suggest that effective CBT will result in an increase in life improvement and way of living. 

If you are suffering from any of these issues then you need Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Panic disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Psychosis
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anger Issues
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Addiction

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is for all so if you feel that you need help, do not hesitate to locate the nearest qualified and competent cognitive behavioral therapist in your area and schedule a CBT session.