Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that primarily utilizes a goal-oriented approach.
In the 1960s, a psychiatrist, Aaron Beck, invented cognitive behavioral therapy. Through his studies, he came to realize that there was an undeniable and imperative link between an individual’s thoughts and feelings. He found that it was not uncommon for individuals to be unaware of the link between how their negative thoughts adversely affected their emotions. He learned that guiding an individual to name and identify the thoughts perpetuating negativity was helpful in an individual overcoming related difficulty. Initially, Beck named this therapy cognitive therapy because of the integral importance that is placed on thinking, but later it was renamed cognitive behavioral therapy. This is because CBT relies equally on behavioral therapeutic techniques as it does cognitive.
CBT Basics
The way CBT works is that through therapy, an individual will learn to understand that the way they behave has a direct correlation with their personal attitudes and emotional problems. The idea behind CBT is to help people break unhealthy behavioral patterns by identifying and replacing dysfunctional patterns with positive thinking patterns. This, in turn, will affect one’s negative behaviors, as by replacing and adjusting negative self-views through behavior modification and individual will shift what was once negative actions into positive ones. By addressing and working on adjusting unhelpful and inaccurate thoughts and feelings that lead to repeated harmful behavior choices, a person can learn to replace the damaging thought processes with healthier behaviors and more positive emotions. Over time, the goal is that through rewarding oneself for making healthier choices the negative internal dialogue will quiet and a more positive internal dialogue will become automatic. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is facilitated by a trained mental health professional. Every clinician that practices CBT will do so in a slightly nuanced fashion. Some will rely more on the cognitive therapeutic elements while others will rely more on the behavioral therapeutic elements. The exact process and therapy conducted are done so on an individual basis, as it is tailored to each person’s specific therapeutic needs.
Does It Work?
There is no universally effective method of psychotherapy that proves successful for everyone, as everyone has nuanced needs when it comes to the recovery process. The recovery process is entirely personal, and it will be directly informed by one’s personality, mental health, and emotional needs. Not all individuals will find CBT helpful, and conversely, some individuals may find cognitive behavioral therapy to be highly effective.
Further Information and Support
Navigating the challenges that arise from living with mental illness, struggling with substance abuse, and/ or addiction can not only be all-consuming but are often impossible to effectively handle without proper support. If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one regarding mental illness, substance abuse, and/ or addiction we recommend reaching out for help as soon as possible. Bear in mind that you do not have to be on this journey alone. At {Upwell Advisors}, we offer unique, customized concierge therapeutic services to provide our clients with unparalleled support throughout every step of the recovery process.
Feel free to reach to contact us anytime via email at [email protected] We look forward to supporting you on your journey.
