Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is renowned as being one of the best and most research-based therapeutic approaches available today. CBT is a successful method for treating a variety of disorders, such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder, OCD, and difficulties related to stress. Its strengths lay in its structured, practical, and empirical methods, aiming to bridge the link between cognition, affect and behavior.

The principles behind CBT can be considered simple, but effective: “Our thinking affects our feelings and our behaviors”. When people suffer distress it is often not just the external event that generates this emotional pain, but how an individual thinks about and understands that event. If an individual with this thought process of ‘I always mess up’, makes a small mistake and subsequently experiences a flood of humiliation or anxiety. The aim of CBT is to teach such individuals how to examine their thought patterns and correct them to be more realistic and rational.

Additionally, CBT is also a very practical and skills-oriented type of therapy. In CBT there’s a much greater emphasis not just on understanding past experience, but on gaining skills that can be applied to day-to-day situations. These can include thought-challenging techniques, behavioural activation, relaxation skills and exposure. For example someone with social phobia could use exposure exercises in their everyday life by gradually exposing themselves to social situations and developing coping techniques to use while in the situations so they do not have to avoid it any longer and gain more confidence.

CBT is very much based on science; it is a very highly researched area within clinical psychology and is recommended by a range of health organisations across the world (including N.I.C.E and A.P.A). It has been proven in clinical trials to be as effective as other methods, for example some studies suggest that it is as effective as drug treatments for anxiety and mild-moderate depression and in some situations, is found to have lasting effects after treatment ends. It also relies on shorter terms of therapy compared to some other models and as a result it is more accessible for many people. A common treatment duration for anxiety disorders and depression is usually about 8-20 sessions which could be more appropriate and less time consuming/more cost-effective for people, especially within an NHS setting. It’s empowering and works on teaching clients how to be their own therapist by identifying and combating maladaptive thought processes and using coping strategies outside the sessions.

CBT helps to reduce the potential for relapses. Clients do not just leave feeling better, they leave with lifetime skills to manage stressful experiences, an element which increases long-term effectiveness. Another benefit of CBT is it is versatile. It can be delivered on an individual basis, within group settings or online. It is also adaptable for all ages, from children to elderly people.