Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological therapy, that is, speech, in which, through the help of a psychotherapist, sessions are carried out that help you become more aware of your negative thoughts, so that you can be more decisive in demanding situations.
Why is it done?
It is used to treat a wide range of problems, in addition to helping to identify and deal with specific situations quickly. It generally requires fewer sessions than other types of therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a useful tool for addressing emotional challenges. For example, it can help you:
Control the symptoms of mental pathologies and avoid relapses.
Coping with stressful situations in our daily routine.
Learn to control emotions.
Solve conflicts and learn to relate better.
Overcome loss and pain, as well as emotional trauma.
Coping with the diagnosis of a disease.
Have chronic physical symptoms under control.
Does it carry any risk?
At times, you can feel emotionally uncomfortable as it causes you to explore painful feelings, emotions, and experiences. It is common to cry, panic, or get angry during a session.
Some forms of CBT, such as exposure therapy, can cause you to face situations that you are afraid of (such as fear of flying). This can lead to temporary anxiety or stress.
What does it consist of?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is made up of these steps:
Identify problematic situations or disorders in your life. A medical condition, divorce, grief, anger, etc.
Pay attention to your thoughts, emotions and opinions in relation to these problems. Once the problem is identified, you should tell the therapist what you think about the problem. The therapist may ask you to keep a journal of your self-talk.
Identify negative or inaccurate thoughts. The therapist will ask you to pay attention to your physical, emotional, and behavioral responses to various situations.
Reform negative or inaccurate thoughts. You will learn to see if your opinion is based on facts or an inaccurate perception of reality.
The duration of therapy
CBT is a short-term therapy, it ranges from 5-20 sessions. These will vary depending on these factors:
Type of disorder or situation.
Severity of symptoms.
How fast you evolve.
Level of stress supported.
Degree of help you receive.
Summary
It is a very useful tool, whether performed alone or in combination with other therapies. It is used to treat some mental health disorders, such as eating disorders, post-traumatic stress or depression. However, not everyone who benefits from CBT has a mental illness. This therapy can be a useful tool for anyone, since it allows us to learn to handle the stressful situations that we experience every day more calmly.